D.—2,

44

846. Mr. Thomson.] You passed over the Tarndale Run as well as over the Cheviot Eun ? —Yes. 847. Did you at that time, as Commissioner of Crown Lands, consider the respective value per acre of these runs ?—The value of the Cheviot Run is very much greater. 848. How much greater ? —I had no occasion to assess the Cheviot Run. Almost my first act as Commissioner was to sell the last section of it by auction, upon the assSssment of my predecessor. I should certainly not have let Mr. Robinson have any of the land at a less price than the Canterbury fixed price—not less than £2 an acre. 849. For what would you have sold the Tarndale land at that time?—l would have sold it very willingly at 10s. an acre, but not for less. 850. Do you think the Tarndale land is about one-fourth the value of the Cheviot land ?—No, I do not say that. It depends very much upon the means of communication with the outer world. 851. Taking things as they are, what would you consider the value of the Tarndale Run as compared with the Cheviot Run ?—I should find a difficulty in making a comparison. Undoubtedly the Cheviot Run is very much better. 852. As Commissioner of Crown Lands you would naturally give your attention to such subjects ? —Undoubtedly. 853. Did you not do so at the time ? —As to the Cheviot property, I said, "Let the dead bury their dead." I felt enough mortification that this splendid property had gone out of the hands of the province. If it had remained with me to assess, it never would have gone on such terms. 854. Then you cannot make a comparison between the two soils? —No, I cannot. The soil is good enough in many places in Tarndale, and for aught I know it may grow quite as good corn. lam not competent to say that, but I know that a great deal of that country bears immense crops of hay, which are wasted every year—trodden down or dying down. 855. Are you aware that the blue grass is now entirely extirpated in Tarndale?—No, I am not. It was anything but extirpated in my days. lam satisfied it did not grow there as it did without something good to grow in. Mr. John Keee, re-called and examined. 850. Mr. Fell.] I understand it has been said that what is known as blue grass is extirpated at Tarndale. Is that so ? —lt was not gone when I left two years ago. It was as good as ever I saw it. When the blue grass is at its best is in the month of March. We mowed lots of the grass. It was as good when I left as when I went there. It showed no signs of decay, and I never heard of its having died out. In a part of Tarndale everybody's sheep went on it and ate it oft", but in the fall of the year it would spring up again. I was there twelve years. Sheep were on it the whole time, and the grass did not disappear. Mr. John Geoege Blaceett, Resident Engineer of Nelson and Marlborough District, examined. 857. Mr. Fell.] You have been over the proposed central route ?—Yes; I have looked at it in regard to the practicability of making a railway along it. 858. Will you state generally your opinion of the feasibility of the line by what is known as the central route, from Blenheim up the Wairau Valley, and then across into the Hanmer Plains; which direction it should take, what would be the difficulty in making the line, and what it would be like when made? —Beginning at Blenheim, it would go up the Wairau Valley, pass Birch Hill and Tophouse, then through the gorge to the head of the Alma, then down Alma and Acheron to its junction with the Clarence, then following the Clarence down to the Hossack Creek, then crossing the Hossack Saddle, and down the Hanmer. 859. Would that in your opinion be a line of difficult grade ? —A grade of 1 in 50 could be got. That would be the worst grade at the Hossack Saddle. I have examined it and have reported upon it. 860. Would the line generally be one of difficult construction ? —Not generally. 861. Having regard to the character of New Zealand railways and their construction generally, would you say that it would be of greater or less average difficulty than that of other lines in New Zealand ? —lt would, I think, be rather more costly right through than the average of the railways in New Zealand. 862. Would the difference be a substantial one or only a small one ?—I think it would cost more than £1,000 a mile above the average cost of the New Zealand railways. This is a mere approximate estimate. 863. You think £1,000 per mile would cover the excess above the average ? —Yes; about a £1,000 a mile. 864. The Chairman.] Do you know the average cost of the railways per mile over the whole of New Zealand ?—About £7,000. 865. Mr. Fell.] When you say you consider it would cost £1,000 per mile in excess, how much of it are you referring to ?—I refer to the whole length from Blenheim to the Waiau River. Mr. Heney Peecival PiLKrsaTON, Nelson, examined. 866. Mr. Fell.] I believe some years ago you were in very ill health?— Yes; my lungs were diseased, and Dr. Farrelle recommended me to go to Tarndale for the benefit of my health, and I took his advice. I took charge of the accommodation-house at the Rainbow for Mr. Kerr. I stopped six months there, and I have never been ill since. I could not walk without two sticks before I went there. This was .-about five years ago. The climate is good. Mr. John RcTchfoet, Civil Engineer and Surveyor, examined. 867. Mr. Fell.] You have been carrying on your profession here for a good many years?— For the last thirty years. BGB. You have had experience in the construction and laying-off of railway lines ? —Yes, several in New Zealand and one in England.