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[T. E. CHRISTIE.

138. But supposing you want the whole of the power?— Will they assist us in the expenditure ? It is a big matter to enter upon a large undertaking like this, and demonstrate clearly to others that the work is possible. 139. Supposing the boroughs have a right to -put in applications for power before you commence work, so that you know what they ask, do you not think it quite fair that they should be entitled to that right ?—Are you aware that we have started the Lee Stream works ? 140. Yes ?—We are committed to about £30,000 there. 141. The point is this : if you take the power right past Taieri and want the whole of it, we are shut out from using the power, and the boroughs cannot get power from any other source ; it is taken from the water-supply there?— There are other streams, and then the Taieri can be worked further up. It can be worked in a series of dams, I understand. 142. You take most of the power out of the river when you take it at your works ?—Only for a mile altogether. It is a long river, and they can do the same thing above as we are doing below. 143. Hon. Mr. McGowan.) If they did that above you they would take away your head of water altogether?—No ; not unless they operated within the mile. 144. Mr. B. McKenzie.] What fall of water do you expect in your mile ?—36 ft. We are going to have a 70 ft. fall altogether. Others can operate in a series of works, one above the other. This one mile is only a small length of river. 145. Mr. Beid.] You naturally take the best part ? —We take the place nearest for us ; it means so much more overhead wiring. We are taking what we consider the most suitable part. 146. Hon. Mr. McGowan.] I do not think you saw the point of my question just now. Somebody might go above you after starting, take the power from the water, and bring the water right past you ?—Of course, that would never do. It means a big expenditure, and I do not know whether it will be faced or not. 147. Mr. J. Allen.] With regard to these boroughs on the way: you are taking up only a mile of the river ; how are you getting your power ?—We are raising the river by an artificial weir. 148. You put the water back into the stream ?—Yes. 149. So that anybody below you could use the water over again in the next mile of river ?— Yes. 150. They could raise the river by a weir, and get another supply of power; and the same could be done above you ? —Yes. 151. So there are possibilities of any amount of power there for all sorts of people?— Yes; working in that particular way. 152 By their doing the same things as you are doing?— Yes. 153. The boroughs would have ample power outside of your mile of river ?—Yes, if they faced the question as we are doing. 154. You are not monopolizing more than a mile of the river ?—No. 155. Would it interfere with your Pelton if power were got out of the river below by raising it by means of a weir? —Not if they kept clear of our works. It will not be a Pelton. 156. How do you take the power? —By a race or 157. Which is brought from the river? —For a mile. 158. So that the damming of the river down below would not interfere with your race? —No. It would be more than a mile that we would monopolize, but not much more. 159. They could raise the water up to the height of your weir?— Yes; they could raise it again. 160. But it would be too expensive? —Yes; too big an expense. 161. There is some objection to the widely extended powers that you seek of applying for rights within and outside of the mining district and all over Otago: would you object to a limit of thirty, forty, or fifty miles outside being fixed ?—I do not see that there could be any objection to that, with this exception : I do not see why the Corporation should not be in the same position as a miner. 162. Why put the latter part of clause 4 into the Bill, " within the Otago Mining District or elsewhere in the Provincial District of Otago"? Would you not have the power without that if you were under the Mining Act? —Can the Corporation come under the Mining Act as a miner? We are not operating for mining purposes. 163. Mr. B. McKenzie.] Clause 4 gives power, practically, to the Warden to grant you a monopoly over all the water in the Mining District of Otago if he likes ? —Yes. 164. Are you aware that without this Bill he could not give it to you? —I am not aware of that exactly. 165. You are satisfied he can give it to you under this clause if he likes ?—I presume so. 166. He cannot grant it to any other person in the colony, so that it is really establishing a priority of right to a monopoly over all the water in Otago for generating electricity ? —I do not see that. 167. As I understand the law, the Warden cannot grant any right to divert water from a goldfield to any place outside without an Act similar to this; consequently, without this Bill he could not grant it to you. If the Bill is passed he can grant the Corporation of Dunedin that power, but he cannot grant it to any other person in the colony. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,425 copies), A 4 os. 6d.

Price, 6d.] By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3.