I.—la.

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[c. rabbidge.

Rodger could undertake to tender to supply coal suitable for our business it would, of course, be a very desirable thing. Our expenses in getting coal arc very heavy. We have to bring it either Erom Newcastle or the West Coast, and pay railage and freight from those points, and the railage from the Bluff is seventeen miles. If Mr. Rodger could put himself in the field in competition for our business at the present time he would have an opportunity of supplying about 7,000 or 8,000 tons a year. That is our consumption of coal for gasmaking purposes, and it is continually increasing by 5 per cent. to 10 per cent, per annum. Further than that Ido not think 1 can say much in support of Mr. Rodger's scheme. I know the country well. I have friends in the locality and go there very often, and during the last few years I have seen a great improvement in it. On the Birchwood Estate there is now a dairying community, and I should think that if a railway was accessible there it would mean a great deal to them, because the roads there are really horrible at the present time of the year impassable in places. I have friends between Birchwood and Orawai, and they are practically locked in at this time of the year. 2. Hon. Mi. Fisher.] If the coal that Mr. Rodger is hopeful of getting shows on sample to be nearly as good as Westport, would that make it a most desirable coal for you '. We look at it purely Erom a commercial point of view, as fco which coal at a price will show the best results for gasmaking purposes. 3. Which is the best at present" West Coast or Southland '. West Coast at the price. I. If his coal is like the West Coast coal '. Then he would have that advantage; but one coal at 30e. per ton may be a cheaper coal than another at ss. a ton, for gasmaking purposes. 5. Mr. Robertson.] You want bituminous coal '. Yes, the better the quality the better. 6. Mr. Rodger himself will not go so far as to make a positive statement that he has got bituminous coal ?—He has a superior glance coal, at any rate —a semi-bituminous coal. I should say that it is quite possible .Mr. Rodger may be able to supply coal thai will be suitable for gasmaking purposes. 7. Hon. Mi. Fisher.] Dβ you look upon the possibility of such a supply as being important Eor the welfare of Invercargill \ Undoubtedly. It would create competition. We have practically no competition for our coal-supplies at the present time. Our experience is a general increase every year. They put a little oh to us every year, and we are powerless. 8. Mr. Webb.] What coal are you using now from the West Coast ? Westport mostly —Denniston. Some State. 9. Have you used the Liverpool coal '. Yes. It is very good coal. I certainly think that any thing that would give that part of the country reasonable access must send it ahead. l<). Hon. Mr. Fisher.] Do you know that part of the district very well ' Fairly well. 11. You own no property there, do you \ No. 12. From the point of view of settlement, would you look upon this railway as being of any value ? I should think that a railway of any kind there must be of great advantage to the district. 13. Do you think the land is worth it >. Undoubtedly. There is a lot of limestone land there. I have one friend there who runs about three thousand sheep and provides no winter feed. He carries a sheep to the acre and provides no winter feed. That shows you the general quality of the land in the district. 14. Mr. Robertson.] It would largely increase the value of that land, I suppose ?—Yes. 15. Making it suitable for close settlement '. At Birohwood Mr. Rodger is now carrying on closer settlement. He is cutting up. 16. Hon. Mr. Fisher (to Mr. Rodger).] You have cut up a lot already, have you not '. The whole of my property is in the market at prices fixed three years ago and published in the newspapers from Auckland to the Bluff. I will not benefit to the extent of one penny. 17. Will you sell the land to the Crown at those prices '. I will sell it to any one : first come, first served.

James Armstf.ad further examined. (No. 8.) 1. Mr. Rodi/cr.] Is Mr. McMillan interested in the Wairio Railway and Coal Company ?--He is not. 2. Has he got shares in the Southland Coal Oompanv ' lie has. 3. And have.Mr. More's family got shares in the Southland Coal Company ?- Yes: Mr. Tom More and Mrs. More. 4. The Southland Coal Company get coal from the Wairio Railway and Coal Company, and they are intermixed ? —That is hardly a fair thing to suggest. They have no connection whatever, although two shareholders in the railway are in the Southland Coal Company, but otherwise the shareholders are quite different.

Alexander Wyllte Rodoer made a furl her statement and was examined. (No. 0.) Witness: In September, 1909, I returned from a trip to the Old Country. When I got back here I was approached by More and Sons with regard to their proposed tramway. When I was in the Old Country I made financial arrangements that would enable me to improve Birchwood and put buildings on the several farms there which I have done at a cost of £500 or more in each case and to build a dairy factors- and cut up Birchwood for closer settlement. When I returned I was met by More and Sons in regard to this railway. They had already fixed upon the route up the valley the route that they have adopted. I endeavoured to divert that route to go more through Birchwood, and serve the settlers that I expected to be there better than the route they proposed. I failed in that object : and then