15

F.—No. 5.

Dr. Kuight.

2!Uh August, 1867.

Mr. Murison, Mr. Cox, Mr. Wood, Major Heaphy, V.C, Mr. McNeill, Mr. Hankinson. Mr. Stevens in the Chair. Dr. Knight, Auditor of Public Accounts, called in and examined. S. The Chairman.] What amount of acreage will there be immediately benefited by the proposed railway to Winton ? —I do not know the amount of acreage, but the adjoining waste lands are, I believe, very fertile. 9. Have you formed any opinion of the advantages to be derived from the said railway?—lt would be of great advantage to the Lake District, which is rich in gold and other minerals. 10. Is there a great extent of agricultural land in the Lakes District ? —My impression is that there is not. 11. Have you seen the properties of the Agricultural Companies ?—No, I have not. 12. Do you think it expedient to pay for public works in Crown Lands ? —No. I think it is better to give money instead of land. 13. Mr. Wood.] Will you state the mode of payment proposed by yourself and by the Company ? —The proposed railway was to be constructed by the Companies, and the value of the work estimated by a competent engineer for the Government. Payment was then to be made at tho rate of one acre for every £1. 14. Mr. McNeill.] Was it your impression that the Companies were prepared to extend their operations in the event of their being allowed to select land in payment for the proposed works ? —My impression was that they would necessarily do so. 15. When this scheme was first mooted, was it, to your knowledge, in contemplation to permit, the selections to be made in blocks of not less than 20,000 acres? —Yes, my proposal was, that the blocks should not be less than 20,000 acres. 16. Mr. Murison.] In the event of the proposed railway being carried on to the Mataura, and payment made for its construction in 20,000 acre blocks, selected anywhere throughout the Province, will you give an opinion as to the effect which this scheme will have upon the revenues which the Province derives from the runs ?—lt will tend to reduce them. 17. Is the revenue which the Province derives from runs not absolutely necessary for carrying on tho Government of the Province ? —lt would certainly be a loss to the Province if the deficiency were not made up from any other source. 18. Mr. Wood.] Are you of opinion that the deficiency referred to would be made up from any other source ; and if so, what source ?—I am of opinion that the deficiency would be made good by the annual increase of ordinary revenue consequent on occupation of the country, and from increased capacity for taxation. 19. The Chairman.] In estimating the expediency of the proposed line to AYinton, have you allowed for tho working expenses, depreciation, &c.; and is the Province able to bear any loss on this account ? —The Province would be greatly inconvenienced by having to bear an outlay to the extent of £100 per mile on that account, and such I understand you to say is the estimated cost, —but I do not think the loss to the Province would be anything near that sum. 20. Mr. McNeill.] AVhy did you suggest that the blocks of land selected should not be less than 20,000 acres ?—Because I think it unfair to the Province that the contractor should be able to pick out the best and most available land. 21. AVhat class of persons did you anticipate would become ultimate possessors of the land selected ; and would there not be a falling off of revenue if the runholders became the purchasers of tho selected blocks of 20,000 acres ? —I think the runholders would be the largest purchasers, and that the revenue derived from pastoral rents would be correspondingly diminished. 22. Under a system of selection which permits blocks of 20,000 acres to be chosen, would not the properties of those who lease the Crown Lands be deteriorated to a greater extent than the actual withdrawal of 20,000 acres from the leasehold ?—I think so. 23. The Chairman.] Have you ascertained to your satisfaction that no appreciable amount of land will be sold, unless these works are carried out? —My impression is, that the quantity of land that will be sold for the purpose of settlement will be small. 24. Mr. Wood.] How small a portion of land may a cash purchaser obtain on a run ? —By the 29th section of " The Southland AVaste Lands Act, 1865," the smallest section is twenty acres. 25. Do you think that provision would mutilate a run more than selections made in blocks of 20,000 acres ?—I think it would. 26. Major Heaphy.] What arc the peculiar conditions of the Province of Southland that cause railroads over other roads to be pre-eminently necessary, or fitting means of communication, and how Southland differs, if at all, from other Provinces, such as Otago or Nelson, in that respect? —Much of the land in Southland is best adapted for agricultural purposes. The country around Invercargill is level and undrained, and the formation and repair of roads are, consequently, extremely costly: so much so, that there would be little difference between the cost of a railway and that of a macadamized road, while the cost of maintaining a railway would be less. An important element in the cost of" roads in Southland, is the extreme distance from which stone for macadamizing has to be conveyed. These are the principal conditions in which Southland differs from the Provinces mentioned. I have with some confidence expressed my opinion as to the desirability of constructing the proposed railway. There are some points I wish more particularly to mention. It is, of course, unnecessary for me to say anything as to tho necessity of road making, nor whether roads " pay." Their maintenance is always a heavy charge on the revenues of a country. AVhen a better work is substituted for them—as a railway—its value is determined by its contribution to the wealth and progress of the country. Like an ordinary road, it does not " pay." If, as I believe, the value of the Waste Lands held in trust of the

Thursday, 29th August, 1867. Present: