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108. Have you had an opportunity of judging of the fitness of the persons who were appointed without your knowledge ? —As a general rule I have known the qualifications of the men who have been appointed. 109. Do you know whether Mr. Maunsell's position is different now to what it was before you were appointed ? —Tes, I believe it is. 110. Have you any knowledge of the state of the Wairarapa District, as far as scab was concerned, at the date of Mr. Telford's resignation ?—Tes ; the returns show me what it was. 111. Can you tell us what the state was then compared with what it is now ? —Tes. The returns show that on the last day of September the number of sheep on the infected list was considerably over 100,000, which meant about twenty flocks, and now there are only about eight flocks, or about 22,000 sheep infected. 112. What is your opinion respecting the destruction of sheep by an Inspector on his own responsibility, wild sheep in bush districts?—Some men would do the work at once, without referring to the Government, and risk getting the money back again. There are some men, however, who would not run any risk. I think I should do the work myself if I were an Inspector, and take my chance of getting the money back from the Government, if I expended any. 113. Then we are to understand that, in practice, the Government have recognized the fact that they are responsible for the destruction of diseased sheep on Crown lands ?—No, I cannot say that. The question is a vexed one at the present time. Sheep have never been killed at the expense ef the Government since I have been Superintending Inspector; but some eighteen months or two years ago some Maori sheep were killed on the Waimate Plains District, and the owners were paid for them. 114. Mr. J. McKenzieJ] Is it not a fact that instructions are issued to the Inspectors that they are not to spend money without authority ? —Yes ; distinctly I say that. 115. "What knowledge has Mr. Maunsell got of scab ? —I do not know that he has any. 116. Mr. Sutton.] You are also in charge of the Babbit Department?—Tes. 117. Is there a special staff of officers in connection with that department ?•—No. All Inspectors of Babbits are Inspectors of Sheep as well. 118. Do you know anything of a Mr. Russell, who is employed as a Rabbit Inspector in Hawke's Bay ?—No, I do not know him. 119. How is it that all the Inspectors are instructed by circular to send in their reports to the Colonial Secretary instead of to yourself ?—Because the Sheep Department is a branch of the Colonial Secretary's Office. 120. Have you anything to do with arranging the salaries of the officers of the department?— Tes, I can recommend the rate of pay at which they shall begin, and can recommend them for an increase afterwards. The pay-sheets, however, do not go through my hands. 121. In the matter of granting free railway passes, would you be consulted?—No free passes have been granted so far as I know. We have to pay our railway fares out of our own pockets, and get the money back afterwards. 122. Mr. W. G. Buchanan .] Have you an Inspector named MeShane?—Tes. 123. Can you say whether the appointment of Mr. Campbell was made at his instance ? —Tes. Mr. McShane asked me for authority to employ Campbell. 124. Have you had occasion to send any remonstrances to McShane lately ? —No. 125. Have you not had occasion to complain that he had not done certain things that he ought to have done ? —1 wrote to him stating that he had been a number of days in Balclutha without showing enough work for his time. 126. And yet he has the; power to employ one or more assistants ? —Tes, subject to approval. 127. The Chairman!] With reference to appointments you say the method pursued has been to keep a list of the applicants, and that from that list the most eligible have been appointed as vacancies occurred. Were the names of Mtzroy and itobson on that list ?—I cannot say. 128. Does the list of those who are selected remain with you?—l should have said that the applications are filed by themselves as they come in, but there is really no list kept. As vacancies occur the original applications are referred to, and the most efficient men are selected. 129. Who goes over the applications and makes the selection ?—I do. 130. But it appears that appointments have been made without your knowledge?—Tes. 131. And you are not in official communication with these officers?—Their communications, in the shape of diaries, &c, come through the office. I would get my first knowledge of their existence from the Gazette. 132. Then you are not responsible for the efficiency of the Inspectors ?—Tes, I consider myself responsible for the efficiency of any Inspector I may come into contact with. 133. How did you hear of Mr. liobson's appointment ? —I saw the notice of the appointment in the Gazette. 134. How long had he been appointed before you heard of it? —I cannot say. 135. Have you any knowledge of the facts connected with the appointment of the other man ?— I saw it gazetted. : 136. Who recommended this man for appointment?—l do not know. 137. Do you know whether these men are fitted for their work ? —I cannot say whether they are fitted or not. I have no knowledge of them, but I have heard that Mr. Fitzroy is a very smart man. 138. Mr. J. Green.] Do you consider yourself Chief Inspector or Superintending Inspector ?—I am Superintending Inspector. 139. Do you regard your position as Superintending Inspector as different from what it would be if you were Chief Inspector ? —Tes, most decidedly. 140. If you were a Chief Inspector you would be really responsible for the whole of the work of a district? —There are several Chief Inspectors, and as Superintending Inspector I am at the head of them all. 141. Mr. Swanson.] I suppose your business is to wage war against the scab disease ?—Tes. 142. And you are the general commanding the army to stamp out this disease? —Yes.