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passengers travel eacli way. I have here a way-bill showing that there was one passenger to Paikakariki, one to Otaki, and four to Foxton in one day. We consider that a good way-bill. If we carried that number on each coach this line would pay well; but to-day there was only one through passenger from Wellington to Foxton. I dare say that during this week there were two passengers up and two passengers down between Otaki and Wellington —that is, four a week. It does not average more. That is what I call the local traffic. The passenger traffic between Waikanae and Wellington does not average four a month, and between Paikakariki and Wellington it will not average four a month. Mr. Prosser, the proprietor of the other coach, can give a better account of the passenger traffic between Pahautanui and Wellington, because he only charges 45., whereas we charge 10s. for each passenger on that line. 183. Then, with reference to the traffic between Foxtonand Wellington —the through route —how many passengers do you think is the average per month each way ?—ln November, 1879, 109 through, passengers ; in December, 1879, 108 ; in January, 1880, 150 ; and in February, 1880, 110. 184. But you can tell pretty nearly, can you not ? —There are about seven per day, taking them both ways. You may say that there are about forty passengers per week travelling between Wellington and Foxton —that is to say, there would be twenty through passengers each way weekly. 185. Mr. Clark.'] Is there any other intermediate traffic —for instance, between Foxton and Otaki ? Is there any other intermediate traffic, not being through traffic, from Foxton to Wellington ? —No, there is not, except men travelling on horseback. There is no other public coach. Occasionally there are buggies. Numbers of the Maoris have their own buggies, and they drive their own horses as far as Paikakariki on the beach, or sometimes as far as Pahautauui, where they put up their horses, and go to town in our coach or in Prosser's coach. They generally take Prosser's coach. 186. Mr. Wright.'] Can you say whether you were able to obtain sufficient food for your horses in this district last season ? —No. 187. You were not able to obtain sufficient oats or beans ? —No. 188. Where did you get them from ? —We carried them from Wellington, and paid £4 10s. a ton for their carriage. We paid that for fourteen bags from Wellington to Otaki. We paid £3 a ton from Wellington to Waikanae, and £2 a ton to Paikakariki. 189. Colonel Pearce.] Have you any idea as to how many passengers go by sea from Foxton to Wellington ?—No. 190. Have you no means of knowing?—No, except from the papers. [Note by Me. Smith. —I find, on examining my passenger lists, I have over-estimated the number of passengers carried both ways. We have had 447 through passengers in four months, thus averaging thirty a week both ways, or fifteen each way between Wellington and Foxton.]

Wellington, Tpesday, 16th March, 1880. Mr. John Blacicett, C.E., further examined. 191. The Chairman.] In your evidence taken at G-reytown you stated that there had been expended upon the section from Kaiwarra to Johnsonville a sum of about £18,000 in work, plant, and material ? —• Tes. 192. Does the word " plant " include rolling-stock ?—No ; " plant " means the plant on the ground necessary to do the work, such as tools, spades, shovels, barrows, carts, &c. —construction plant. The material includes brick, cement, stone, &c. 193. Well, supposing no other expenditure took place, there would still remain for expenditure £22,000 out of the vote of £40,000 ?—Supposing the vote to be £40,000, that sum would still remain. You will have to go to the Accountant's office for the figures. 194. As far as your department is concerned, the expenditure has only been £18,000 ? —Yes. Of course the expenditure is still going on, and it will be more since I gave my last evidence. There are 150 men constantly employed, and more than £350 is paid weekly in wages. 195. Do you wish to supplement your evidence given at Greytown with respect to the estimates of cost of the line from Wellington to Foxton, and also the line from Mastcrton to Bunnythorpe?—Yes. 196. The figures you gave were entirely from memory, and I thought you would probably wish to give us the exact figures? —I have got a synopsis prepared for the Commission of the mileage and cost of different routes. Seeing the bearing of your questions at Grreytown, I prepared a small sketch, and have gone through it item by item, giving the mileages and costs. [Document put in evidence and read as follows : — Comparison of Routes — Wcllington-Wanganui, Wellington-Napier. Wellington, via Foxton to Palmerston. —Wellington-Foxton, 63 miles 40 chains; Foxton-Pal-merston, 23 miles 30 chains : total, 91 miles 70 chains. 67 miles 40 chains incomplete ; estimated to cost £440,000. A part of the line, between Kaiwarra and Johnsonville, about 5 miles, is in hand. Some rails, sleepers, and stock in hand. Wellington direct to Palmerston. —Wellington-Horowhenua, 57 miles ; Horowhenua-Palmerston, 27 miles: total, 84 miles. 81 miles incomplete; estimated to cost £531,000. A part of the line, between Kaiwarra and Johnsonville, about 5 miles, is in hand. Some rails, sleepers, and stock in hand. Palmerston direct to Woodville. —16 miles 70 chains. 14 miles 70 chains unmade; estimated to cost about £150,000. Wellington via Masterton to Woodville. —118 miles 67 chains. 52 miles 55 chains unmade ; estimated to cost £397,000. Some rails, sleepers, and stock procured. Woodville to Napier.— Woodville-Makatoko, 29 miles 43 chains ; Makatoko-Napier, 69 miles 18 chains: total, 98 miles 66 chains. 29 miles 48 chains incomplete ; estimated to cost £191,000. About 14 miles in hand, with rails, sleepers, and stock for same. Routes Wellington-Woodville. — Via Masterton, 118 miles 67 chains ; via Foxton and Palmerston, 108 miles 40 chains ; via Palmerston, 100 miles 70 chains. Routes Wellington-Wanganui. — Via Masterton and Woodville, 192 miles; via Foxton and Palmerston, 151 miles; via Palmerston, 146 miles; via Foxton, Sanson, and Greatford, 132 miles.]