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to cross ;it is something like the Conway, only on a smaller scale. There are no difficulties from there on to the Greenhills Station. Prom the Greenhills Station the descent is very rapid. The first grade, according to Mr. Toy, is lin 34. The line would pass along very steep hill-sides to a high terrace. From there to Crib Creek the line crosses a succession of deep gullies, having creeks at the bottom, with high banks between. I presume this is the country described by Mr. Blair in his report, in which he says : " In the first five miles north of the Whale's Back the line crosses thirteen broad ravines, five of them being from 50 to 90 feet deep, and eight from 90 to 160 feet. Further on the same section has four banks from 50 to 70 feet deep, and four from 90 to 160 feet." There are no special difficulties from Crib Creek to the Hapuka. 879. Why do you prefer the Greenhills line to the Cheviot?— The length of the costly country is very short compared with the coast line. The difficulties in construction are very much less, however. When constructed the line would be more costly to work, for it would require special engines. There is hardly any rock cutting on the Greenhills route, and there is a good deal on the line by Cheviot. Prom Hapuka River north the grade is practically flat. About two miles north of the Hapuka the line is forced on to the coast again, and a good deal of costly work would have to be done in constructing the line. There would be 40 chains of timber framing, and four rocky points would have to be tunnelled. The rocky coast-line extends to within about four miles of the Clarence. There is no particular difficulty beyond this point to the Awatere, except the crossing of the Clarence, where a costly bridge would be required. Ido not think a sea-wall would be required along the coast. I should consider the Greenhills route, and thence by the coast, a very difficult line to construct. 880. Why ?—The cuttings and all the other work would be very heavy from the saddle of the Campbell to Crib Creek. The crossing of the rivers would be very difficult, and when constructed the line would have such grades as would render it unsuitable for a trunk line. The cost of constructing it would also be very great. The cost of either alternative route would be greater per mile than the inland route. 881. From a purely engineering point of view, which of the lines is the best to construct?—-The central line most certainly. The works in tlie central line are of a much lighter character, and any heavy works are of very short distances. The difficult parts of the Greenhills route and the coast route extend over a great length of country. 882. Have you examined the reports made of the several lines?' —Tes. From the reports accessible to the public, each line seems to have been most carefully examined. 883. Is there as much reliable evidence accessible relating to the central line as to the coast line? —Certainly not; the evidence concerning the central line is almost nil. Flying surveys have been made of both the other lines. 884. Do you know the country through which the central line passes? —Tes, I know most of it. 885. Is the climate and the land fit for settlement? —I think it would support a population, but not of the same kind as on the flat country, as it is a pastoral country. Persons travelling on the road would not see the various valleys without exploring them. There are long valleys, but there is not generally a large quantity of flat land in them. Coldwater Creek, for example, opens out in a valley five miles long and a mile wide. You would not see a trace of this valley passing up the gorge. The Yarrow, the Saxton, the Guide, and the Leader, are valleys of a similar kind. Several of the gullies run up for many miles. 886. How could the country be best settled ?—The best way to settle it would be to divide it into blocks —200 acres of flat land, and from 500 to 1,000 acres of hills. People could grow what produce they required on the flats and keep their stock on the hills. The land is not equally good in all places, but there are many places where oats grow to an astonishing size. I believe a large population would bo readily maintained in those districts. 887. What area of land would be capable of being so settled ?—About 200,000 acres along the central route would be available for settlement; but there is more land available in the Waiau and Clarence Valleys —perhaps as much again, which would feed into the central line. Near Lake Guyon I saw a thriving homestead where there is a large family. Fruit trees were thriving, and a large crop of oats was obtained last year. The owner, Mr. Fowler, has lived there (near Lake Guyon) some fifteen or twenty years. The altitude is nearly 3,000 feet. 888. What is the difference in altitude between the Rainbow and Tarndale ? —About 600 feet. The difference in altitude between Carter's Station, on the Acheron, and Tarndale is 900 feet. 889. At the request of the Railway Committee you have prepared a report ? —Yes. 890. You put that report in as part of your evidence, together with the plans ? —Yes. The following is the report: — Mr. Rochfort to the Seceetaey, Trunk Line Committee. Sic,— Nelson, 24th November, 1882, In conformity with your instructions of the Ist October last, I have the honour to inform you that I have examined the several proposed lines of railway to connect the north and south ends of the Island, and now submit my report and plan and sections therewith. Central Route. —As the central route has been surveyed as far as the telegraph-station, Tophouse, which is the summit level between Nelson and Wairau, I will commence my report there. This point being some 300 feet above the level of the Wairau River opposite, the line should be graded level till it meets the level of the Wairau Valley, which will be near the thirteenth mile at a creek, being the first creek having any considerable opening in the hills. The hills have well-rounded spurs, which would give good curves. From the thirteenth mile to near the twenty-third (Rainbow River) a grade of 1 in 101 can be obtained, wfth good sidling ground throughout, except near the seventeenth mile, where there is a shor.t .piece of steep rock-cutting, and a slip w 7hich is found to frequently fill up the present bridle-track'cutting; but I believe, by diverting the drainage above it into the nearest creek, it could be quite stopped. There is only one other place in which the hills rim out to the river. Good ballast can be obtained all the way. The Rainbow has a fine shingly bottom, and can be cheaply crossed with about four chains of