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2080. How long have you been here in that position ? —Nearly six years. 2081. Can you describe exactly the nature of your charge?— The whole of the railway is under my charge—the traffic, rolling-stock, and the permanent-way. 2082. And have you anything to do with the shipping on the wharf?— Yes, and to control the wharf. 2083. How far does your control of the wharf extend ?—Well, it includes the whole of the working of the wharf —everything but the actual leaving of the vessels. 2084. You regulate the loading and unloading?— Yes. 2085. And tho loading-up of trucks, and everything of that kind ?—Yes. 2086. I see that you were asked to produce a classified return, in weekly parts, of the traffic, including the receipts and expenditure ? —Now that we are working in connection with the Midland Eailway all our accounts are prepared in Wellington, because they have to bo divided; but I have taken them out four-weekly as they are published in the Gazette, and by dividing by 4 you get a very fair average for a week. [Here the witness handed in Exhibit No. 22.] 2087. These are for different years?— They are all for one year—the year ending the 31st March, 1890, under different headings. 2088. Is the charge for freight upon fireclay goods and coke the same as the charge that has been agreed to upon coal ?—For bricks and fireclay it is the same, but not for coke. There is some special rate. 2089. There is a special rate for coke ? —Yes. 2090. Mr. Moody.] You mean to say the charge upon coke is not the same as for coal ?—Yes. 2091. How much for bricks and fireclay—2s. 6d. a ton? —Tw r o shillings. 2092. The Chairman.] Do we understand this 150,000 tons will be all charged at 2s. ? —Some of that will be higher. 2093. The fireclay ?—The coke. 2094. Some will be coke ?—Yes. 2095. Then, if these returns were taken as the basis of payment of royalty, they might mislead, if the royalty is not payable on coke or firebrick ?—Yes; and the coal from Wallsend is included in that, and I believe there is no royalty payable. 2096. But the royalty is charged on a different account—the royalty on the Brunner and Coalpit Heath ? You have nothing to do with the collection of that ?—No ; but if you take the whole of that as approximately the quantity of coal put out, and take the royalty at 6d. a ton on that, it would be including the coal put out from the Wallsend Mine, upon which no 6d. a ton is paid. 2098. Mr. Moody.] Very little from freehold?— Not from freehold, but from lease. I understand, from their lease, there is no royalty payable at Wallsend. The uniform charge on minerals is 2s. per ton, except for coke, for which there is a special charge, being 3s. per ton for coke used within New Zealand, and 2s. 6d. per ton for coke for shipment beyond New Zealand to foreign ports. 2099. Mr. Brown.] What is the reason for the distinction between New Zealand coke and foreign coke?—lt is a special arrangement which Mr. Kennedy obtained, to encourage foreign trade. 2100. This was arranged at Mr. Kennedy's request ?—Yes. 2101. Is it usual to make a distinction between goods consigned to England and those to ports of New Zealand ?—I am not aware of it. 2102. Did you ever hear of such a thing before ?—No, I do not think so. 2103. It was not done at your suggestion?—No ; I believe there has been something similar in the case of timber for Australia. From some of the North Island ports there has been some lower rate. 2104. Have you any return which would enable the Commission to distinguish between the carriage of round coal, nuts and dross, coke, and fireclay goods ?—No. 2105. You could not prepare that return ?—No. 2106. When the mines have been busy has the rolling-stock you have been provided with been sufficient to overtake the traffic ?—Now they have amalgamated, it is. 2107. What was the reason it was insufficient before ? Was there more coal put out previously ? —No, only each mine was working independently, and those with a small daily output wanted to be in a position to have a load for a steamer. 2108. Mr. Moody.] It required more rolling-stock ?—Yes. 2109. The Chairman.] The rival demand for wagons required a large number?— Yes. 2110. That meant that many of the wagons were idle for a time because they were promised to certain mines that had not ships ready ?—Yes. 2111. Would you explain exactly why, before the amalgamation, the wagons were insufficient without the output being greater?—lt was in this way : The mine with the smallest output, if they had a large-sized vessel coming, would want to be on the same footing as a mine with a large output, and would want to start earlier. 2112. They would occupy the w 7 agons longer?— Yes. 2113. Are there any other wagons charged for by day at all—anything in the shape of demurrage? —Not for ordinary coal trade. 2114. Is there any demurrage charge from their being loaded and kept standing?— There has been no charge for that. 2115. Mr. Brown.] Was there an allocation of trucks to separate mines?— Yes. 2116. The Chairman.] Was that fixed by you?— Yes. 2117. You were in conference with the mine-owners?— Yes ; it was allocated monthly. 2118. Mr. Brown.] So many to each mine? — Yes, according to the previous month's output. That worked very well.