9

D.-4,

Maungakaramea, Thursday, 27th April, 1911, The Commission sat here at 7.30 p.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : — 46. David James O'Canroll, farmer, Maungakaramea. 47. William Crawford, farmer, Maungakaramea. 48. Leslie Peers Adams, funnel , . Maungakaramea. 49. James Cameron Miller, farmer and storekeeper, Maungakaramea. The Commission adjourned at 10 p.m.

Maungakaramea, Friday, 28th April, 1911. The Commission spent the day viewing the country on the eastern and western routes. Some of the Commissioners, ascended Mount Horokaka, one of the principal peaks of the Tangihua Range, and had a good view from there of the surrounding country and proposed railway routes to as far south as McCarroll's Gap, and as far north as Parakao. Other Commissioners followed the eastern route towards Tangiteroria. At 7.15 p.m. a meeting was held. Present : All the Commissioners. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Steadman was granted leave of absence from Saturday night, 29th April, to Thursday, 4th May. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence :— 50. How land Hill, farmer, Tangihua. 51. Patrick Lamb, settler, Maungakaramea. 52. Henry Bernard Sloane, stock-dealer, Mangapai. The Commission adjourned at 8.15 p.m. to Waikiekie.

Waikibkie, Saturday, 29th April, 1911. The Commission arrived here at noon, and held a meeting at 2 p.m. Present : The Chairman, Mr. Evans. Mr. Stallworthy, and Mr. Steadman. The other members of the Commission visited the line of the eastern route, and subsequently the Commission rode over both routes, going as far as the Omana Block. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : — r>:). George Hugh Smith, school-teacher, Waikiekie. 54. James Gilbert Ward, dairy-factory manager, Waikiekie. 55. Harry Hilford, storekeeper, Waikiekie. 56. Michael Henry Mason, settler, Waikiekie. 57. Robert Taylor, dairy-farmer, Mareretu. 58. James Thompson Walker, farmer, Maungakaramea. The Commission adjourned at 4 p.m. to McCarroll's Gap.

McCarroll's Gap, Monday, Ist May, 1911. The Commission sat at Mr. Robert McCarroll's homestead at 9.30 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. Mr. Robert McCarroll (59) attended and gave evidence. The Commission resolved to ask the Minister of Public Works to sanction a reconnaissance survey being made of a suggested alternative route north of McCarroll's Gap, through Waikiekie, and joining the western route at Tauraroa Valley; the report to be sent direct to tin . Commission not later than 10th May, in order to save time. The Commission adjourned at 10.15 a.m.. and proceeded, via Kaiwaka and Topene, to Auckland, arriving at Auckland at 3.40 p.m. on Tuesday, 2nd May.

Auckland, Friday, sth May, 1911. The Commission met at the Municipal Chambers at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : — 60. Francis Mander, M.P., for Mareden. 61. James Trounson, timber-merclu'iit and farmer, residing at Northcote. 62. Gerald Loftus Peacocke, chairman, Auckland Railway League. 63. John Alexander Wilson, District Engineer, Public Works Department, Auckland. The Commission adjourned at 4.45 p.m. 2—D. 4.