3

I.—2a.

16. Mr. Goldie.] This was Bent to Mr. Knowle? for correction ?—Yes; but part of the evidence he sent is not printed. Mr. E. D. Bell re-examined. 17. The Chairman.] Why was not this portion at the end of Mr. Knowles's evidence inserted in the printed copy ? —There is a resolution at the end of the minutes of proceedings in almost the same words, and it appeared unnecessary to repeat it again at the end of Mr. Knowles's evidence. Moreover, it has always been the custom only to include in the miDutes of evidence evidence actually given by the witness to the Committee. Hon. J. Macandeew. —Examination continued. Hon. Mr. Macandrew : What I desired to have shown was that the map which it has been insisted I tampered with, or caused to be altered, showing the proposed railway from the Thames to Waikato, was identically the same as the map which had been prepared by the order of the late Government — by Mr. Bichardson's order, I believe —showing exactly the same line. 18. Mi: Eolleston.] How many years before? —In 1873, I think. I also wish to bring before the Committee that Mr. Eichardson, on behalf of the late Government, promised that this railway should be constructed, and commenced at Shortland —exactly where it was commenced. I wanted to have brought that out, and to have before the Committee the papers which bear out what I say. Here is a letter from Mr. Blackett which bears out what I say. [Documents produced.] They are the result of Mr. Simpson's survey. There the line is shown up to Grahamstown. [Map produced.] That is the result of those instructions. 19. Mr. Rolleston.] When did you become aware of those instructions? —I became aware of them when I found that the iirst Committee had gone outside the order of reference, and thought it necessary to go into matters of policy with which they were not called upon to deal. 20. Then the addition to this map was not made because you had any idea of this previous survey ? —No. I always understood that Grahamstown and the Thames were identical, and this bears out my view of the subject. I should also like the Committee to have before it tho first application of the Superintendent of Auckland to the Colonial Secretary, requesting this thing to be done. [The witness here produced a letter from the office of the Colonial Secretary, dated 14th September, 1873, signed by Mr. Waterhouse ; and a letter by Mr. Blackett, and other correspondence.] 1 should like, also, that the Committee should examine the Chairman of the Thames County Council, who is here, and will give evidence as to the truth of what I say regarding these promises. On the Bth August, 1878, Mr. C. E. Mitchell was sent from Grahamstown to Wellington on this matter, and had an official interview with Mr. Eichardson, and received an assurance from him that the Government would support this lino from Grahamstown. He reported the result of that interview to the people who sent him. 21. Is it not a fact that your Public Works Statement shows the line as from Te Aroha to Grahamstown ? Does it not show that the design of 1873 had been changed ?—No. My statement contains the contract survey so far as it had been completed ; but the map which I ultimately laid on the table shows the line as it was intended —to start from Grahamstown. 22. Hon. Mr. Richardson.] Mr. Macandrew has stated that he wishes some of these papers printed. I should like to ask him whether he has any objection to the whole of them being printed ?—Decidedly not. 23. My reason for asking this question is, that unless the whole of this correspondence of 1873 is printed, the intentions of the then Government will not be clear ? —I have no objection whatever to the whole of it being published, except that there is a good deal of it that is irrelevant. I should like, if it were possible, to tone down the word " suppressed." Ido not think it should have any offensive reference. I should substitute the word " omitted " instead. 24 I should like to ask whether Mr. Macandrew is aware of any evidence having been given or tendered before this Committee that has been suppressed? —I say that documents which Mr. Knowles was requested to furnish to the Committee have been omitted from the appendix to the report, or left out of it. 25. Are you aware of the date on which these documents were sent up? —I suppose it would be dated. 26. Mr. Pyke.] I observe in the Public Works Statement you made last year there is this sentence: [page 10 of Public Works Statement quoted]. What would that imply ?—lt would imply that it was intended to make a railway from Grahamstown to Hamilton, and that a very large area of land was intended to be opened up thereby. I may mention that I saw Mr. Knowles as he was coming back from giving evidence before tho Committee, and he mentioned that he had been requested by the Eailway Map Committee to look up some correspondence. Erom the remarks I made before the Committee he had been led to believe that there were some documents. He was not aware of any, but was going to see if there were any. 27. Mr. McLean.] Was it before you saw this report of the evidence in print that these documents came to your knowledge ? —No; on the very day I was examined. I thought it was necessary to inquire about them when I saw the turn the inquiry was taking. Mr. C. J. Mokeo re-examined. 28. Hon. Mr. Macandrew.] When was this evidence sent which was not inserted in the printed evidence [documents produced] ?—That was received, so far as I remember, after the Committee had finally adjourned. I took these documents in to the Chairman, and he instructed me to send them back. 28a. Mr. Rolleston.] It was a pile of papers of cousiderable thickness ?—Yes; there was a thick letter-book with the documents. Hon. Mr. Macandrew: What I complain of is, that these papers are not in that report.