H.—2

16

474. The Chairman.] As to those 20 chains you took up, the rails are charged to this section, and you have had the use of the rails since, or a portion of them—in fact, they can be struck out of the account altogether ?—They were reutilised. 475. You included the points and crossings in the length you have given us of the sidings ?— Yes. 476. What would be the extra cost of those points and crossings ?—I could not give you the value. I had nothing to do with the material. 477. Can you tell us the number of the points and crossings ?—About eight sets of points and crossings, I think. 478. What was the cost of the platelayer's cottage at Belgrove ?—About £220; and the shifting and conversion of the Stationmaster's house at Belgrove I put down at £150; and the shed and the office which the company left I put down at £170. The iron building I put at £120, and the office at £50.

WESTPOBT. Wednesday, 27th Febbuaky, 1901. John Snodgeass examined on oath. 1. The Chairman.'] You are District Surveyor, residing in Westport ?—Yes. 2. Mr. Bell.] How long have you been in this district ? —Twenty-one years. 3. Are you fairly well acquainted with the value of land in the Town of Westport ? —Yes. 4. You have had. a list supplied to you of sections owned by the Midland Eailway Company, and still unsold ? —I have. 5. Have you prepared a valuation of these unsold sections ?—Yes. 6. Will you hand it in ?—I put in the following list of the sections and their present values, ranging from £5 to £15, viz : — Town of Westport. — Midland Railway Sections. Section. Value. Section. Value. Section. Value. £ s. d. £. s. d. & s. d. 352 ... ... 10 0 0 678 ... . 5 0 0 706 ... ... 710 0 443 ... ... 10 0 0 679 ... ... 5 0 0 707 ... ... 710 0 607 ... ... 10 0 0 680 .500 '708 ... ... 710 0 709 ... ... 12 0 0 681 ... ... 10 0 0 709 ... ... 12 0 0 610 ... ... 10 0 0 683 ... ... 10 0 0 712 ... ... 710 0 611 ... ... 10 0 0 684 ... ... 5 0 0 713 ... ... 710 0 616 ... ... 10 0 0 685 ... .500 714 ... ... 710 0 624 ... ... 10 0 0 686 ... ... 5 0 0 716 ... ... 710 0 626 ... ... 15 0 0 687 ... ... 5 0 0 717 ... ... 12 0 0 643 ... ... 710 0 688 ... ... 5 0 0 718 ... ... 12 0 0 645 ... ... 710 0 689 ... ... 10 0 0 719 ... ... 710 0 646 ... ... 710 0 690 ... ... 10 0 0 720 ... ... 710 0 647 ... ... 12 0 0 691 ... ... 5 0 0 722 ... ... 710 0 664 ... ... 710 0 693 ... ... 5 0 0 725 ... ... 15 0 0 665 ... ... 710 0 694 ... ... 5 0 0 726 ... ... 10 0 0 666 ... ... 710 0 I 695 ... ... 10 0 0 727 ... ... 10 0 0 667 ... ... 710 0 [ 697 ... ... 12 0 0 728 ... ... 10 0 0 668 ... ... 12 0 0 ! 698 ... ... 710 0 733 ... ... 10 0 0 669 . ... 10 0 0 699 ... ... 710 0 734 ... ... 10 0 0 670 ... ... 5 0 0 700 ... ... 710 0 737 ... ... 15 0 0 671 ... ... 5 0 0 701 ... ... 710 0 746 ... ... 15 0 0 673 ... ... 5 0 0 702 ... ... 710 0 747 .. ... 10 0 0 674 ... ... 5 0 0 703 ... ... 12 0 0 748 ... ... 10 0 0 675 ... ... 10 0 0 704 ... ... 12 0 0 • 676 ... ... 10 0 0 705 ... ... 710 0 74 sections £640 10 0 677 ... ... 5 0 0 7. You know of some sales that have been made by Mr. Slee ? —I do. 8. What is Mr. Slee ? —He is agent for the Midland Eailway Company in Westport. 9. He is a commission agent here, who has acted on behalf of the company and the Eeceiver ? —Yes. 10. And you know that sales have been made by him ?—-He furnished me with a list of sales made by him. 11. Do you remember the number of sections he has sold ?—Forty-nine sections. 12. Do you know the prices realised for that land ? —From £7 10s. to £15 per section. 13. Do you know when these sales were made by Mr. Slee ?—He sold two sections yesterday. I do not know when he got the agency. 14. How long ago, roughly ?—I think, within a year, so far as I recollect. 15. Do you know what he sold the two sections yesterday for?—£lo each. 16. That list shows, in your opinion, the selling-value of the sections according to your capacity for judging ?—Yes. 17. What are the total seventy-four sections valued at?—£64o 10s. 18. You have a plan, I think, showing the position of these sections ?—Yes.