E. MITCHELSON.

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only about twelve to fourteen miles. If you divide that at the centre you are about six miles from the river and six miles from the railway, so that the distance from the Northern Wairoa to the line is not excessive. The settlers at these two points could either take the railway on the eastern route or the Northern Wairoa River. Unfortunately, you have two mountains in the road —Tangihua on the east side and Maiigaru on the west. Taking the western route you would shut out from any benefit to be derived from the railway all the settlers on the north-eastern side of the Tangihua Mountain. 1 think it is admitted by all who have seen the Northern Wairoa waterway that it is the finest in the Dominion, and that it would be hard to teat it anyxvhere in the world. From my long experience, both in public and local life, lam satisfied that the land in the Northern Wairoa district is of such a quality that the day is not far distant when practically the whole of the produce obtained from that district will be sea-borne out of the Dominion through the Kaipara waters. It is one of the finest harbours in the world. 7. Mr. Evans.] It is it bar harbour?- Yes, but very deep and very wide. The narrow part does not come into question until you ate well up the rix-er. Ships of war have frequently been in there. It is going to be a great wool-producing, sheep-producing, and butter-producing district. Practically the whole of it on both sides is accessible to the rix-er itself. But seeing the way population is going, ultimately it will be necessary, in my opinion, to make a branch line xvhich would either connect with Dargaville at a point near Mount Wesley or at Mititai, near Dargaville. The former would te preferable, as at Mount Wesley you have the narrowest part of the rix-er and the deepest water. I have heard a good deal about the gum hind. There is a false impression existing in the minds of a number of people regarding the quality of the gum land. It is only three or four years ago when we xvere told that the pumice land 1 xvas of no use. Now, I think the articles which hax-e been appearing in the Herald in the hist week or two will show that the pumice land is going to te of enormous benefit to the Auckland Provincial District. If any of you had been present at the last winter show held here you would have seen roots grown on tin- pumice land in the vicinity of Waiotapu unequalled by any grown on the richest land in the Auckland district. I have had during the last se-ve-n years some- considerable experience myself in bringing xvhat is called gum land into profitable cultivation. 1 think the result of my experience would prove to any person xvho takes the opportunity of inspecting it that with proper tilling and proper cultivation the gum lauds can be made highly profitable. I may say I am strongly averse to any attempt to construct a branch line either to Dargaville or to Whangarei until the Main Trunk line is completed to Hokianga, and i do not think that the present attempt to take the line from Kawakawa to Hokianga should he proceeded with until the route of the Main Trunk Raihvay has teen determined, otherwise you may have the two lines running parallel to each other beyond Ohaeaxvai. To construct the line from Kawakawa to Hokianga on a route that may not be chosen for the Main Trunk line is suicidal, and a waste of money. 8. The Chairman.] I may say that the Trunk line going on from Kaikohe to Hokianga is being made with it view to connecting with the Main Trunk line coining in from McCarroll's Gap. The Main Trunk line must go through the Mangakahia Valley and on to Kaikohe, and now the line that is being made from Kaikohe to touch deep water at Hokianga is being made with a viexv to joining up xvith the Main Trunk xvhen it reaches Kaikohe?—That is all right, then. My experience as a Minister of Public Works has taught me that when once you start making branch lines it is at the expense and delay of the Main Trunk. Ido not know whether you saw the hind in the Opouteke Valley. On the upper end of the Mangakahia the Government, I believe, oxvn some land —right up on the watershed of the Mangakahia. There is simply a dividing range between the Mangakahia and Hokianga Rivers just to the left of the line, and the country xvill te all opened up by cither line, because the Mangakahia Valley is neutral. The railway can be taken up either side of the Mangakahia without crossing the rix-er until you get to the upper end. It can be taken up the western side and cross it at the upper end. On the eastern side it will have to cross the rix-er at three or four places above the junction of the Opouteke. Then there is the question of a swing-bridge, supposing the western route is adopted. I notice you have taken evidence from the Harbourmaster at the Kaipara to show that a swing-bridge would not be necessary. That depends entirely on where the line crosses. 1 think it is possible that a saxvmill will be erected up there at a very early date, in which case vessels of from 300 to 400 tons will go up to load 9. Where? —At Kiriponui. We have had the river measured, and have come to the conclusion that xve can take up vessels of from 300 to 400 tons to load. In such event a swing-bridigc across a strong tidal river will te detrimental to the traffic. One great advantage of the railway xvill te that it will make available the enormous shingkvbeds in the Mangakahia Valley. There is enough shingle at Mangakahia and Opouteke to metal the whole of New Zealand; and in addition the railway will pass through several volcanic scoria cones in the district between Kaikohe and the Mangakahia River. The country between Hpkianga and Mangonui is exceedingly good, as you xvould see in your travels. 10. Mr. Evans.] You say there is quite' as good land, and as much of it, on the eastern as on the western side, and you know both sides?—l suppose I have spent more time in the bush and country there than any other man in New Zealand. 11. Have you any idea of the value of land in the western district, taking it altogether, and also in the eastern district? —That is a question I could not ansxver. I do not know anything about the value of the land per acre in either district. Of course, the bulk of the land is held by Natives in the upper end, and in the Hikurangi. 12. Have you any idea of the quantity of land held by Natives in both districts?— No. It is an enormous area—2oo,ooo or 300,000 acres. The Government department can give you the area of every inch owned by Natives. The worst feature of it is that enormous areas of the land have never been surveyed or put through the Court.