I.—lo.

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[■&. H. VAILE.

41. Mr. Mac Donald.] With reference to this country thai is served by the company's line take the Rotorua Extension, from Kotorua to Taupo: could it beneficially serve thai country! Well, not to the same extent. The line would be, on an average, 1 should think, about ten miles distant, which would mean that one would have about ten miles to go before reaching a station. 42. For instance, coining from Mokai to Atiamuri, the nearest access would be llotorua? —1 have not been over the company's line, and oannot speak too positively. iy. At the present time there is a huge area of country there lying undeveloped! Absolutely undeveloped. 44. And at the present time it is also a considerable cost to the State in the way of endeavouring to keep the rabbits in check? —The Government pays the Maoris so-much a day for poisoniug their own land and clearing their own weeds. 45. At any rate, that is a cost to the State ? —Yes. 46. In your opinion, it would be in the best interests of the country to have thai land put into European occupation 'i- -Distinctly so. 47. Your opinion as regards the construction of the line and acquisition of the land by the company is that you cannot sec any objeotion to it, providing the country is safeguarded in regard to the acquisition of the land, ami also in regard to the tariff charges on the railway.' Ami (in the other point, of access to the railway, so that it will not be possible for the company to place stations only on their own land. Unless the light is granted to those stations the railway would be of no use to anybody but the company. 48. The Chairman.] Which, in your opinion, would be the besi railway for the whole district.' The rail from llotorua to Taupo. 49. What makes you say that—is it purely on account of the thermal regions or huge amount of Crown lands.'—Partly. Further, I take it the country on tin- Rotorua—Taupo Railway is better or more valuable because settlemeni lias taken place along that route, and it has not taken place along the other route. 50. Is that because the prospective settlers could not get there?- —It might lie; land along the Company's line lias not been available—there are practically no settlers then-, and there are on the other route. 51. 1 understood yon to say there are huge areas of Crown land on the Rotorua—Taupo route? —Yes, Crown lands. 52. As lo Native lands, what about that!-—There is a considerable area of Native land on that route. 53. You made a suggestion that differential rates might be charged? —Yes. 54. You said if the company carried goods for one individual at ."is. less than the schedule rates than lor another, that that should be provided against;— Yes. 55. Have you any reason for making that statement? —1 have been broughi up in an atmo sphere of railways. That is the great means the Americans have of knocking their rivals out of charging less to their friends. 56. Have the company done that in the past? —I do not think so; 1 think they have charged uniformally less than they have the right to charge. The present company, I understand, is selling to a new company right away; a fresh set of men. with no interest in the colony at all perhaps, will be in charge. •~>7. In reply to Mr. Mac Donald you said the Government were paying the Maoris so-much per day to clear noxious weeds? —This district is practically free from noxious weeds; the only weeds are round the kaingas. Personally 1 complained, and the Agricultural Department put on men to cut down these weeds at the Maori kaingas. DB. The inference being that the Government is paying the Natives to clear noxious weeds! — Yes. These men are lying about doing nothing while somebody else is being paid to do tin' work. The same with rabbiting ; they gel paid 7s. per day. and work about one day oi»t of three. 59. That is lather a serious statement to make? I can absolutely prove il. 60. You might be asked to do it I—l have had a good deal to do with rabbiting up there, and can [prove it. » 61. Mr. l)(il:irll.\ 1 think you were one of the promoters of the agitation in liotorua against the construction of this railway?— Not that exactly. I was a promoter, eighteen months ago, for the Government to construct a railway from Rotorua to Taupo, and as your company's proposal would interefere with the probability of* the Government undertaking such work, it was in that sense I opposed it. ()2. You Supported the agitation against it !- — Yes. 68. You have now come to the conclusion that it is advisable to support the petition.' Yes ; from a great deal of inquiry I have made in Wellington I am satisfied there is no chance of the Government doing anything. 64. In your opinion, the railway from liotorua to Taupo would serve the country better! —Yes. (i.'i. You now think it is better to adopt this course —leaving the other railway to the company. Dealing with the question of rabbits, in your opinion, is it not necessary that this country should be settled as speedily as possible so as to keep down that pest?—lt is certainly highly advisable, though rabbits are not the same menace there that they are in many parts of the South Island. lid. Are they increasing—are they a special nuisance at the present time .' - Yes. 67. YOU referred to the question of the monopoly of the thermal sights: you say there is nothing in the monopoly of hotels —it is the monopoly of the thermal sights. Private ownership exists to-day?— Yes. 68. It was private ownership you were objecting to ?- -Yes. except the siyiils were in different hands; Graham's had Wairakei, and independent men had others.