42

[t.. F. downs.

D.—4.

you take (h<: average of the country, it means that the whole of the produce of the country, even from the ports, will take the railway in preference to the river, because the settlers will know exactly when their produce will arrive at the Auckland market. 3. Mr. Evans.] How long have you resided in this district? —Twenty-four years. -1. How much produce is exported from your district to Auckland at present?—Wβ supply cream to the Maungawhare Dairy Factory. 5. Have you any idea of the amount?— No. It is practically only those along the river-banks who can send their cream. 6. How many settlers are there in your district?—l cannot give the exact numbers, for the reason that lam representing different counties. In the Tokatoka Hiding of the Otamatea County there were over four hundred people at the last census. 7. They do not export anything? —They export pork and stock. 8. How far are you from the Kaipara Harbour?— Between fifty and sixty miles to the heads. 9. Railway carriage suits you better than water carriage, then?— Certainly. 10. Water carriage could not compete with the railway?— Not so far as stock and produce are concerned. 11. Mr. Itonayiie.] Could you give the Commission an idea of the number of stock sent from your district to Auckland per annum?— No. 12. Could you tell the Commission how the stock disposed of are sent to Auckland?—At present the majority are sent by barge from the different porta on the river to Helensville, and there transhipped to Auckland; but sometimes the barge gets to Helensville at a time unsuitable for railway connection, and the cattle have to be paddocked for the night, and collected and entrained next day. 13. You do not ship direct to Auckland from here? —Not now. We used to ship direct from here, but as the line is progressing northward I believe stock are being driven to Te Hana and entrained there for Auckland direct, instead of goinjjr by barge to Helensville. It is a common occurrence, I understand, for cattle and sheep to be drowned when crossing the heads. 14. Do not a number of ships trade between the Wairoa River and southern ports?—l think there are three ships. 15. Do those traders bring back freight in the shape of chaff, oats, and potatoes?— Yes. 16. And also general merchandise? — With the exception of bulk lines. I do not think they do. 17. Do they not bring tea and sugar and other groceries?— No. As far as T know, all that comes from Auckland. 18. I suppose you are aware of the fact that those traders coming from southern ports have to fill up with something, and that consequently the freights are low —I have been told that they are as low as ss. a ton?— The lowest I have heard of is 10s. a ton, and a guarantee of 10 tons had to be given. 19. I am creditably informed that it has been done as low as ss. a ton?— Quite possibly. 20. You say that the land is capable of growing anything, provided that it is manured : the land is not sufficiently good in tin's part of the northern district to glow oats and potatoes without the aid of artificial manures I —You must understand that there are thousands of acres in the country I represent that will grow potatoes without manure, but I think you will agree with me that, with the exception of very rich land, any land is better for manure of a certain class. 21. You say that Kaipara Harbour is of no use because of its being a bar harbour?—As regards the shipping of produce direct to the outside markets. 22. What do you call outside markets?—To England or other foreign ports. 23. Is it not a fact that large steamers con.c up the Wairoa River and take large cargoes of timber to England?— Yes; but tint is not produce. lam representing farmers. 24. It is the produce grown by farmers that loads- the ships?— Not the timber-ships. They take no produce direct to the foreign markets. 25. Is there much coal used in this district? —In my district, practically none. 26. Is there no coalfield in your district? —Not that I know of. 27. You have mentioned four ports which you say are on the average twelve miles from the western route: would not the produce from the south —oats, chaff, and merchandise—required by settlers lie brought by traders from the. south and delivered at tho ports instead of coining through by rail from Auckland? —No. If we had railway connection I think we would be able to grow our own produce, and ship to Auckland from anywhere on the line: we would not need to ship from the south at all. 28. Mr. Coom.] You quoted one advantage from the direct route —viz., doing away with the middleman : how would that be achieved?—We would be able, by sending our stock to the Auckland market, to sell direct to the butchers. 29. Not to the consumers?— No. 30. Then the butcher would be your middleman ?—That would be so. 31. Mr. Stallworthy .] I understand that your evidence is in reference to the district you were appointed to represent?— Yes. 32. You have stated that you have got good roads: how much produce can you carry from your homestead to Tokatoka? —In winter time it takes me all my time to get in with 2cwt. or 3 cwt. from Tokatoka, which is three miles away. Sometimes it takes three hours. 33. Is the road metalled? —The first mile from Tokatoka is metalled. 34. Do you think an empty dray could be taken from the back hills to Ruawai?—Not on the present roads. 35. What about the road to Raupo? —From the hills it is practically the same as from Ruawai, with the exception that nearer the river there is some metal.