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No. 4. Westport Colliery Co. (Limited). Statement shewing Output from Opening of Works to 31st May, 1882. Wesport Colliery Co. Limited, — Tons Cwt. August 31, 1880 ... ... ... 24 10 September 30, 1880 ... ... ... 378 16 October 31, 1880 ... ... ... 1,020 18 November 30, 1880 ... ... ... 1,386 7 December 31, 1880 ... ... ... 1,353 2| January 31, 1881 ... ... ... 1,860 lOf February 28, 1881 ... ... ... 1,619 11 March 31, 1881 ... ... ... 2,302 3 April 30, 1881 ... ... ... 1,596 10 May 31, 1881 ... ... ... 2,592 15 June 30, 1881 ... ... ... 1,485 8 July 31, 1881 ... ... ... 2,566 12 August 31, 1881 ... ... ... 1,855 10 September 30, 1881 ... ... ... 2,279 15 October 31, 1881 ... ... ... 1,433 3 November 30, 1881 ... ... ... 2,440 3 Tons Cwt. 26,195 14§ Westport Coal Co. Limited,- — December 31, 1881 ... ... ... 2,166 0 January 31, 1882 ... ... ... 3,021 6 February 28, 1882 ... ... ... 3,738 16 March 31, 1882 ... ... ... 4,532 6 April 30, 1882 ... ... ... 4,019 13 May 31, 1882 ... ... ... 4,752 15 22,230 16 Total Tons ... ... ... ... ... 48,426 10J

No. 5. Statement of Mr. Eobert Gillies, Chairman Westport Colliery Company, Limited. In 1878 the Westport Colliery Company was formed for the purpose of amalgamating the numerous existing leases, and working the same. This was done at the invitation and suggestion of the Government of the day, with a view to the efficient working of the coal industry. Before the Company had committed itself in any way to any expenditure, or come under any obligations, they desired to obtain from the Government certain concessions and rearrangements in connection with the leases. Accordingly, in May, 1878, Mr. A. J. Burns and myself as the accredited representatives of the Company, proceeded to Wellington. We had repeated interviews with the Government, and received every encouragement from them to go on with our proposals. Promises of support and facilities for working and carriago over the railway and improvement of the port were freely made, the one anxiety and condition laid down then being, that we would really construct works and create a trade in the coal. The whole of the correspondence shows this clearly. We have more than fulfilled our part of the bargain as can be clearly shown. An agreement was drawn up dated 10th June, 1878, embodying the direct concessions made to us. By the eighth clause the Minister of Lands agreed to abandon the back rents on what was known as Webb's Lease, and to apply certain money paid in another direction. The Government subsequently compelled us to pay up these back rents, and a money loss was entailed on the Company of several hundred pounds. All through the negotiations the Government and their officers over and over again intimated their intention of reducing the rates for railway carriage as soon as the traffic was begun. We wanted to get the rates fixed on account of our having to run over part of the Wellington Company's line, but we were told repeatedly that wo had nothing to fear, that the maximun rate we would be charged was 2s per ton, and no terminal charges, and that we had nothing to do with getting the rates upon the Wellington Company's line fixed. So liberal were the promises held out as to reductions in the future below the maximium rate stated, 2s per ton, that we did not think it advisable or necessary to press this, and in fact began rather to fear that the railway rate might be made so low as to enable the Buller Company, which had not then amalgamated with us to compete with us, aid hence sought rather to get a promise from the Government that no graduation of railway rates -would be entertained by them. This was agreed to (vide Clause 11). As matters of fact we paid for two years the excessive charges on the Wellington line over and above the Government rates, and when we came to put down coal all we could get from the Govenment was a rate of 2s 6d per ton, including terminal charges, though we hold a letter of Mr. Werry's that no terminal charges would be made. We have paid 2s 6d per ton on all the coal we have hitherto sent along the railway. Subsequent to the above, promises were made of any number of waggons to carry on the trade, but, as a matter of fact, these have not been kept, and the trade has been greatly impeded for want of proper, and. sufficient number of waggons. Last September the trade of the Company and the demand for the coal had increased to such an extent as to render it advisable for us to reconstitute the Company under the name of the Westport Coal Company, increasing its capital to £400,000 sterling. For that purpose I proceeded to Melbourne, and whilst there, was fully satisfied from many quarters that a trade of many hundreds of thousands of tons is open to us there whenever the harbour is so improved as to admit vessels drawing 16 feet of water,

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