D.—4.

66

W. ALLEN.

17. The Chairman.'] How far would it be to Kirikopuni from this bush that would be tapped.' What amount of line would require to be made from the Crown kauri bush to Kirikopuni?—About six miles would tap the first of the kauri, but you would pick up timber all the way from a mile beyond Kirikopuni. 18. How much farther up would you strike marketable timber?— All the way, but no kauri. 19. How far would you keep on the kauri?—l could not say definitely. 20. How far through the bush would the line run? —I could not say for certain. 21. Is there any shingle in the Mangakahia River?— Yes, in any quantity. 22. How fa) , would that line have to go from Kirikopuni before it struck thai shingle?—l could not say. I have been round the place, but I have not been through the valley. 23. Would it be more than ten miles?— Less than ten miles would strike the Mangakahia metal Alfred Ervest Harding examined. (No. 36.) 1. The Chairman.'] What is your position ?—I reside at Mangawhare, and am a general farmer, and have other businesses on the Wairoa. I have been farming for thirty years on the Wairoa, and trading for about eleven years. 2. Would you make a statement to the Commission regarding the matters we have under consideration ? —First of all, I would like to take the point of the Main Trunk line. lam satisfied it is the opinion of the great majority of the people in the north that the Trunk line should be completed as soon as possible right up to Awanui ; and, furthermore, that that line should take as near the centre of the Island as possible, so as to open up as much of the undeveloped portions of the northern peninsula as can be done. I think it is a mistake until that line is well towards completion, to discuss the merits of the branch lines. Looking at it from a Dominion standpoint, and speaking as an expert land-user, lam satisfied that this Trunk line will pay the Dominion handsomely. By reason of the mildness of the climate here, and of the productiveness of the soil generally, I believe that the North Auckland peninsula will carry more population in proportion to its area than any other part of New Zealand. Owing to the want of communication, many industries here are very backward. For instance, this country is eminently suitable for growing lambs, particularly early lambs, on account of the climate. You can grow them all the year round ; but whilst you have to ship this description of stock the industry cannot be carried on profitably. I myself on two occasions separated lambs from their mothers, and brought them to the point where the barge should have been, only to find that the barge had not arrived, and, of c.ourse, I had to turn the lamba out again as stores. The same thing applies to fruitgrowing and other kindred industries. lam aware that it has been the opinion of a great many people in the south that a very large portion of the North Auckland peninsula was bad land. That is an absolute fallacy. In proportion to its area there is far less unusable land in North Auckland than there is in most other parts of New Zealand, because in the south there are many mountainous districts. such as the Southern Alps and the western fiord country, which for all time will not produce sheep of cattle. In this North Auckland peninsula I doubt very much if there are more than 50,000 acres which will not in time be brought into profitable occupation. I know a farm near Dargaville, on the eastern side of the river, consisting of 1,400 acres, not fully improved—no artificial feed grown—which winters 1,300 sheep and 300 head of cattle, and the wethers on this farm are sold off as fats, and the owner also sells a large number of fat cattle. That is not an extraordinary case, and I am simply quoting it to show that the carrying-capacity is equal to the average country in New Zealand. There may be exceptional flats, such as Waimate in South Canterbury and Hastings in Hawke's Bay, but we have favoured spots too. In the Wairoa Basin there are 150,000 acres of first-class flat land, and I would not be surprised if it went to 200,000 acres. I, myself, have carried ten sheep to the acre for twelve months on part of my place at Mangawhare, just to see what the land could do. They were in the same feed all the time, and they were all fat when I took them off. They were on surface-sown mixed English grasses. With regard to the line going east or west of the Tangihuas, lam of opinion that the western line would open up more good country and generally serve a larger area of fertile land than will be served if the eastern route is adopted. But I have always taken this attitude regarding these two routes : Find out which is the best line for the railway, and in the best interests of the Dominion, and adopt that one. With regard to Mr. Allen's evidence : supposing the railway were to be started at Kirikopuni, after going through four miles and a half of private land it would enter Government property. If the present route as surveyed by the flying survey were adopted it would touch the Mangakahia Eiver at a shingle-pit about fourteen miles from Kirikopuni. It would pass through a Government bush containing about 70,000,000 ft. of timber, including 14,000,000 ft. of kauri, mentioned by Mr. Allen. If the Government sell the timber*as it stands they will get 2s. for the kauri, but if they put the railway in from Kirikopuni they will get 6s. or 7s. probably in royalty, and if you estimate the difference between the royalty on the kauri, kahikatea, rimu, and totara, I am satisfied you could build ten miles of railway for nothing. They are now paying Bs. per hundred for kauri on the river-bank. The Government put up the kahikatea and rimu, and the best bid was 3d. per hundred. With the railway I think they would get Is. 6d. I may say that lam now selling all kinds of timber to the sawmillers off my own property, so have a fair idea of what the timber should be worth. 3. Mr. Ronayne.] You say that the fruit industry is retarded through lack of railway communication. I suppose you are aware that in the South Island fruit is conveyed by road for as much as thirty to forty miles to the railway-station ?—I dare say that is so. 4. Mr. Coom.] Take the royalty at 6s. on kauri and at Is. 6d. for other timbers, that would amount to £84,000 ?—Yes. 5. You have no doubt noted the statement by the Hon. Mr. Millar, that the North Auckland Railway will not pay more than \ per cent.? —Yes.