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811. Do you mean that the ctane takes the truck up bodily?—Yes. 312. How are thev at Westport ? —Bv staiths. 313. By gravity ?—Yes. 314. The Chairman.] At Westport ?—Yes ;at Greymouth the Government have two hydraulic cranes, with which they load in the same way as at Newcastle. 315. As to depth of water: do you know the " Lindus " ? Could she load at Westport or Greymouth ? —No ; she draws 20ft. 316. Has she ever been at Greymouth ?—No; she has too heavy a draught. 317. With regard to the access to the two ports—Westport and Greymouth—for other lessees who might start to cut coal, is that quite free ? —Yes. 3.18. And the wharf, is that as free to the new lessee as to the Westport and Greymouth Companies ?—Quite as free, except that at Westport there is not berthage- or loading-accommodation for more tonnage than frequents the port now. There is only one loading-berth. The necessity for some extension of accommodation is frequently- brought before me. 319. Then, there is nothing to prevent other lessees having access except this deficiency of wharf-accommodation ?—Nothing else. 320. Mr. O'Conor.] There are no other mines connected with the port ?—I am speaking only as far as the shipping facilities are concerned. 321. Mr. Withy.] Do these two lines run to the mines of the two companies we have been speaking of, or to other directions where leases can be taken up and worked? —The line provides accommodation for the two leases at Westport. 322. There is another called Ngakawau that will shortly come into competition?—Yes. 323. At Greymouth : does it run simply to the Grey Valley Company's mines?—They are the only mines opened. 324. Then, there is nothing to prevent access to other mines competing?—Nothing that I know of. 325. There is the Mokihinui, which is now proceeding towards being worked : does the line go to it ?—No ; the Mokihinui is some six or eight miles beyond the present terminus of the line. 326. Mr. Hutchison.] Is this agreement, except for the variable freights, fixed?—Sometimes it is varied. 327. Except as to freight: do these variations affect any other clause or items ?—The freight is the principal thing to be considered; the other provisions have no great importance. 328. I suppose it is in writing ?—At one time it was formally in writing ; but the arrangements are made by exchange of letters now. 329. How long is it for?—The present agreement lasts for the present year. 330. Is it simply a mutual arrangement providing that, in the event of you providing sufficient tonnage, they will trade with you ?—That hardly expresses it. Upon our providing sufficient tonnage, they have to keep our steamers running as far as they can, subject to this. There is nothing to prevent them trading with others: it would not be fair to load casual ships to the exclusion of our ships. 331. You are bound to provide vessels for their output. You must take such freight as will enable them to compete. Is there no compact that they should load only your steamers ?—I do not quite understand your drift. We supply them with steamers; they have to keep our steamers employed as far as they can. 332. Would it not rather operate this way: that, if there is no inducement for you to load, you would not send a steamer to load for Dunedin unless you were bound to do so ?—We simply supply steamers for their trade ; they send them where they like. 333. If they sent for a steamer to load for Auckland, would you be bound to go ?—Yes ; as a matter of fact, there are one or two steamers loading for Auckland this week with coals for H.M.S. " Orlando." 334. There is no other but the Westport Company's mines served by the railway?—lt is to be connected with the Ngakawau, but that mine is not opened yet. 335. The Chairman.] But at present there is no other mine taking advantage of the Government railway ? —No. 336. Mr. Hutchison.] Is there anything in the agreement with the Westport Company that would handicap this new company in respect of loading your steamers ?—No :so long as we keep the Westport Company supplied with tonnage, there is nothing to prevent our supplying steamers to any one in excess of the Westport Company's requirements. 337. There is nothing, you say, to prevent you supplying others? —Not at all; it is perfectly understood. 338. Is there any other steam-shipping company trading to Westport ?—Yes; the Anchor Line. 339. Is there an agreement between the Union Company and the Anchor Line ?—Not that I have in my mind: there is no important agreement. 340. Is there not an agreement that the Anchor Line shall only carry coals to Wanganui in conjunction with the agency there of the Union Company ?—There is an agreement with a firm who act as our agents there. 341. Will you be good enough to inquire as to this matter ?—Yes. 342. Do you know the price at Wanganui ?—No. 343. Would you be surprised to hear that it is £117s. ?—No I would not, for screened coal. 344. Perhaps you would also make inquiry into that. Your agreement with the Westport Company does not affect the Anchor Company does it ? —They have a right to deal with the Anchor Company without any reference to us. 345. The Chairman.] I have gathered from your remarks that, if the shipping-accommodation

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