D.—4.

16

J. N. McCARROLT,.

5. Mr. Evans.] Are there any cattle being shipped at Whangarei?—Some are being shipped by scows; but the uncertainty of the weather- at times has a good deal to do with them not going that way. 6. Mr. Bonayne.] Are you aware thai in other parts of the Dominion cattle are not sent by rail as freely as you would lead the Commission to believe they would bo entrained here?— Perhaps they do not require to be shipped for the distance that the cattle from here do. We used to drive them from here some years ago, but we are getting away from driving now. 7. Mr. Steadman.] Would roads have anything to do with the mode in which oattle are sent forward to the market?— Very probably. Stock go up and down in value, nnd in that respect the question of roads in relation to transit has a very important bearing. 8. Is there plenty of feed on the roads between here and the south;— Yes, but it is a matter of getting quick transport. 9. Mr. Ronayne.] Is cattle-rnising increasing in this district? —Largely. 10. Are they not going in for dairying rather more extensively than for cattle-raising?— There has been an increased activity in both. 11. Mr. Coom.] Where did you get the information from that about seven hundred head of cattle were shipped from the rail-head per month?- -From the stock auctioneers. 'That, of course, refers to last year. 12. Do you know the difference in distance in the trial line by the west route to Kaikohe and by way of Whangarei ?—I think the main line from the Gap by the eastern line through the Mangakahia would be six or eight miles shorter than the line by way of Whangarei. 13. Would it alter your views if you knew the distance was thirty miles shorter?—No; not for the present needs of the country. The line on the eastern side of the range has not been measured or surveyed. 14. Mr. Stallworthy.] Do you say that this seven hundred head of cattle per month came from the Whangarei County? —No: from the Whangarei, Bay of Islands, and from part of the Hobson Counties. 15. Could you give the number of head of cattle in tin 1 district from which you can draw for export seven hundred per month? —No. 16. What interest do you think would Ik- served by tin' railway going from Whangarei to McCarroll's Gap? —Revenue. 17. What revenue would lie derived from the new portions of the line?—lt would not lie from the new line, but from the portion already constructed, from Whangarei northwards. 18. Could you give us any idea of the places tTimt would !>e touched on the route.' — Waikiekie, Maungakaramea, Kioreroa. 19. Your objection to the more central line seems to be that it might he years before it is completed?— That is a strong reason. There is also the matter of the sparse population on the route at the present time. 20. Is it not a fact that nearly all the population of Hobson County is north of McCarroll's Gap?—lf a line was taken east and west of the Gap, I do not think that would be so. 21. Do you know the distance from Kirikopuni to Auckland? —About 130 miles. 22. What is the fare?— lBod. second class, single. 23. Do you know the fare at present from Helensville to Dargaville?—About that, I think. 24. Mr. Becroft.] If the western route was adopted, would that divert much of the trade now converging into Whangarei and going to Auckland by iteamer? —Yes, to a certain extent. Waikiekie is in the happy position of being on either route. 25. What number of cattle went by way of Whangarei?—l have no idea, but there were a good few. Scows trade here pretty often. 26. The Chairman.] Are you dealing in cattle? —No, but I raise, and necessarily handle, a good number. 27. Where did you get the information from that you are giving us?— From one of the auctioneers. 28. Which one? —Wilson and Wilson. 29. Will one of the firm be a witness?— Probably. 30. You cannot say yourself where the cattle came from?— From the district around Whangarei and the north. 31. As far as the far north? —Decidedly. 32. Those from the far north would then have driven about 250 miles l>efore they reached the rail-head? —If right from the far north they wo-tild. 33. Mr. Stallworthy .] You do not think there is a danger in times of war in the railways Ijeing too near the coast?— This railway will l>e far enough away to be out of danger. 34. What special advantages would the Whangarei branch afford in the time of war?— Russell is a very simple port for an enemy to enter, and if there was trouble there troops could be rapidly sent to that port by rail. James Miivler Kii.j.en examined. (No. 4.) 1. The Chairman.] You are a barrister and solicitor in Whangarei, and an ex-Mayor of this town? —Yes. I have resided about twenty-eight years in the district, and am acquainted with the different routes of this proposed railway. 1 indorse almost w. ry word the last witness, Mr. McCarroll, said, but I do not agree with the greater pan .if Mr. Mackenzie's evidence. As in Mr-. Carruth's evidence, I agree with the greater part of it, but I differ from three statements he made. I think he misled the Commission as to the freights between Auckland and Whangarei. He said they were 7s. 6d. a ton, Thai is true as to the freight between Auckland