r q r

6

I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the petitioner has not received sufficient compensation for the severe injuries which he sustained, and strongly recommend that the Commissioners should find some light employment for him. 18th September, 1894.

Nobth Island West Coast Eailway Seevice. The Eailwavs Committee having taken into consideration the question of the improvement of the North Island West Coast railway service between Wellington and Waitara, and also between Wellington and Napier, I am directed to report that the Committee considers that a faster passenger service between Wellington and Waitara and Napier is necessary; but, as a faster service on the Manawatu Company's line would entail a subsidy variously estimated at from £4,000 to £7,000, the Committee does not feel justified in recommending such an expenditure. The Commissioners having stated that it would be possible on their lines to reduce the time occupied by the journey, and that they would give such a service as is desired if supplemented by the Manawatu Company, the Committee recommend that on the Government lines a faster service should be at once arranged. 21st September, 1894.

No. 682.—Petition of the Westpokt-Cabdiff Coal Company (Limited) (No. 2). I am directed to report that the petitioners ask to be relieved from the payment of the guarantee in connection with the extension of the Westport-Ngakawau Eailway that is fixed by Act. They ask for relief for the year 1893-94 ; and that new arrangements be made for the future. As an alteration of an Act of Parliament is requested, the Committee, assuming the statements in the petition are true, think the petition should be referred to the Government to see what relief, if any, can be granted them, at all events during the first two or three years of their lease. 9th October, 1894.

No. 502. —Petition of John Ross and Others. Petitioners pray for the construction of a public road to the Cattle-yards Bailway-station, Burnside, and also for a public siding at the said station. I am directed to report that, as the Eailway Commissioners report that to give effect to the prayer of the petition a cost of £800 would have to be incurred, the Committee consider that the work required does not warrant them in recommending the expenditure of so large a sum for the purpose mentioned. 9th October, 1894.

No. 599. —Petition of E. Nobton Tayloe and Others (relative to the Southern "Railway-bridges). The petitioners allege that " many of the railway-bridges on the Hurumii-Bluff Section of the New Zealand Bailways are in such a condition as to require immediate repair, and in many instances renewal." They pray that such steps may be taken as are required to insure the safety of the travelling public. 1. The Committee have exhaustively inquired into the petition, and have taken all the evidence available. 2. The only witnesses in support of the statements contained in the petition were E. Norton Taylor (the chief petitioner) and Thomas McGarva, Foreman of Works on the Dunedin Section, who was summoned at the request of E. Norton Taylor. 3. The evidence showed that Thomas McGarva was, in February, 1893, transferred to the Dunedin Section from Christchurch, and felt aggrieved in consequence. It is also clear that from the date of taking up his duties on that section he adopted a hypercritical attitude towards the Eailway Department, especially regarding the bridges. 4. It was elicited during the inquiry that when McGarva was transferred to the Dunedin Section some of the bridges were below that complete standard of efficiency which it is desirable should be maintained. The department, however, promptly entered upon the work of strengthening and improving the bridges, and the work has regularly and steadily progressed ever since, and is still being proceeded with. No evidence was offered to the Committee to prove that any request made by McGarva for either labour or material for raising the standard of the efficiency of the bridges under his control was ever refused by the department. 5. McGarva denied having supplied information to the petitioner Taylor, on which the statements in the petition were based; but Taylor categorically declared that McGarva had not only supplied him with information verbally, but had also placed at his disposal certain railway papers of an official character, copies of which he produced to the Committee. McGarva's evidence must therefore be considerably discredited by his having falsely informed the Committee that he had not supplied the information to Taylor on which the petitioner's statements were based. The Committee has therefore to report — 1. That no evidence has been laid before the Committee which would justify them in believing that the bridges on the Hurunui-Bluff Section either are now or ever were in a " dangerous state," as alleged by the petitioners. 2. The Committee is, however, of opinion that the system of bridge inspection on the Dunedin Section was not properly carried out, and that the whole system of bridge inspection in the colony should be so arranged that each officer's work should be sufficiently checked by his superior. 12th October, 1894. [Not ordered to lie upon the Table. Minutes of the Committee were laid upon the Table on 19th October].