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3. Mr. Reed.'] How long is the line ?—Fifty miles, approximately. 4. And you say that it takes eight hours to go that distance ? —Yes. 5. Mr. Newman.'] What is the condition of the tramway as compared with an ordinary railway ? —That is rather difficult to answer. Some tramways are as good as some railways, but this tramway is not according to the standard of the Government railways, if that is what you mean. 6. A tramway is a sort of inferior railway ? —-A tramway is usually designed to carry a different class of traffic from a railway. It does not travel at the same rate of speed nor carry such heavy loads. This railway is incapable of carrying, without material alteration, traffic such as the Government railways carry. 7. If the extension were granted to Taupo, would the existing portion be fit for passenger traffic % —-Not as now existing. 8. Mr. Guthrie.] It would simply mean practically relaying the line ?—Do you mean substituting heavy rails for the existing rails ? 9. Yes I —l think that would be the case. These rails are of a lighter character than on any Government lines to-day. 10. Is the gauge the same ? —Yes. 11. And the curves ? —I think they would have to be re-aligned. 12. What are the grades ? —The grades are good, and the steepest, I think, is lin 47. But the excessive curvature means that they make a greater distance, while taking out the curves would mean shortening the distance, and without inspecting the plans I do not know what effect the re-alignment would have on the grades. 13. Mr. Fraser.] Do I understand that before passengers are allowed to be carried on this line there would have to be considerable improvements made on the line itself ?—That would be in the judgment of the officer who inspected the line, who might not think as I do. My own opinion is that considerable improvement would be required. 14. Is not the weight of rail a factor where you consider speed more than safety ? —lt is both, because we have had instances in New Zealand of rails breaking, but this line is very heavily sleepered. It has more sleepers than some of the Government lines, because the company had plenty of timber at its disposal. 15. Do you know what the rails were ? —3O lb. rails were laid. We do not use anything lighter than 55 lb. now, and 70 lb. rails on main lines. 16. Then, if the extension of the company's line to Taupo were seriously considered there would have to be considerable expenditure on this line before it would be considered fit for traffic ?— Undoubtedly. I think the company realize that. 17. Then, is it probable that the new portion would be constructed in a similar way to the present portion ? —lf used for the same purpose. 18. I mean for the extension ? —lf it were intended for the public conveyance of passengers it would have to be laid in a way approximating to the standard of the Government railways. 19. Would the line already formed require to be brought pretty nearly up to the standard of the Government railways—l do not mean as far as the weight of rails is concerned ? —I think it would require to be brought pretty well up to the Government system in all respects. 20. You want a heavy rail to carry a heavy engine, and you cannot get a high speed without a heavy engine ?—The speed is not the only matter to be considered. If this line is to carry a general goods and passenger traffic, the company would have to run heavier engines in order to haul the greater weight, even at the same speed. Of course, the line would have to be certified as fit for traffic. Very short trains, at low speeds, might be run over the line. The curves are not so sharp as some of those used on the city tramways. The company could hardly run such trains as are run now on the Government lines, and probably the public would demand that. The line, when it gets to Taupo, will be about seventy miles long, and if there is any considerable traffic the public will agitate for a far faster service than there is at present; and to allow passenger traffic to be run in a satisfactory manner the line must be put into approximately the same condition as the Government railways. 21. Mr. Myers.] The speed at present would presumably be about five miles an hour ? —A little faster —fifty miles in eight hours. 22. If this were a Government railway, having regard to the contour of the country, what would you consider the average speed should be to bring it into conformity with the Government line ? — About fifteen miles an hour. 23. I believe, Mr. Dalziell, in his evidence, stated that Mr. Coom, a former Government Railway Engineer, gave it as his opinion that this line, with some slight improvements, was sufficient to bear a heavy traffic : you disagree with that statement ? —I am afraid I must disagree with it. The line is capable of carrying passenger traffic now, but if you wish to run a train at all like the train from Auckland to Rotorua, the line would require to be materially altered. 24. The sleepers you say are exceptionally heavy ? —Numerous. 25. What is your opinion with regard to the condition of the formation of the ground for heavier trains and engines ? —The formation is all right. It runs over pumice country, but the company cannot alter the nature of the country they traverse. 26. The embankments are of a light character ? —Yes, something like the Government lines, but the cuttings are narrower than would be permitted on Government railways. Most of them have no " batters," but are vertical, and comfortably wide enough for the company's railway to get through. 27. So that it would require a faster engine, heavier trains, as well as material alterations in the formation of the track, to bring the railway into line with the Government standard ?—That is so. 28. Mr. Macßonald.'] Supposing the company were to use the new motor railway service—l understand the Government are getting something of the kind out from England at the present time ? —Yes, we have some in operation already.