333

D.—4

268. What time does the coach take to go through ?—Well, practically, a day from point to point—from Springfield to Jackson's. 269. That is, with the broken portion ? —Practically a day. 270. And your estimate would not be more than two or three passengers per day, or a little more than that —forty per week ?—I do not think there are so many. I give it as my strong conviction there would not be so many as that. 271. Mr. Gully.] Taking the whole year round ?—Yes. 272. Mr. Stringer.] Mr. Hudson, what is the average number of passengers between Dunedin and Christ church per day ?—I do not know; I could not say. I have heard it said they do not average more than six per day ; I do not know that of my own knowledge. 273. Do you know what the return is between Wellington and New Plymouth ?—No, I have never got it out. 274. As regards the Wellington-Manawatu line, that practically brings the whole of the North into communication with Wellington ?—Yes, so far as the passengers and live-stock are concerned, but when you come to the merchandise traffic you have the same difficulties to contend with. The ports compete for it, and a great quantity still goes by sea. 275. It is suggested that the Midland Company does not do as well under the Government regime as under the company : have you retained all the same conditions ?—Yes. 276. And exactly the same rates? —Yes. We have been very careful indeed not to disturb the workings of the Midland Eailway Company in dealing with it at all. 277. Practically, the conditions are the same ? —So far as we are aware, exactly the same. 278. Hon. E. Blake.] You got the same officers, and gave the same instructions ?—Precisely the same. Thomas Foeth Bothekam sworn and examined. 279. Mr. Stringer.] What position do you occupy in the Government railway service?— Locomotive Superintendent. 280. How long have you been in the Government service ?—Twenty-one years on the Ist January next. 281. I think, in conjunction with Mr. Bonayne and Mr. Hudson, you made estimates of the expenditure of the Midland Bailway-line when completed ?—Yes. 282. You speak principally with regard to the locomotive expenditure ? —Yes. 283. You have put the expenditure as at per train mile?— Ordinary 16d. per train mile, and ss. per train mile for the incline. 284. And the Nelson-Greymouth line?—l6d. per train mile. 285. Do you know the line over which it is supposed to go ?—Fairly well. 286. And you think your estimate of the. expenditure is a reasonable one ? —Yes. 287. Is it a minimum ?—Well, it is as low as I should care to put it if I was estimating for ourselves. 288. How does that compare with the cost of the railways of New Zealand ?—lt is slightly below the average cost of the railways for 1895—the whole of them. 289. And do you think that favourable to the company rather than otherwise ? —I should think it is neither favourable nor unfavourable. I should think it is a very fair estimate. 290. Of course, that is the expenditure to carry a total traffic of £66,000 ?—That has nothing to do with it. The estimate is per train mile. 291. Mr. Cooper.] You only deal with the locomotives ?—Yes ; the locomotives, carriages, and wagons. [The following exhibits were put in: No. 171, Particulars of Beefton Sections sold ; No. 172, 1.-6,1887, Session 11., Beport Midland Bailway Committee on Bevised Contract; No. 173, D.-2a, 1889, Correspondence relating to the Signing of the Midland Bailway Contract; No. 174, D-2c, 1889, correspondence in reference to the acceptance by the Agent-General of the trusteeship for the debentureholders ; No. 175, letter from Mr. Salt to Mr. Seddon, dated the 14th April, 1893; No. 176, D.-4, 1892, proposal by the company for an amendment of the contract; No. 177, letter from Mr. Wilson to Minister for Public Works ; No. 178, D.-Bd, 1890, Government correspondence in reference to cutting of timber; No. 179, letters from Mr. Wilson to Minister for Public Works, dated the 30th December, 1892, and the 3rd October, 1893; No. 180, telegrams from Mr, Wilson to Minister and to Under-Secretary; No. 181, correspondence in reference to Blocks 61 and 66; No. 182, letter re Beefton town sections, dated the 12th October, 1893, in which the company request payment of a sum of money ; No. 183, correspondence between the Manager and the Minister in reference to the refusal to grant selections.] The Court rose at 1 o'clock p.m.

Note. With the exception of the remarks on pages 1 and 194 of the evidence, no part of the reports of Mr. Blake's utterances has been revised by him.

COBBIUENDA. Question 127, page 10. Mr. Wilson's answer should read as follows : " Not only so. It was a short length in substitution of tunnel, but I had to go through the whole of my plans." Question 158, page 11, should read : Mr. Hutchison] What were the lands you were able to select ? Answer : They are shown in the exhibit of applications dealt with. They could only be dealt with by the Government. They represent a total of £2,199. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (I,COO copies), £209 Bs.

By Authority: Jambs Burns, Government Printer for the time being, Wellington.—lB96. Price, ss.} 45*—D. 4.