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20

D—lo

Ec-examined by Mr. Hamilton.— Re McMillan : Knows he carries four hundred ewes, equals about eight bales of wool. He has had two or three clips of wool. George Lisle sworn.—ls a farmer at St. Andrew's. Was formerly manager of Pareora Estate ten years. The extent of the estate twelve years ago was 15,000 acres. It was sold down to about 8,000 acres when Government obtained possession. Re Exhibit 20: Eecognises this statement. It is a fair statement of amount carted over the road to Timaru—l,293 tons. Bases his opinion on the knowledge he has of the whole county after keeping back sufficient for seed and feed. From the upper portion the greater part goes to Timaru. Farmers grow more oats than wheat. The average for sale is about 20 bushels per acre. They would have about one-third of their land in crop at a time, but a portion of this land is rough and steep and it cannot be cultivated. When he was manager carted grain twice only to Timaru —viz., in 1891 and 1899. There is considerable light traffic on the Main South Eoad, but more comes from Waimate than Levels. Witness's house is near the Main Eoad, and he can see the traffic. More sheep traffic goes north than south, but it is very hard to estimate it. Sheep go north for Grant and other dealers in Levels. Nine out of ten are for these persons. The settlers at Springbrook Settlement cart their <,'oods to St. Andrew's. Sand is carted from Normanby to Timaru. It is in Levels County, and is carted over Main South Eoad. Has very often seen three drays which make two trips a day, and there would be two tons in each dray. Is a member of the Timaru Harbour Board, and the effect of the port is to increase the value of the land around Timaru. The effect of converging traffic is to enhance the value of the land near the centre. Cross-examined by Mr. Eaymond.—The land is all downland on both sides of the river, and should expect the same return from land on both sides. Land in Levels near Lower Pareora is of more value, as there would be less carting. Does not know the reason, why Levels land is worth £4 or £5 an acre more than Waimate. We have established a grainery at St. Andrew's. It was established previous to my management. If not for that we should be obliged to get rid of grain at once. The general trend of sheep is towards the Port of Timaru. The bulk of them are driven. Some are bought by Christchurch Meat Company, and some by Mr. Grant, and he owns land in Waimate. There are over twenty settlers in Springbrook, and most of them have traps and horses, and they grow roots, &c, for market. Never heard of them carting to Timaru. They come to Timaru frequently over the bridge. They were carting sand from Normanby to-day. Believes the ground is fenced in, but does not know if Government has stopped the carting. Cannot say for what purpose they are carting. Cross-examined by Mr. Kinnerney.—The value of the land is four or five times more near Timaru, and it must be on account of the richness of the land. Land near a town must be of more value than land at a distance, because they can grow stuff for sale at the town. A port increases the value of property and makes a better market. It is a substantial advantage. These advantages increase the prosperity of the towns. The establishment of the Port of Timaru proportionately enhances the value of land in Levels County more than the land further away, and it has consequently afforded a better market to Levels farmers. All the local districts in the vicinity combined to form the Port of Timaru, and make themselves liable for loans amounting to £300,000 ■or more, and they take care to rate themselves on an equal basis. The Levels farmers use the streets of Timaru, and the Timaru Borough has not made any claim. It is just as reasonable for Timaru to make a claim on the Levels County as for Levels to claim on us for the traffic on their roads. As to Mr. Grant's land in Levels, does not know it is his or his brother's—does not know the area. Re sheep traffic : They do no great damage to well-worn roads, but to a newmetalled road they do much damage. Is a member of Waimate County Council. The maintenance of Elworthy's roads on his estate amounts to nearly as much as he pays. Knows it is now proposed to construct roads to his estate costing probably over £600. Cross-examined by Mr. Eaymond.—Waimate settlers who come over the bridge come to Timaru to do business with them. Was an active mover to sever their district from Waimate. The ratepayers were unanimous in Lower Pareora to join, and signed the petition and got others to sign, and the reason was that the traffic converged to Timaru, and for other reasons. They are more in touch with Levels and Timaru, and our business interests centred in Timaru. The proper county for the Pareora Eiding to be part of is Levels County. George Winter sworn.—Besides at White Eock, Waimate, and is a farmer. Holds 1,333 acres of freehold. Knows Cave-Cannington Eoad. Lived there two years and a half. This is their only road. Went through this estimate [not put in]. It is a fair estimate. It includes 81 tons from Levels County, and Levels County are the chief carters. This is the carting that is injurious to the road. In addition to that there are 350 acres of oats in Levels Estate, in the Mackenzie County. This must go to Cave. There are thirty-two stacks containing about 10,000 bushels. As to the sheep traffic, there is more traffic from the Levels Estate in one day than from Cannington sheep all the year round. Saw six or seven thousand sheep in one day from Levels. They injure the road more than all the traffic will do—on a new-shingled road especially. Knows Elworthy's property. Knows that Waimate County will expend about £1,000 on White Eock and Pareora Eiver. Elworthy's property comprises the bulk of the Upper Pareora Eiding. Cross-examined by Mr. Eaymond.— Re Cave-Cannington Eoad: Eough estimate carted on this road is 81 tons. Lives along the road. Mr. Orbell might know better than he does, but he is not always there. Of the 81 tons does not mean the Levels property only. The Levels Estate would have more than 21 tons. Does not know them individually. Cannot name them. The O'Neills live below the Cave. They come up for firewood. Some of the wood goes to Mackenzie. There is none now, because the sawmill is knocked off nearly twelve months ago. New Zealand and Australian Land Company are not now cutting. Apart from O'Neill's, the bulk of the Levels Estate on that road is on the Mackenzie side. Three thousand sheep go from Cannington down that road in one year. Speaks from what he saw. [Mr. Raymond said that witness's evidence

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