1.—6.

226. Was there any arrangement to take over that mine with the Westport Coal Company ?— Not till afterwards ; that was a subsequent arrangement. I may explain that we did not purchase that mine as an investment; we had to take it over along with the fleet; we did so unwillingly. 227. Perhaps the Committee would better understand if you will carry back your recollection, and tell us to whom the line of steamers you purchased had previously belonged ?—To W. R. Williams, of Wellington. 228. Then, the mine was taken over with the steamers as a part of the arrangement ?—Yes. 229. Did your company abandon the lease of this mine afterwards, or was it abandoned by the Westport Company : we have been led to believe that the lease had been abandoned to the Crown ? —It has been abandoned, I think, by the Westport Company. The most valuable asset in the purchase was a portion of railway-line that had been constructed by the Koronui Company. 230. What length of railway-line was there ?—I think, about two miles. 231. That had been made by the Koronui Company? —Yes. 232. That railway now belongs to the Westport Coal Company?—Yes. 233. Do you remember to what extent your freights are varied, or is it upon any scale that you are at liberty to reveal to the Committee ?—I would rather not reveal the staudarcl rate of freights; but we have a sliding scale. In the event of it becoming necessary to sell coal at any ports lower than a certain price, in competition with the Newcastle or any other opposing coal, we allow a corresponding reduction from our schedule rates of freight. 234. Do you import much coal during each month from Newcastle ? —Yes ; our steamers trading to Sydney with produce bring back cargoes of Newcastle coal. 235. Could you state the average import per month ?—Our import for 1888 at all ports in NewZealand was 45,000 tons. 236. Not more?—lt is probably a little more this year, owing to the larger grain trade that is carried on. There are more steamers running. 237. You think it will be more this year ?—Yes, perhaps 50,000 tons—that is, for all the ports of New Zealand. 238. You have in previous years imported much more coal, have you not ?—Yes, I believe we have. 239. Mr. Hutchison.] In 1887 how much was it ?—I have not the figures with me. 240. Was it more ?—I think not by our company ; but there is a good deal of coal comes in by sailing-ships. 241. Have you brought in coal in sailing-ships by charter—from Newcastle ? —Not any quantity ; we had one or two sailing-vessels, but that is two years ago : they formed part of the purchase from Williams, in connection with his steam-fleet and the Korunui Mine. 242. What is about the rate of freight for coal from Newcastle, by steamer?—We have no fixed rate; we merely sell coal at the market price for the time being; Bs. to 9s. is looked on as the ordinary sailing-vessel rate to a loading port such as Lyttelton, except during the early part of the grain season, when large ships are chartered for the round voyage from Sydney to New Zealand and on to London ; they take coal at from ss. to 6s. freight. 243. What has been the cost of coal, " free on board," at Newcastle?—lis. for screen-coal has been the price for some years. 244. What is the price at Westport and Greymouth, " free on board " ?—At Greymouth the price of screen-coal is 12s. 6d.; at Westport it is something more than that. 245. The facilities for loading ships at Newcastle are much superior to the facilities at Westport or the West Coast ?—Yes; they have very great facilities there, in regard to wharves, cranes for loading, and harbour-accommodation. The trade is carried on by vessels of very large tonnage. The coast steamers running to Melbourne carry as much as 3,000 to 4,000 tons : they can load very quickly. 246. At any time, night or day ? —At any time, night or day. 247. Do you pay light dues going into that port ? —No; our vessels all call at Sydney, and the one payment at Sydney frees them for Newcastle also. 248. What is that payment ?—I cannot tell you just now, but I will supply you with the information. 249. That is the only charge ?—For light dues. 250. What is the charge at the West Coast ports? —A farthing. 251. Mr. O'Conor.] A farthing a ton?—Yes. 252. Are you able to say whether the improvements in the ports on the West Coast are sufficient to enable large vessels to enter, as is the case at Newcastle ?—No ; they are not sufficient for large vessels. 253. Would New Zealand have a good chance of a large additional foreign trade if facilities were extended on the West Coast so as to be equal to those given at Newcastle ?—I certainly think so. There might not be such a command of tonnage at Westport or Greymouth as there is at Newcastle, but the superior quality of the coal would counterbalance that. This is illustrated in the case of the trade that is now opening with Port Pirie. There is likely to be an enormous demand for West Coast coal at that place, where it is recognised to be better for " cooking " than the Newcastle coal. As much as 50,000 tons of coke are used in the year. That will be doubled, or perhaps trebled, if the present prospects of the Barrier are borne out. They are quite willing to pay a few more shillings a ton for Westport coal than they pay for Newcastle coal. A good deal will be required up at the Barrier itself when the timber, which is largely used for fuel, becomes exhausted. On this there is a charge for railage of £1 15s. a ton. Now, if it takes 6 tons of Newcastle coal to do the work of 5 tons of Westport coal you will easily see that this difference gives an enormous advantage to Westport. We have sent several cargoes of coal to Port Pirie. If the Westport Harbour is further improved it eeems probable that Port Pirie will take all the coal that the Westport mines are able to put out

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