W. S. PENNY.]

69

D.—4.

64. And the building of cow-sheds, which would be a necessary consequence of closer settlement, would bo almost prohibitive on account of the distance the stufi has to come ? —Yes. 65. You say you threshed your oats and burnt the straw ?—Yes. 66. Was that the general practice followed by the farmers in your district ? —Yes. 67. Would you have done so had there been connection to Greatford—would it have paid you ? —Yes, if we had a market for it we would have done so. 68. The market was there if you oould have got to it '{ —Yes.

Kenneth Waring Dalrymple sworn and examined. (No. 24.) 1. Mr. 1/uckie.] You reside at Bull's ? —Yes, just below Bull's. 2. And you are a farm-manager ?■ —Yes ; I manage my father's estate. 3. I believe you have lived practically all your life in that neighbourhood ? —More or less in the Manawatu, and I am well acquainted with the lower ftangitikei. 4. You have prepared a statement of the properties which are most suitable for subdivision '{ — Yes. 5. This is the statement [produced]?' —Yes. It reads, "(1.) McKelvie, L.—'Flock House': Area, 3,331 acres ; from seven to ten miles from Bull's ; a large proportion first-class fattening, agricultural, or dairying land. Would subdivide into twelve sections of 150 acres to 300 acres practically roaded as it is. (2.) Dalrymple Estate, J. T.—' Waitatapai' : Area, 8,370 acres ; from seven to ten miles from Bull's; mixed sandy hills, swampy flats, suitable for fattening and dairying and a part agricultural. Would subdivide into fifteen sections of 200 acres to 1,200 acres. Would require about five miles of road ; metal handy; easy country to road. (3.) Fraser, Donald—' Pukehou ' : Area, 2,505 acres ; from four to six miles from. Bull's ; large proportion first-class agricultural land, balance first-class fattening or dairy land and light sandy flats. Would subdivide into six sections of from 100 to 500 acres. Short road required ; metal handy. (4.) Wilson Bros.- ' Sandtoft' : Area, 8,370 acres ; from seven to nine- miles from Bull's ; mixed agricultural, dairy, fattening, and grazing land. Would subdivide into fifteen sections ot from 200 to 1,000 acres. Would require eight miles of road ; metal fairly handy ; easy to road. All these blocks of land are similar to other blocks of land near by that have been subdivided at different times into areas as suggested and have been found to be successful, nearly all original holders having sold at higher prices, and the present holders are doing well." 6. These estates would be materially served and given considerable advantages if that connection between Pukenui and Greatford were carried into effect ?— -Yes. 7. And closer settlement would be thereby induced ?■— Yes. 8. Where is the market for the bulk of your produce now ? —lt goes to Greatford. It is chiefly [at stock and dairy-produce. 9. Is the bulk of your land suitable iov- agricultural purposes ?- Yes, a good proportion of it. 10. The Chairman.] But you have sand ridges on your land ?■ —Yes. 11 . Mr. LuoMe.] Have you included those sandy portions right on the coast ?—No. 12. Those sand ridges are mixed up with the other classes of country % —Yes ; it is similar to the vrliimatangi country. 13. And is a considerable portion of it suitable for crop-growing % —Yes. 14. What prevents it from being used for the purpose of crop-growing ?—The freight. The cartage to the railway precludes that. 15. You have heard what Mr. Phillips and Mr. Penny have said : are the figures they have given correct ?—Yes, quite correct. 16. And they are sufficiently high to exclude the possibility of your going into that bind ot business ?• —Yes. 17. Do you know of any instances of farmers in that district who have been farming in that way and have gone out of it ? —No ; generally speaking, the farmers who are there have been there for a great many years. 18. But I mean, have they gone out of the business of crop-growing ?•—No. 19. Those properties you have mentioned with better means of access would all hi; more closely settled ?—Yes, the chances arc; that they would. It gives them the opportunity. 20. Mr. Innes.] The only effect of the construction of this line so far as these particular large areas are concerned would be to have a railway-station at Bull's instead of at Greatford I —That would be one. 21. Your nearest station would be, Bull's instead of Greatford ? —Yes. 22. Now, that is the only advantage of the railway there, is it not ?-—Are you speaking of the extension or the connection ? 23. It does not matter which ? —lt does mean a great deal. 24. If there was an extension it would follow approximately the same line as if the railway were constructed % —lf it was connected from. Levin to Foxton it would mean a great deal more advantage than to have an extension only. 25. Would the extension from Pukenui to Marton have any effect on those lands ?— -Yes, a great deal. It would give that country that is suitable for the growing of chaff and grain a market. It would enable timber and coal to come down into that district a good deal cheaper than it does now. The cartage to Bull's from Greatford on timber is almost the same as the railage from Ohakune to Greatford. You would save the difference in freight and get a better market.