I.—c

10

Jlfr a M. Barr

trade required it — these walls could be added to, so that whatever money might be spent would be so much towards the complete scheme. The walls could be raised at any time foot by foot just as the money was available. lam strongly of opinion that it would be much better to push the whole work to the full length and only to a partial height rather than to make only part of the length, but the full height. The sum I have named includes the cost of timber staging for depositing the stuff in making the walls, this could be made of such a nature with the best timber that it would last fifteen or twenty years with occasional repairs, so that it would be available for raising the works at any time within that period. Halftide walls are very often used in such circumstances as these, and if it was found ten, fifteen, or twenty years after that increased height was necessary, they could be added to. 177. Mr. Levestam.] But does not a flood do a good deal to scour the river, and with only half-tide walls would not part of the effect of the flood in scouring bo lost. Would not some of the water escape ?— Some would escape. 178. Then the flood would not have its full effect ?—The difference would not be so much as you might think, because flood water being fresh floats over the top of salt water, and fresh water has never so much effect as salt water in scouring. 179. But is it not the water of the Buller that you want to scour the bar?—The difference between the effect of the scour with a half-tide wall and a full-tide wall is not so much as might at first sight appear. The floods are only occasional, while the salt water flows in and out twice a day ; and, therefore, the salt water has more effect than an occasional flood of fresh water, which may come perhaps only once in three, or six, or twelve months, so that you would not sacrifice much in the effect of the scour by having half-tide walls, while you would save very considerably in the cost. 180. Mr. .Macandrew] Do you think that a less expenditure than £168,000 you mention would bo of no advantage I —There would be some advantage as soon as you got out. The most expensivo part of the works is the exterior—that is, outside the bar. Tho extremity of these walls will be over the bar, but if you had them as far as the bar itself you would have a marked gain. 181. What depth do you think spending the £168,000, as you propose, would give?—l think 21 or 22 feet at spring-tides. 182. Suppose we were content with 16 1 feet, could you not modify what you propose to a proportionate cost ?—The way in which I should propose to carry out the works would be layer upon layer— that is, going over the whole length at once, and increasing in height over the whole line at one time. 183. Supposing £50,000 were spent, what effect do you think that would be likely to cause ?—-It would have some effect, but I do not think it would be very much. 181. Would it deepen the bar 2 feet?—l believe it would give as much as that. The peculiarity of this bar and that of Wanganui, and several others, is that there is a sort of crust on the top, 1 or 2 feet thick, and when once that is broken, a little additional scour will keep it clear. 185. Mr. Levestam] Supposing you had £50,000 to spend, .what would you do ?—I would do this part of the work. 186. Mr. -Macandrew] Supposing £50,000 or £60,000 could bo spent, would what was done be available towards the complete design ?—Certainly. 187. It would be there for what it is worth without prejudicing the ultimate design ?—Yes, even if vou made those walls to a very low height, you would fix the channel in one direction, which of itself is a very g^eat gain. The amount of scour would increase by every foot you increase the walls in height. 188. Mr Levestam] If you had £50,000 to spend, your first work would be to close up this (indicating on plan) ? —Yes; you must close that up to half-tide. I think, first of all, I would make a strong point of having that closed as soon as possible. Close up the side channel or " swaith "on tiro eastern beach at ouce. Mr. W. Hay Dickso.v, examined. IS9. The Chairman] You are the Ceneral Manager of the Westport Colliery Company ?—Yes. 190. The Committee are anxious to learn particulars of the commercial aspect of the Westpcrt coal trade. How much money have you spent in your leases 1 —£60,000 to the present in our mining works. We have made a further expenditure of £30,000 on vessels to carry the coal—£9o,ooo altogether. 191. What is the output capacity of your works ?—Five hundred tons a day at present. Certain alterations to be made shortly will bring it up to 800 tons a day. 192. How much do you actually put out?—Two hundred tons a day. Here is a statement show ing the output month by month since the mine was opened to 3 Ist May last. 193. Of course the Company are able to make a much larger output than you are doing. Why is it not larger?—-The principal reason is want of sufficient water on the bar. If there was a greater depth, we should be able to secure a larger number of vessels on freight. There is a great scarcity in New Zealand waters of the class of vessels suitable for Westport, in the present state of the harbour. If there was more water on the bar, a larger number of vessels would be available to trade to the port. We are slightly hampered by want of sufficient rolling-stock and accommodation in' the staiths. 194. That is, you require accommodation to store the coal?—We have men and shipping capable of sending away about 300 tons a clay, but for want of additional rolling-stock and staith accommodation, there is great difficulty in regulating the shipping movements to full advantage. The number of railway trucks is barely sufficient for 200 tons a clay. Mr. Johnston, the Minister for Public Works, however, gave a promise on Tuesday that the number of the rolling-stock should be increased. 195. What reason have you for believing the trade would be materially increased if the bar were improved ?—iWe have been offered business to the extent of 250,000 tons a year in Australia. In March last Mr. Bend, the Chairman of the Melbourne Metropolitan Gas Works, came to Dunedin specially to sec if we could not supply his Company with 70,000 tons a year for gas purposes. In consequence of our inability to do anything, he came to Wellington and saw Sir John Hall and Mr. Johnston on the subject, and stated what his Company were prepared to do if we had sufficient water on the bar for vessels suitable for the Australian trade. 196. What depth would be necessary for an export foreign trade sufficient for vessels drawing 161 feet loaded?—lB feet would admit vessels drawing 16ft Bin.

21st June, ISB2.

Mr Dickson