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I.—3a.

[d, A. GAMMAN.

115. Is not a kahikatea bush considered to contain more superficial feet than totara or any other timber?—lt depends greatly upon the bush. If you take the North Waimarino totara and. compare that bush you would find it would contain three times the amount that the South Waimarino contains. 116. You are picking out one particular case ?—I would have to see the bush before I could give an answer. There are many things to consider. 117. In your experience have you not found that kahikatea trees run from 3,000 ft. to 10,000 ft. per tree ?•—No, I have never seen that. 118. Is not 3,000 ft. a low estimate for totara and kahikatea?—Any amount of them only turn out 300 ft. 119. I suppose you have not heard of the operations of the Taupo Timber Company in dealing with the timber-cutting ? —I have heard a little. 120. There a survey of 3 acres was taken, and the quantity of timber was found to be 90,000 ft. ? —I presume that is on paper. Ido not think they would cut it. There is no bush in the Baetihi that would cut that. 121. Is not 50,000 ft. a low estimate for mixed bush? —On an average bush it is a big estimate. 122. It is an estimate that can be realised ? —lt might be down in the Taupo district, but you are taking the biggest-diameter trees in New Zealand. 123. What do you consider a price of this kind—kahikatea delivered to the mill-owner is paid for at Is. lOd. per 100 ft. :is that a small price or a big price ?—I understand that would be for labour included. That would not be paid as a royalty. 124. Boyalty on timber delivered including all labour ?—lt would be very difficult to say unless I saw the place and considered the cost of getting it to the mill. 125. I include all that ?—The usual cost would be about Is. 6d., but 1 have not seen the place. 126. What would you consider 6d. to 9d. per 100 ft. paid for kahikatea as royalty without any labour? —That is the highest royalty I have heard paid for white-pine. 127. The labour in this case is hauling to the water-line —I speak of timber up at Kawhia?— Yes. 128. Would 6d. and 9d. be capable of being paid to these Natives with whom you have a contract at Baetihi. Would it be a proper price for kahikitea? —No; most of the white-pine is sent to Australia, and there would be quite 2s. 6d. freight paid to send it free to a seaport town. 129. What is your opinion with regard to the price of matai per 100 ft., ruling at 2s. 6d. to Bs. from Levin way ? —The royalty is higher than we have ever heard about. We have never paid any royalty like that, and we are on the main line at Dannevirke. 130. Can you tell me the ruling price for first-class rimu?—Whereabouts —at what place? 131. What is the market price now ?—lt depends upon whether it is at Wellington, Dannevirke, or elsewhere. 132. Can you tell us what the ruling price for rimu is?--It depends upon where it is. 133. The ruling price for kauri at Auckland is 17s. per 100 ft. first class, rimu is 14s. first class, and totara is £1 to £1 ss. first class? —I might say that the price at Dannevirke at the present time for white-pine on the railway-trucks is ss. 6d., rimu 7s. Id., rimu at Wanganui 7s. 6d., and at Palmerston North 7s.—that is, to merchants. 134. What is the price of first-class rimu in Wellington ?—Add 3s. to the price I have already given, and that will give the merchants' price in Wellington. 135. Mr. Fraser.] Those prices are phts the railage ?—Yes. 136. Mr. Hone Heke.] What would you be prepared to deliver first-class rimu in Wellington at from Dannevirke ?—los. Id. would be the price. 137. The Chairman.] That, of course, means in quantity?. —That is the price we are getting. That is the wholesale price by the truck. 138. Mr. Hone Heke.] What is the general price for felling and cutting of timber per 100 ft. ? —We pay sd. per 100 ft. 139. Is not 4d. the general rule?—No, it is all sd. up our way. 140. What do you pay for hauling from the stump to the mill ?—We do not do anything by contract. We do it ourselves. Sometimes it costs half-a-crown. It costs us all manner of prices. 141. Have you any knowledge of people being employed for hauling?— Yes. 142. What price have you paid?— The contracts usually run up our way for felling and cutting, and delivery to the mill, 2s. a hundred. 143. Is not Is. 6d. the general rule?—lt is alsolutely impossible at the present time to do it. 144. Is not the price of milling Is. 6d. to 2s. —that is, the actual cutting ?—That would be without including anything for wear-and-tear in the mill. 145. What did you say your railage was from Dannevirke to Wellington ? —3s. 146. Have you been through the King-country ? —Yes, a good bit of it. 147. Have you been to Taumarunui?—Yes. 148. What would you pay for railage of timber from Taumarunui to Auckland ?—I have no idea. 149. Mr. Jennings.] In regard to correct measurement of timber, how are the rights of the Natives safeguarded ? —I mentioned yesterday that there was a clause in the agreement to that effect, but after seeing Mr. Skerrett I find that there is no such clause. It is a recognised law, and so it was quite unnecessary. 150. Mr. Vile.] Have you any idea what the cost of the railway freight on timber would be from your place ?—I can only give an approximate answer to that. Based on the freight from Dannevirke to Wellington, I think it would be about 4s. 6d.