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method ? What would be the extra handling, in the first place ?—You might put it at 4d. per ton for putting it in and taking it out again. 2158. From the bins ?—Yes. 2159. The taking-out process would be self-acting, would it not ?—Partly. There would be shoots to be formed, and men to open the doors ; and the trucks might require to be trimmed a little. 2160. You think 4d. would cover all that ?—Yes; I think so. 2161. Mr. Moody.] What quantity do you propose that these bins should contain?—l reckon that with 1,500 tons our trucks hold, and 500 tons at the mine—l do not know exactly what their average capacity is in the way of nuts and slack—that would be 2,000 tons, and from 1,000 to 2,000 more tons would be the average week's quantity shipped. Three thousand tons is the average quantity shipped; so, from 1,000 to 2,000 tons over would make over the average quantity. 2162. The Chairman.] And that would make you sure of having coal during the suspension of a week ?—Yes. It would provide for a week's suspension of traffic over the bar. 2163. Mr. Moody.] Have you made any estimate of the cost of a bin to hold 1,500 tons? —I gave Mr. Martin a sketch of w 7 hat I think would be suitable. 2164. Mr. Brown.] How many of the trucks have you here?—We have actually 257, but I only reckon 250 as being available. There are always one or two in repair, and so on. 2165. Mr. Moody.] They carry six tons?— Fully six tons. 2166. The Chairman.] How should this 4d. be paid? Against whom should it be charged ? It would be an extra charge on the coal ?—On those who used the bins. 2167. Beyond the 2s.?—Yes. 2168. The 4d. should be an extra charge against the coal?— Yes. 2169. Mr. Brown.] That is only for handling, of course? —That does not include the cost of the bin. 2170. The Chairman.] That is beyond any charge for the use of the bin?— Yes. 2171. Mr. Moody.] Fourpence a ton? —Yes, 4d. a ton. 2172. The Chairman.] I understand that the present arrangement of working the coal with hydraulic cranes has only been in operation for a few years?— Yes, that is all. 2173. What was before that ?—Previous to that there was a stage about 7ft. 6in. in height and about the length of an ordinary vessel —rather longer—with an incline at one end for hauling up the trucks, which was done by a rope worked from the crane. 2174. A steam crane, was it not ? —A steam crane ; yes. And on this stage there wore several shoots to suit the hatches of the steamer. The coal was dropped through these shoots, and when the truck was emptied it was run to the other end of the stage. The empty truck was run down another incline at the opposite end of the stage. 2175. And in which direction would that one run ? —The loaded trucks went westward going up the incline, and the empty ones went eastward going down. 2176. Was that an expensive system ? —No ; it was a very cheap system. 2177. The object in raising it to 7ft. 6in. was to get sufficient fall for the coal to run of itself into the hold of the vessel?—-Yes; at high water. 2178. If in the original construction the wharf had been made 7ft. 6in. higher, shoots could have gone straight in ? —Yes. 2179. Mr. Moody.] What quantity of coal were you shipping from the shoots then there?— There was as much as we are doing now. 2180. The Chairman.] Three thousand tons a week?— Very nearly, some weeks. It did not average so much in a year as that; but some weeks it would be as much as that. 2181. Mr. Moody.] Was that as cheap as the present system?— Cheaper. 2182. The Chairman.] At whose instance was it done away with?—lt was done away with on account of the hydraulic cranes being substituted. 2183. Why was the substitution made?—l believe it was on Mr. Kennedy's representation of the breakage that was caused. 2184. The cranes were put up at Mr. Kennedy's request ?—Yes. 2185. Was there correspondence with the department about it?—l think so. 2186. Did he complain?—He always complained of the breakage. 2187. Mr. Moody.] Have you a copy of that correspondence?—No ; it did not pass through my hands. 2188. Could we obtain a copy of it ?—I should think from the Eailway Commissioners. They would have the correspondence on it. I think there would be a further reason for providing the cranes —namely, that the stage only accommodated one steamer. We could only load one steamer at a time. 2189. The extension of the stage w 7 Ould have met that, I suppose?— Yes, or putting up another one. 2190. The Chairman.] Would it have answered quite well if the wharf had been raised for a considerable length ? Is there any real objection to that ?—We could not very well have raised the wharf. It might have been remedied by constructing the original wharf that much higher. 2191. Was this stage part of the wharf structure, or placed on the wharf ?—Placed on the wharf. 2192. If a stage could be placed on the wharf, could not that elevating addition to the wharf be made?— Yes, but it would be difficult to get shunting across. It would be an obstruction to all traffic—for all trucks and engines getting past it. 2193. Mr. Brown.] Was this the case with the old stage ?—Yes ; it was only a few feet wide, about the width of a truck. 2194. The Chairman.] What is your opinion, from your own observation, about the extent of the damage done to the coal in loading ?—With the present system ?