amount of firewood do you consider a population of 2,500 would require?

A. About five cords to every four persons.

Q. What is a fair price for the delivery of a cord of firewood?

A. In Nelson, the winter price is £2; the rest of the year 33s. to 35s.

Q. What would be a fair price for delivery of a cord of firewood by rail?

A. By rail a little less than by cart; about 24s. per cord.

Q. Assuming a population of 2,500. If firewood could be delivered at 10s. do you think the consumption would be much more?

A. I do.

Q. Do you know the charge of delivery of fencing in Nelson for seven miles?

A. About £1 5s.

Q. What do you consider a fair charge by rail for a similar distance?

A. About 18s.

Q. If fencing could be delivered at 10s. what would be the result in consumption?

A. I think about 10 per cent. increase.

Q. In the item parcels, what do you consider would be the amount?

A. At first 20 per day, from Blenheim to Picton, and 10 from Picton to Blenheim; and in a short time I would reverse it.

Q. What would be a fair price per parcel be?

A. Up to the size of about 1 1/2 foot cube, I would say 1s. 6d.

Q. In the item “Passengers, 60 per day,” do you consider that a fair estimate?

A. I think there would be rather more than less.

Q. What price do you think should be charged each way?

A. At present, with refreshments on the road, it amounts to 12s. 6d. I think 2s. 6d. each time.

Q. Would it be advantageous to have two classes of passenger carriages?

A. I think it would.

Q. Assuming two classes, what price would you put?

A. I would put 2s. for one, and 3s. for the other.

Q. In reference to vessels that trade here, I presume they take their stores from Nelson?

A. Vessels at Port Underwood take their stores from Nelson.

Q. Assuming the home of those vessels to be in Nelson, the benefit of the men’s wages and other expenditure go to Nelson instead of Marlborough?

A. The stevedores and men stowing and packing those vessels reside in Nelson, and all the benefit derived from their expenditure goes to Nelson.

Q. A port being here, and a railway, is it your opinion that those benefits in future would come here instead of Nelson?

A. When the railway is completed, a number of small vessels will be built and owned at Picton.

Q. Asking you as a man of business, do you think a railway would materially benefit this province?

A. It must certainly do so.

Q. From your knowledge of shipping, what is your opinion of Picton harbour as a terminus for the railway?

A. I have never seen a better excepting perhaps Sydney. Its freedom from tides and its shelter from winds, make it one of the best I know for discharging goods; its depth of water, too, is a great recommendation.

Cross-examined by Captain Baillie:

Q. As owner or commander of a vessel, would you have any hesitation in landing or taking in cargo?

A. None in the least.

The witness then left the Council Chamber.

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, MARLBOROUGH,

Friday, May 3, 1861.

Mr. WAND moved, according to notice, “That this Council is of opinion that it is most desirable to construct a Railway from Picton to the Wairau, and that the Superintendent is hereby authorised and requested, with the advice of his Executive, to take such measures as may be deemed necessary, for promoting, during the ensuing session of the General Assembly, such legislative enactments as are indispensable to the construction of the said Railway; and that he is further requested to prepare a Bill for the purpose of negotiating a loan, not exceeding the sum of sixty thousand pounds (£60,000), to be expended in the purchase of the site, and in the construction of the said railway, necessary stations, engines, carriages, rolling stock, and bridge over the Wairau river: Provided that the interest upon the said loan shall not exceed 6 per cent. per annum, together with an additional sum of 2 per cent. per annum upon the sum borrowed, to be set apart as a sinking fund for the repayment of the loan, the interest and sinking fund aforesaid to be charged upon the revenues of the province.”

Question put and agreed to.

CYRUS GOULTER, Speaker.

Printed by Coward and MallingtOn, Marlborough.