1.—9

1894. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE), ON THE PETITION OF THE WESTPORT-CARDIFF COAL COMPANY (LIMITED); TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX.

Beport brought up 31st August, 1894, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 3rd day of July, 1894. Ordered, " That a Committee, consisting of twelve members, be appointed to examine into, and report upon such questions relating to the construction and working of the railways as they may think desirable, with power to call for persons and papers ; five to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Crowther, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Earnshaw, Mr. Flatman, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Massey, Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, Mr. Morrison, Mr. G. W. Russell, Hon. Sir R. Stout, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Seddon.)

Wednesday, the 25th day of July, 1894. Ordered, " That the names of Mr. Tanner and Mr. Wilson be added to the Railways Committee."—(Mr. Pirani.)

Wednesday, the Ist day of August, 1894. Ordered, "That the petition of the Westport-Cardiff Coal Company (Limited), be referred to the Railways Committee, and that they be directed to report thereon within one week."—(Mr. Guinness.)

Thursday, the 9th day of August, 1894. Ordered, " That the Railways Committee have leave to ait during the sitting hours of the House ; also, that the time for bringing up a report on the petition of the Westport-Cardiff Coal Company be extended for one week."— (Mr. G. W. Russell.)

Wednesday, the 29th day of August, 1894. Ordered, "That the name of the Hon. Mr. Larnach be added to the Railways Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Sbddon.)

REPOET ON THE PETITION OF THE WESTPG-ET-CAEDIFF COAL COMPANY (LIMITED). 1. The Committee finds that the petitioners had the assurance of the Minister of Mines that cheap railway freights would be arranged. It was subsequently discovered that this assurance could not be given effect to, owing to the right of appeal to the Governor in Council not applying as it was supposed. 2. The Mokihinui line was originally isolated, and practically of little value, until £36,000 of public money (the fund of the Westport Harbour Board) was spent in extending the line from Ngakawau to Mokihinui. The petitioners are, as coal-area lessees in the district, liable for part of the interest at 5 per centum on this sum of £36,000 ; and it is in evidence that the petitioners are liable to a considerable sum (£459) on account of deficiency this year. 3. The value of the portion of the line to be used by the Westport-Cardiff Company your Committee estimate (on the evidence) at not more than £8,000, this being a very liberal estimate of the cost of construction; and as the Mokihinui Company is by its lease compelled to put out 30,000 tons of the coal for this year, while the Westport-Cardiff Company is required to put out only 10,000 tons, your Committee consider that if the petitioners pay half the interest on £8,000 at 7 per cent, they should be entitled to " way-leave " for whatever coal they desire to haul over the line. 4. That the Cardiff Company pay one-half the annual cost of maintenance of the portion of the line used by them, after deducting from the total receipts for public traffic the same proportion that the section of line common to both companies bears to the total length. 5. The Committee also consider that the haulage rates to both the Mokihinui and WestportCardiff Companies' mines are excessive, and should be reduced by Id. per ton. I—l. 0.