19

D.—lo

Carted to St. Andrew's, except last year. Could not get trucks last year. On the average we cart 8,000 bushels grain to St. Andrew's. Knows sheep travelling on Waimate roads. More go north than south. Cannot say difference. Knows J. Hall. He has a farm, 300 acres. He carts every bit to St. Andrew's. So does Parish, Squires, and Catherwood. Their carting is all grain. From Government settlement, Springbrook, they cart all their produce to St. Andrew's. Cox and Sidey cart to St. Andrew's. Do not know Wake. Sales are held at St. Andrew's once a fortnight ; also at Studholme. Cannot say as to Makakahi. Farmers from Levels go to these sales by road. Over twenty Levels farmers come to St. Andrew's on sale-days. They come from twelve to fifteen miles back. Went through statement of cartage on Otipua Eoad. This is the statement, and it is correct, so far as I know. It is a fair average ; 1,293 tons fairly represents the quantities carted over Otipua Eoad. Cross-examined by Mr. Moore. —Carts all his produce to St. Andrew's, but carted grain to Timaru on the 10th and 11th April. Carted oats. Last year we carted it all. Year before to St. Andrew's. We shall not cart more to Timaru. It is cheaper to St. Andrew's. There is a grain-store in St. Andrew's, and one on our property. Our sheep go to freezing-works over these roads. They are bought by meat company on the place. Re Smith's land, top of map, cannot say where it goes. Knows Cox's grain sent to St. Andrew's last two years. Cox might take some to Timaru in his trap, but heavy traffic would go to St. Andrew's. Will swear his grain is going there. Cannot say which way B. Mack sends. Knows he used to cart to Timaru. Both Parishes cart to St. Andrew's. St. Andrew's sale is now held once a fortnight, while in winter it is held once a month. A lot of sheep are sold there —sometimes five thousand. Two hundred farmers are present, and out of that twenty come from Levels, if not more. This twenty go to the other sale in Waimate. W. J. Bartley, from Clairmont, comes fifteen or twenty miles from Levels. Has seen Mr. Orbell at Pareora. Never saw him at St. Andrew's. Pareora sale was a special sale, and Mr. Orbell was manager. Mr. Gibson, from Clairmont, was at St. Andrew's sale ; thinks about six months ago. As to list of tonnage, no back loading is shown. It is usual to bring stores, &c, back. Scott Bros, would have about five tons and other things as back loads. Much the same applies to the others, so that there should be a considerable increase made to the list for back loading. Knows Springbrook. Can name several who do cart to St. Andrew's. Does not say that Hastie's evidence re his carting is incorrect. There is light traffic from all these settlers, and we all drive by Levels roads to Timaru. In the area round me over twenty drive light traffic to Timaru. We go in on Saturday as a rule. Ec-examined by Mr. Hamilton.—Carted 500 bushels in the two days. Carted to Timaru. Eecognises Smith, Talbot, Cook, Campbell, Anstey, Watson, and several others as attending sales at St. Andrew's. Sometimes Christchurch Meat Company or Mr. Cunningham buy our sheep, also Mr. Grant or Mr. Mackenzie. Joseph McEwan sworn.—ls a farmer at Pareora, near Brassell's. Farms 600 acres with his brother. We cart our grain and produce to St. Andrew's. Cheaper than carting to Timaru. It has been a regular practice of late years to cart to St. Andrew's. Last year we carted it all to Timaru, but under exceptional circumstances. We go in for grain growing. As to sheep traffic on main road, a little more comes from Waimate than from Levels. Heard my brother's evidence as to Parish, Cox, and others. This was correct. Has gone through the statement re carting grain, &c, over Otipua Eoad. Eecognises this statement. It is a fair average, none overestimated. Eepresents 1,293 tons. Heard the statement of his brother re carting to St. Andrew's. Thinks that evidence is correct. The names of persons given by his brother as attending local sales are correct. Knows the settlers between St. Andrew's and Pareora. Their traffic mostly goes to St. Andrew's. Cross-examined by Mr. Moore. —Attended St. Andrew's sales. Is there at every sale. Sometimes both go, but he generally goes. Has seen J. Smith and several others drive. Some of the others have farms in Waimate, but not many. The people mentioned mostly go regularly. Is quite sure. Confirms the list. We cart about 60 tons, and our back loading is about 20 tons, or about one-third as much. Cannot speak for the others. A fair average would be one-third except for Elworthy. Knows Springbrook settlers. Their heavy traffic goes to St. Andrew's. Would not contradict Mr. Hastie's evidence. They cart their produce on their Saturday traps — small loads. Says that the bulk of the heavy traffic goes to St. Andrew's. The light traffic comes all the way to Timaru. Ec-examined by Mr. Kinnerney. —Some of these settlers have no carts of their own. It pays better to send to St. Andrew's even if they have carts of their own. John Drinnan sworn. —Is a farmer at Pareora near Brassell's ford. Has been seventeen years in the district. Carts to St. Andrew's. It is cheaper, because Government has reduced the tariff by railway. Has 600 acres on Otaia. Does not cart any grain or produce to Timaru. More sheep come north than south. Hall and several others near me cart to St. Andrew's. McMillan up to the present has not grown grain, but has croppers, some of whom are going to cart to St. Andrew's. Has about 400 acres. Has been through the figures in statement (Exhibit 21a). Knows all those except Elworthy and another, and, with these exceptions, should consider it a fair estimate. Knows the small settlement at Springbrook. Their heavy traffic goes to St. Andrew's. Their light traffic goes to Timaru. Some bring in small loads to Timaru, but the bulk of the heavy traffic goes to St. Andrew's. Attends the sales at St. Andrew's, and agrees with the statements of previous witnesses as to the persons in Levels County who use these roads. Cross-examined by Mr. Moore.—Carts to St. Andrew's. Carts grain. This year grew about 2,000 bushels, equals about 20 tons. His wool goes to St. Andrew's. Eegular practice last three years has been to cart to St. Andrew's, but carts light traffic to Timaru by lower Pareora and Main South Eoad. Comes in about once a week. Re sheep traffic : Knows the sheep on Otipua and Main South Eoad, but only general knowledge. Sees lots going each way. McMillan's carting is heavy. He grazed land previously.