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9. Mr. Evans.] How much land do you own here?—My brother and I have 2,500 acres. 10. Mr. Steadman.] How long have you had your land? —Five years. 11. Do you know that the lines will junction for this part of the district?—l knew that previously the eastern route was supposed to go through Mangakahia. 12. Mr. Stallworthy .] Is it not a fact that timber from Kirikopuni would go down the western route? —That would go down to Wairoa. There is a lot of timber that would feed the west and not the eastern route. 13. Mr. Ronni/ne.] Do you know the country between here and Kaikohe?—Yes. 14. And to the north? —As far as Rawene. 15. Do you think the country to the west of Kaikohe would serve as a feeder of importance to the Main Trunk? —Certainly. 16. In the event of this line being constructed to Kaikohe. and thus giving a connecting-line with Opua, would you not send your produce by Caikohe and Opua, and ship there? —That would depened on the facilities provided. In the coarse of time, no doubt, some trade would go there. 17. Are you in favour of a direct line from MeCarroll's (isip to Whangarei?—l am directly opposed to that. 18. And you consider that no connection should be made between the Kaihu line and the Main Trunk? —In course of time that will come about. 19. You do not consider it an urgent matter?— No. Two mid a half to three hours will bring one to the Kaihu Railway-station now. 20. The Chairman.] If the line is on the western route there would be a market for timber at Kirikopuni, as well as at Auckland'/ —Yes. 21. If the line were constructed on the eastern route, where would be the only market?— Auckland, for the line would be a long way from navigable water. 22. Does kahikatea stand railage?— Yes. George Oswald Dysart examined. (No. 40.) 1. The Chairman.] You are a storekeeper, residing at Nukutawhiti ?—Yes. 1 have been in the district about four years. 2. Will you make a statement regarding the matters we are considering ? —On the question of whether the western or the eastern route should be constructed, I am not prepared to give an opinion, ;is 1 have not been over tin country. As far Ss I can see, without going into the question deeply, it nukes no difference whether the line goes by the east or the west. In regard to connecting Whangarei with the Main Trunk line, I am in favour of that, because I think the increased revenue that would be derived from the line right up to Kaikohe would help in the prosecution of the line by that route. 3. Where do you suggest that the connection should be made ? —The shortest way to get to Whangarei. 4. Do you suggest that that connection with Whangarei should be made before the Main Trunkis completed ? —I suggest that they should do both at once. 5: Are you in favour of the connection with Whangarei being made from the Gap ? —I am not prepared to express an opinion. (i. You do not mind where the connection is made ?—1 would like to see it made as soon as possible. because I recognize that it will be many years before the Main Trunk gets up here. 7. Mr. Bccroft.] If tin , western line is adopted, and the railway-construction taken to Kirikopuni, and brought north here, would that meet the purpose you advocate as well as the eastern connection ?— As far as I know, it would. 1 would like to see both lines, but we would get connection sooner by getting it through to Whangarei. 8. Your objeel in support inn Hie connection with Whangarei would be because of the quicker benefit ?— Yes. 9. It would not lie a permanent advantage ?—I should think it would be permanent. I think one long line would be better than two bits of line. The money already expended from Whangarei to Kaikohe would make it pay better if it was connected witli one long line. The State would then get the benefit, instead of the steamship companies. 10. Mr. Cnniii.] Supposing it was a question of making the Whangarei branch and making the Trunk line through to here ? —I should say that the line should come this way if it was a question of making only one of the two lines. 11. Mr. Evans.] It would answer your purpose to have quick connection rather than to wait for a number of years for more direct connection ? —Yes, unless it was a question of deciding on one only. I would sooner surrender any benefit I would derive from the Whangarei connection than vote against the railway coming up to here. 12. Mr. Steadman.] You wish a connection to be made from the best point on the line to the Whangarei-Kawakawa Section ? —Yes. 13. Mr. Stallworthy.] What benefit would the people here get by the Kaikohe-Whangarei connection ?—I am a good deal about the country, and there are plenty of times when I could join a train from Kaikohe and go direct to Auckland if there were a connection. 14. How far are you from Kaikohe ? —Twenty-one miles. 15. And from Whangarei ? —Thirty-four miles. 16. Do you get your goods from Whangarei ?—Yes. 17. Aro you aware that the central people prefer the western route ?—No ; 1 have not had time to go into the matter thoroughly. It does not affect us up here. We want the line brought this way as soon as possible.

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