E.—3

24

Balcltjtha, "Wednesday, 31st Maech, 1880. Captain Robeet Andeew sworn and examined. 405. The Chairman.'] You are, I believe, a resident of the neighbourhood of Catlin's Eiver ?—ies. 406. Have you been resident there for any length of time ? —Five years. 407. Are you well acquainted with the country in that neighbourhood?—l am ; I have had considerable experience of it. 408. I believe you are engaged in the sawmilling business at Catlin's River ? —Yes. 409. Can you tell the Commission how you at present dispose of your timber ? —At the present time my principal outlet is to the north, as far as Lyttelton. 410. What means of transport have you from the mill ?—Water communication. 411. Can you tell the Commission what is the rate of freight which yon usually pay from here to Dunedin ? —The present rate is 3s. per 100 superficial feet. 412. In the event of the proposed line from Invertiel to Catlin's River being constructed, do you consider that you could transport your timber more advantageously?—Yes; a great deal more so. 413. And therefore you would probably increase the production of your mill ? —Yes. It would be increased considerably, and other mills would also probably be established. 414. Can you give an idea of the area of bush that would be served by the proposed line to Catlin's Eiver? —There is a large extent of country, but I would not like to venture an opinion so far as the acreage is concerned. 415. I mean as to the available bush land ?—There are a good number of square miles. The railway would tap the bush before it reached Catlin's proper. 416. What is the character of the bush where your mill is situate?—About two-thirds red pine, and the remaining third a mixture of totara and black pine. 417. Then you consider that the production of timber would be practically unlimited if the railway were constructed ?—Yes. 418. Mr. Beid.] You say you could not give an estimate of the acreage of land that would be opened up ? —No, I cannot. It is of very large extent. 419. Do you not know the number of miles through which the line would pass ?—From Glenoamaru to Owake there are about 5 miles of bush through which the railway wrould go. 420. What would be the extent of that bush on each side of the line?—On the east side there would be about 8 miles, and on the west side about 4 miles. 421. That would be 60 square miles ? —Yes ; before you get to Catlin's River Bush proper. The quality of the timber there is about one-half black pine and totara. 422. Is the timber generally sound and good?—Yes; it is a very good class of timber. 423. Supposing this lino were carried through, what would it cost you to convey the timber by rail from Catlin's Eiver to Dunedin ?—About 2s. or 2s. 2d. per 100 feet. 424. Would you be able to supply timber to Balclutha and the surrounding district at a lower rate than it can be supplied from the Blue Mountains ?—Yes. The principal supply of timber is now obtained from Invercargill, owing to the existence of railway communication. 425. What does it cost to bring the timber from Invercargill to Balclutha?—Three shillings per 100 feet. 426. At what rate could you supply it from your mill ? —At about Is. Bd. per 100 feet. The freight by water is handicapped by jetty dues of 4d. per 100 feet; and then the cartage involves an extra cost of 3d. per 100 feet. 427. Is the quality of the timber you could supply better than can be supplied from the Blue Mountain Ranges? —The quality of the timber supplied from that place is not equal to that which we could supply. The Blue Mountain timber is inferior in quality to that which comes from Invercargill. 428. Mr. Olark.~] Can you form any estimate of the weekly quantity of timber which you could send along the line if made? —According to the present returns there would be between 80,000 and 100,000 feet of timber per week from the Catlin's Eiver District. 429. Mr. Wright.'] Can you give an approximate estimate of the quantity of open land beyond Catlin's River? —There would be about 15,000 acres in the Tautuku Valley. 430. What population have you at Catlin's River?—ln December last the population was 845. 431. How are they principally employed ?—There are a large number of settlers ; but the majority of the population are employed at the mills. 432. Does the charge of 3s. per 100 feet for water carriage extend beyond Dunedin ? —No. 433. What is the rate to Oamaru?—Three shillings and threepence. 434. And to Lyttelton?—To Timaru and Lyttelton, 3s. (sd. 435. Would the extension of the railway from Catlin's Eiver to the Mataura pass through the open country you have mentioned ?—Yes. 436. On what terms is this bush leased by Government to the present mill-owners ? —Up to the present time we have paid £1 per acre for three years, with the right to cut all timber. New regulations are to come into force on the Ist May, similar to those at present in existence in Southland. I believe it is a royalty of 3d. per 100 feet. 437. Mr. BeicL] What is the quality of the soil on this bush land after the timber is cleared?— The most part of it is very good. It is chiefly a vegetable soil, varying from nine inches to three feet in depth. 438. Have any crops been grown there ? —Yes ; I have grown oats on my freehold for the last three years. 439. What kind of yield did you have ? —lt was for feed, and it was a very fair crop. 440. Then there is no doubt that the land, when cleared, will grow cereal crops ? —Yes, it will grow cereal crops well. 441. The Chairman.'] Is there anything further which you would wish to state for the information of the Commission? —I may state that there will be some 10,000 acres of land in Mr. Brough's run thrown ©pen in about six months hence. The balance of the run —20,000 acres- is to be thrown open twelve months later. About 10,000 acres is first-class agricultural land, and the remainder is good pastoral land.