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there was no opposition to the Bill from any ratepayer in Lower Pareora Eiding. Understand that Waimate County Council opposed it. Our rate is Id., and Waimate County rate ±id. (admitted). If these people joined us their rate would be higher. Levels rates on the improved, Waimate on the unimproved value. [Details of Waimate, Levels, and Geraldine Counties, taken from public records, handed in (see Exhibit 17).] Frederick William Marchant, M.1.C.E., sworn —Has had experience in the construction of roads and maintenance of same. In years past was in Public Works Department, and one time was Engineer to Mount Cook Eoad Board (now Mackenzie County). Has been over Main South and Otipua Eoads with Mr. Black's report. Has made an estimate of the annual expenditure for maintaining these roads. From borough boundary to Saltwater Creek estimates cost of maintenance at £1 per chain per annum—so chains, £50. From Saltwater Creek to Pareora Bridge estimates it at 10s. per chain, or £40 per mile, or £240 for whole road per annum. From Saltwater Creek to Brassell's Eoad, same estimate, £190 per annum ; Brassell's Eoad, a mile and a half at £15 per mile, £22 10s. per annum ; Brassell's Eoad to Bridge, three miles and a quarter at £15 a mile, or £43 15s. per annum. Has read Mr. Black's estimate. Thinks that all the roads require all he has put down for them. The usual and best practice after a road has a surface is not to interfere with it till the metal has all worn out. In the main road the clay shows through the shingle, showing that little shingle is left. It is not advisable to shingle a road every year. After proper expenditure, as shown, it is a matter of traffic as to how long road will stand. The Wai-iti Eoad was done by me twelve years ago, and has been without expenditure until recently. Under his experience this is the best for our traffic, and is much cheaper than the other way. Cross-examined by Mr. Kinnerney. —You put down a coat of metal. You have it for many years. Let it wear out, and then renew it. In constructing a road you would put down 15 yards to 25 yards per chain in first instance. Has been over the roads, and referred to the portions mentioned by Mr. Black. The roads, as a whole, require to be dealt with in the same manner. They are living on the metal put on years ago. You must let them go, and about every ten or twelve years put on new metal. In many places on Main South and Otipua Eoads considerable lengths of metalling are required. Provides for certain lengths of road required to be kept up per annum. His estimate is an average one. You must let your annual contribution accumulate, and put a proper coat of metal on. Mr. Black's proposal may require to be adopted in other cases, but he looks at the thing from a different point of view to me. I give an annual average sum. Does not think there is anything in his estimates to find fault with. Examined these particular portions specially, but not in other cases. Ec-examined by Mr. Eaymond.—Speaking as an engineer, considers Mr. Black's proposals are distinctly maintenance. The road was constructed twenty or thirty years ago. Eefers to maintenance-metal only. Only one item on Brassell's Eoad has any reference to construction —viz., the cutting. These earthworks might be called reconstruction. Thomas Scott sworn.—Lives at Pareora. Lives opposite Brassell's Crossing. Holds roughly 1,300 acres. His chief produce is grain. Sends roughly 8,000 bushels, equals 200 tons. Bulk of it comes over Brassell's Eoad ford to Otipua Eoad, thence to Timaru. Occasionally sends some to St. Andrew's. This year sent some, as river was impassable at the time. His wool runs about forty bales on the average. It comes by same way. Back loading amounts to about 25 tons. All comes back by Otipua Eoad. Cross-examined by Mr. Hamilton.—Eoad is a considerable benefit to me to go to Timaru. Could not do quite so well to send to St. Andrew's. Most likely shall send grain by road. If a slight reduction made on rail would send it by rail. Every year more goes by rail. Ec-examined by Mr. Moore.—Lives about seven miles from St. Andrew's. Can cart three trips in two days in fair weather. John Anstey sworn. —Is a farmer in Levels County, near Beaconsfield, adjoining Brassell's Eoad. His farm fronts that road. Has 182 acres in Waimate County. Produce comes from that farm across river by way of Brassell's Eoad. Eoughly 2,500 acres of Waimate uses Brassell's Eoad and Main Otipua Eoad, not counting Elworthy's. Knows Waimate people who use Brassell's Eoad. Eeferring to Table A, one or two use Levels Eoads a very little, and a few more use part of Levels and part Waimate Eoads. Re Table A, G. Cox uses road very little ; formerly he used Levels roads. Wake almost wholly uses Levels road. J. D. Parish sometimes uses Levels, sometimes St. Andrew's. Mary Squire's wool goes to St. Andrew's, but light traffic to Timaru. The two McKeowns : thinks till recently it came this way, but lately it went to St. Andrew's. Light traffic comes to Timaru. Except those mentioned all come by Brassell's on to Main Otipua Eoad. Re Table G: All except Tate, whose section is now held by T. Haynes. This table is correct. No others besides this. They all use Otipua Eoad. Some can get on to Otipua Eoad without using Brassell's Eoad. Witness can. Knows some people who use Great South Eoad. Quality of land, excluding Elworthy's, in Lower Pareora is similar to area in Levels. Is all agricultural. Am director of Farmers' Co-operative Society. Cross-examined by Mr. Hamilton. —Traffic on Otipua Eoad is increasing, so is traffic to St. Andrew's. Do not think more farmers send to St. Andrew's than formerly. This year the fords have been bad. Do not think there is enough difference in railway rates to induce farmers to cart to St. Andrew's largely. All these men could get to St. Andrew's. Has land almost the same as Mr. Scott's. Should never think of going to St. Andrew's. Has 417 acres in Levels County. Sheep and light traffic go to Waimate. He crossed sheep on the 17th April from Levels to Waimate, and on the 15th the other way also—some a few days before going north. On 17th April there were eight hundred. Did not see Hansen, and no one spoke to him. Very seldom drives sheep to Waimate unless he drives them to his farm there. Thinks Blackmore's grain all goes to Timaru. Knows most of it does either by Brassell's or Jeffcoat's. 2—D. 10.