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Kaikohi;, Wednesday, I'.ith April, lull. Alfred William Edwards examined. (No. 21.) I. lln Chairman. J What i.s your position!—l am a storekeeper aud gum-buyer, residing at Kaikohe, where I have lived for the last twenty-three or twenty-four years. I am a Count} Councillor, representing tins riding in the Bay of Islands County. i. Will you make a statement to the Commission/—1 should say that the central route would lie much preferable. .'i. As far as the country here is concerned, is it of any importance to you whether the rail way goes to the east or the west of the Tangihuas? —lt is not material to us at .ill. 4. Would you give a few of your reasons why you advocate the central route?- I consider that it opens up the country better. If a branch line were made to Whangarei all the Manga kahia country would be left empty. It is also much shorter to Auckland by the central line, and Auckland is our market. 5. You know the Hay of Islands County, Hokiauga, and the Mangakahia \ alley very well: whore is the market for all that country; —Auckland. We send stock, wool, flax, and butter. Mangakahia will be a good butter-producing district in the near future. (!. Would the train running through the district assist in the transit of cream.' Undoubtedly. 7. What is your opinion regarding the putting-in of connecting branches between the Main Trunk line and the Whangarei-Kaw akawa line on the one side and Dargaville and Kaikohe on the other?— These connections should come after the Main Trunk. The main arterial railway should be the first consideration. 8. What is the export of butter at the present time from this district /—There is only one factory in this locality at the present lime. It produces about 4 tons per week, but it will be near 40 tons a week in the near future. !). Supposing you had the railway to-morrow, what would In , its prospects?- Butter, stock, gum, timber, wool, and flax. 111. A 10l of that will go by water? It will be taken to the port anyway. 11. Are the Maolis willing to sell their land.' Yes: they are negotiating for the sale of a large part of the land now. 12. Is there any Government land here?—-Yes, about eight or nine miles to the south. It is very good stock -carrying country. 13. What is the extent of good land around Kaikohe, say, within eight miles: About fifteen miles by twelve miles to as far as the Awaroa llivtsr. 1-1. Mr, Ronayne.] You attach great importance to the butler industry I — Yes. L 5. Have you any idea of the cost of sending a ton of butter 160 miles by rail to Auckland? — 1 do not know what the particular tariff for butter is. 16. Have you no idea what the amount would be. No. 17. Would you be surprised to learn it would In , Il's. 2d. per ton.' That is cheap. 18. You will agree that it will take a great many thousands of tons of butter per annum to make the railway pay?— Yes. 19. Do you produce any cheese?— No. 20. Mr. Coom.] Do you consider that the present exports of this district would maintain a railway?— No. '_'I . Do you consider if a railway was made here the population would incresine and the exports also increase? —Very rapidly. 22. Mr, Sii ad man.\ What port do you reckon would serve you best/—B utter would be shipped direct by rail. 2- - ?. Do you know that in the southern part of the Island they send butter by steamer to Wellington rather than by rail? —No. 24. Do you not think that when there is a large amount of produce grown in this distriot steamers will call at Opua?—lf there is any inducement for them to do so, of course they will. That is natural. 25. Shipping and port charges are put against the goods, are they not /- Yes. 2(i. If there was a railway direct In Auckland butter would be taken in fourteen hours )■■ the freezer? —That is so. 27. If there was shipping to the port it would go direct to the refrigerator? —Yes, and the} could do the same with the train. 28. If a connection was made to Whangarei. you think the Main Trunk would not be gone on with?—lt is only an assumption, of course, but that is my feeling. 2!). How long is the kauri-gum industry likely to continue?—l cannot possibly state. .'SO. What is the export from these northern counties/— From the Bay, I suppose, there is not more than 10 tons a week at the present time. The gum-markel is ver\ bad. A good deal of gum comes from Whangaroa ami Bokianga, and goes out by water. •Tl . Will this gum 'jo by rail if the line comes to Kaikohe'/ —It will i_ r o by whichever route is the cheapest. •'i2. What is the gum freight , /—lss. per ton. .'(•'!. And there would be "_'<) or ■'!<> tons per week. I suppose/—Yes. .'54. Mr. Stattworthy .] Have you been in other parts of the Dominion?— Yes. 35. Has the construction of railways, as a rule, been delayed until after the country was peopled?—No ; the country is generally not peopled for the first few years of a railway's existence. 36. What purpose arc railways huill For?—To open up the country and encourage industry.