D.-4.

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37. What would lie the effect on Mangakahia if they bad a railwaj to oarry their butter to Auckland for L2s. 2d. per ton? —It would mean the addition of two or three factories -perhaps half a dozen — in the course of three or four years. 38. Is there anything that this part of Auckland cannot produce thai is produced in other parts of the province? Nothing. 39. What is the yield of maize per acre in tlhis district? I have uo idea. There has never l>een any large area under maize here. 10. Would yon credit the statement by a settler at Mangumuka that lie grew I" ,1 bushele In the acre? -Yes, on some of these liver Hals. 41. Are there many sheep in this part of Hokianga? Yes. 12. Are they likeh to increase much .' Yes. l.'i. Along the line of the central routel Yes, right through ; they will multiply very rapidly. 11. There will be the oarriage of sheep into this district and of tat sheep out? Yes. and wool and lambs in addition. I"). The export would be immensely increased in a short time?- Nothing can prevent it. Hi. Do you agree with Mr. Dickeson with regard to the benefits the railway would give to Mangakahia f- -Yes.

Darqaville, Saturday, 22nd April, 1911. Hokace Hammond examined. (No. 22.) 1. I'hi Chairman.] What is your position? —l am Engineer for the Hobson County. With regard to the two routes, I consider the western route is the shorter and more direct of the two. The westeiii route does noi deviate so much from-the direct line between the two h'xed points, McCarroll's Gap and Mangakahia, as the eastern route. The western route deviates about three miles from the direel way, as against five miles l>\ the eastern route. The western route crosses the Wairoa River where it is navigable at Eirikopuni. At thai point the river is not subject to heavy Hooding. A bridge constructed 30ft. above high-water mark, which is the same height as our heavy-traffic bridge, and two miles by straight line Farther up the river, would not impede the navigation of the river. Thai part of the river is only traversed by snwll steamers. Where the eastern route crosses the rivers above the junction ii crosses the Wairua and Mangakahia Rivers. The Mangakahia River at the plain , of crossing is subject to heavy Hooding. I consider the western iout.. , is more centra] than the eastern route, the western route being twelve miles from the Wairoa River opposite Tβ Hopuru in a straight line, and sixteen miles from the Wairoa River opposite Raupo. The eastern route is only six miles from navigable water at Mangapai, a branch river of the Whangar. i Harbour. The land through which the western route traverses is all of good class, undulating to flats, while the eastern route traverse.- a considerable area of pooi gum land covered with ti tree. The western country requires developing, being at present held in large blocks, including some I 2.01i0 acres of Crown land. The area of land affected by the western route will carry a large population when once open for settlement, which would be a considerable factor in finding traffii for the railway. The country affected by the eastern route is already practically developed so far as tin' land is suitable for development. It is already provided with harbours, and is fairly roaded, and «ill prove a ver\ small factor in feeding the railway. We have a railway from Dargaville to Caihu, which could be easily linked with the western route by three possible lines —one is from Taita through to Mangakahia, south of Pakotai, a distance of fourteen miles in a straight line: the second and better route is from Dargaville to Ivirikopuiii. where ihe western route crosses the Wairoa River, a distance of eleven miles in a straight line, but which will take about thirteen miles of railway. It is all good country. The Dargaville Kaihu section could also be linked up from opposite Dargaville to Omano. That dis tance is also eleven miles in a straight line, and I do not think more than twelve miles of railway would be required by that route. To link Dargaville with the eastern route would lie a very expensive matter, and would necessitate a very much longer line of railway. I understand there has been a suggestion that the eastern route should be adopted and linked up with flu , Whaugarei and Kawakawa Railway, and to abandon the central trunk line altogether. If such a thing happens it will only make Whangarei the distributing centre. It will not feed the Main Trunk line. Whangarei Harbour is a splendid port, am! linking up the Main Trunk Railway with the Whangarei Railway will simply bring the traffic into Whangarei instead of feeding the Main Trunk. 2. Mr. •'iiniii. J If you have a bridge 30ft. above high water mark the approaches must be very considerable?- In this case they will bo short. The high bank on one side conies right to the water, and on the other side it is only a chain or two before the high lands are reached. 3. Do you consider it will be expensive to construct a bridge on the Mangakahia River, which is subject to floods.? —I think so. 4-. You say the eastern route at one parl is six miles from navigable water at Mangapai: if yon look a little farther north to where the river diverges to (he east, there is a large extent of country to the east of the central route: how would that be served? —I understand it is all well roaded* into Whangarei and into the Whangarei-Kawakawa Railway. 5. Would not the Ruatangata district be served better by the eastern than by the western route? —Undoubtedly it would, but I would qualify that by saying that is only a small piece of