D.—4.

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supply to this factory in the proportion of about four to one. In respect to the connection with Whangarei, I have taken the trouble to go over the routes. We have heard suggested here by men who know the country intimately that a junction with Waikiekie and the Whangarei line at Kioreroa was what the engineers thought the most suitable solution of the matter. That would mean leaving Mr. Knorpp's route at Omuwhare. Of course, the surveyed route would be better known to the Commission than to myself. 4. That is whore you think it ought t<> be connected ?—That is where we might suggest a connection should be made for your consideration later on. It would go in a southerly direction, and the general direction of the line connecting Waikiekie ami Kioreroa would be 25 degrees north-east from Waikiekie. The cost of delivering butter to the freezer from here is as follows : Cartage into Mangapai, £1 to £1 10s. per ton, according to the price of the contract —at present it is £1 "> s ; the freight from Mangapai is £1 a ton: cartage and wharfage, Auckland, works out at about 2s. per ton. As against these amounts—totalling £2 7s. per ton —if we had the railway to take our butter dlirect to the freezer, instead of six handlings as at present, it would be handled only thrice—from the factory to the wagon (one), from wniron to truck (two), and from truck to freezer in Auckland (three handlings). 5. Mr. Evans.] What is the length of the milking season on the- average!— Eight months. (). Have you been over the western route?— Yes; I know it intimately. 7. Arc you in favour of the western route?— Yes. 8. Did 1 understand you to say there are more improvements upon the western route than ■in the eastern ?—Yes, from the Tangihuas smith to McCarroll'a Gap, which is all the country I am dealing with. 9. Do you know the rate roll of the two districts?— No. 10. Do you honestly say that there is more settlement on the western side than on the eastern side? —I adhere to my statement, that there is more settlement taking place and more improvements on the land to the west of the eastern route than on the country to the east of the western route. 11. Are you aware that there are several large blocks of land on the western side held by syndicates?—l am aware of one large block held by one individual —Mr. Riddell. 12. What about Mr. Harding's block ?—I have no recollection of his land. I went through his property where it runs down into Mr. Riddell's place when 1 wae going through the western line, but that is the only view I had of it. 13. Do you know what rates per acre are collected in the western district ?—No; I think the previous witness gave that. 14. Do you know what rates the Maori Lands in the western district pay?—l do not think there is any Maori land in this district, or in the south. 15. Your district is the Waikiekie Road Board I—Yes,1 — Yes, running up to the Tangihua Range. IG. .)//■. Stallworthy.] In some districts they dairy all the year round, do they not?— Yes. 17. What prevents your doing that here? —I think the want of cropping and the inability to get manures for cropping for winter feed. 18. It is not the state of the roads I —They could not get them in even if they had good roads. If they had good railway communication yon would find that dairying would advance here in winter-time better than it does in Taranaki, as the country will grot? hotter crops for hay and ensilage. The farmers would be able to get their produce away to market. The farmer now has to sell his sheep and cattle to the dealer, while the cattle have to go down to To Hana, and the travelling does not do them any good. Oik.' person told me that some sheep in this district would bring ss. more per head if on the Auckland market. In another case a farmer sent some sheep by sea, and when they got to their destination he did! not recognize his own sheep, they were so poor and dirty. 19. How many cows are the twenty-four suppliers of your factory dealing with now?— Eight hundred. 20. You have had previous experience in dairying?— Yes, in Taranaki, since 1898. Also at Matakana, and I spent a couple of years in the King-country. I have been the manager of a dairy factory before this, and also farming myself. 21. Taking your previous experience, will this district compare favourably with other districts as regards dairying? —This is the best district for dairying north of Auckland I have so far seen. 22. How does it compare with Taranaki? — I am quite satisfied that it is one of the best agricultural districts in the North Island. 23. Have you been in the bush districts of Taranaki? —Yes, when there was plenty of bush there. 24. How far from the railway were you!—At one place I was four miles away, at another 1 was twenty miles out. 25. Do you consider that this country northwards is as capable of supporting a railway aR the Taranaki district is?—l do. I do not suggest that this land will produce as much as the Taranaki land, but I am certain it will repay the construction of a railway-lino through it. 26. We are now sitting in the centre of your district?— Yes. 27. How far away are you from the Wairoa River?— Twenty miles, approximately. 28. How far from Mangapai? —Twelve miles. 29. Do you hold land in this district? —No. 30. You are not personally interested in this question?— No. 31. And you are not biassed either in favour of the east or the west?—No; I am doing this entirely in the interests of my employers. 32. We are now in the fork of the two routes?— Yes, at equal distance by either route of any probable station at Waikiekie. 33. Mr. Steadman.] As far as delivery of your produce at Auckland is concerned, either route would suit you?—Yes.