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24. Do you think the output of your mine could be materially increased ? —'We could do better if we could get sailing-vessels whenever we wanted them. We depend largely upon the vessels and the weather. 25. What is the freight from the Whangarei Wharf to Auckland in sailing-vessels ?—3s. 6d., and in some instances less than that. When I say in some instances it is less than that, it is due to contracts. 26. What vessels generally carry your coal? —Sailers. 27. Do the vessels belong to any particular firm? —They are principally owned by one of our directors, who acts for us in selling the coal —Captain Smith. 28. They are his private property ? —Yes ; and he also charters vessels whenever he can do it. The Thames and Coromandel are our principal other markets. The freight is 4s. to 4s. 6d. a ton, also in sailing-vessels. 29. Do you sell freely to all customers willing to buy ?— We sell principally to Captain Smith. 30. Do you sell to anybody else ?—Yes, to the Northern Steamship Company. They and Captain Smith are practically our only customers outside of local sales. It is a matter of convenience to us ; we have fewer accounts and make no bad debts, and Captain Smith has his customers instead of we having them. We guard against losses, as he takes the risk. He also has the vessels with which to run the coal, 81. Then, you would not sell to strangers coming in?—l should be very glad to do so through him. 32. Supposing I asked you to sell me a cargo, would you sell it to me ? —Certainly. We are not restricted to him by any means. I have done it in a few cases, but not many. We take anybody. 33. You are willing to sell to anybody who chooses to come with the money?— Undoubtedly, if the coal is available. 34. But in practice you are confined to Captain Smith and the Northern Steamship Company? —Yes ; as a matter of convenience, and to guard against losses. I might say that the price in town (Auckland) is simply the coal price and the freight added. Ido not think Captain Smith adds anything on to them. 35. Does he sell the coal on his own account ?—Yes. At the Thames and Coromandel he puts a little on on account of extra risks. When he sells to the Northern Steamship Company, which takes the most of it from him, he sells it with just the freight added, so that they are no worse off than if they came direct to us. 36. What is the largest cargo which has been sent away, having regard to the draught of vessels? —The river is shallow in parts and difficult to work, so that large vessels cannot come here. The largest cargo would be between 200 and 300 tons. Captain Smith's vessels range from 50 tons to 140. 37. One means to increase the output would be to provide a better supply of vessels ?—Yes. 38. Now, with regard to the mine itself, where are the men working?—At present we are working in as many places as we can, and we are practically employing all the men we can. Mr. Moody will give you all the information you require about the mine, but he knows nothing about the financial part of the business. 39. Is your coal used in the Town of Whangarei ?—Yes. 40. What is it supplied at ?—For house coal it is 125., the same as Huntly. We are giving superior steam coal for 7s. 9d. per ton at the mine. 41. You employ sixty hands ? —About that of all classes. 42. And you distribute in wages, stores, and sundries, about how much per month ? —About £500. 43. Do you know anything about the existence of other coal-measures in that locality ?—There are other mines that have been worked, but they are not worked at present. There is the Phcenix Mine, and another leased by Mr. Charles Smith, but they are not working now. 44. Have you many years' work before you ?—I think so. W T e are only working portions of our land at present. 45. I suppose you have an estimate from somebody as to the quantity of coal on your land ?— No. You will get that from Mr. Moody. 46. Are you troubled with faults? —Very much, and the faults are fairly numerous. 47. With regard to the miners, have there been any disputes ?—No. Until four or five months ago we never had any disputes with our workmen, except with truckers, which was settled ; and the last dispute has just been settled by the Conciliation Board—l may say happily settled, for we are satisfied and so are the men. We felt that the men should get something more, but we wanted the other mine-owners to be brought into line, and that has been done by the Conciliation Board. 48. Do you use much powder? —Yes, in some places. The men, I may say, are paid the same all round for hard and soft coal. 49. Do you know anything about the "iron man" in this district? —It is not in use as far as I know. Certainly it is not in our mine. 50. Is the company proving fairly profitable to the investors ?—Yes ; we have paid 10 per cent, per annum, but not all the time. At the start we paid nothing. We have no reserve fund, and are pretty well working up to the margin in that respect. 51. Mr. Lomas.] Will you tell us what is the cost of the whole management?—lt is £600 a year, between Mr. Moody and myself. Every cost is included in 6s. Bd. per ton. That was our average cost for the last two years, and the average selling price was 7s. 6d. The cost is regulated by the output very much. 52. Mr. Proud.] I notice your coal is not quoted in the Auckland newspapers ?—No. 53. Do you not do any trade with Auckland?— Yes; with Captain Smith and the Northern Steamship Company. We never had much occasion to advertise our coal. We have never been able to get our coal into the Union Company.