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307. You expect to do the same as the Silver Peak men?—l do not know what they are doing. 308. Did Pogson say he would give you sheep to graze upon it ?—No ; I never asked him. 309. You do not know at present how you are going to get stock to put on the land?—No; I have not got the land yet. 310. Before authorizing Pogson to buy the land you made a declaration? —Yes. 311. And do you consider you were complying with that declaration in buying the land?—l believe I was. 312. Did you attend the Land Board when summoned?—l was away from home when the summons was left at my house, 313. Did Pogson give you any instructions, or tell you not to appear?—-No. 314. Then, if Pogson says he did, will you contradict it ?—No; I believe something of the sort took place and that I need not appear. 315. So what you said first was incorrect. Pogson did give you instructions. Did he not also say he would hold you blameless if anything should happen ?— [No answer.] 316. The Chairman.] Tell the Committee exactly what happened between you and Pogson, because we have evidence already. There is no use in trying to conceal it ? —Mr. Pogson said he believed there was no occasion to go—something of that sort. 317. Mr. J. McKenzie.] Did he not say he would hold you harmless ?—No; he did not say that. 318. Did he not say he would be responsible if you did not go ?—Yes; I believe he did. 318 a. The Chairman.] Do you not know he did ?—Yes. 319. Mr. J. McKenzie.] You were entirely guided by Pogson in the whole transaction?— Yes. 320. In fact, he selected the section for you, did he not?— Yes. 321. Suppose you get a license, you expect to get sheep from Pogson to run on the land ?—I was going to try to get sheep from him next year. 322. Is it not a fact that you have arranged that already ? —No; I have not. 323. Have you had any conversation with Pogson on the subject ?—None at all. 324. Or with Patterson ?—No ; I never spoke to him hardly. 325. Supposing Pogson declined to give you sheep if you get the license, what course do you intend to pursue then?—l will see what my friends will do to help me. 326. Name any friends likely to assist you ?—I have a relative in Tasmania—Mr. Mitchell, who, I think, would assist me. 327. Has he given you any assistance already?—No; I never asked him. 328. Do you not think it a rather delicate position to take up land, not knowing who is to assist you, on the mere chance of some person assisting you ?—Yes ; but I think if a man can get assistance he is at liberty to take up land. 329. Supposing no one assists you, what possible means have you of paying the money?—l should get it from Mr. Pogson, I believe. 330. Then, if you were not able to pay, it would result in Pogson taking the land, I suppose? —Not if I could help it. I intend to keep it for myself. 331. Major Harris.] Had you any agreement with Pogson as to what he might give for the land?— No. 332. He might have given whatever price he liked and you would have taken it ?—Yes. 333. You had no agreement at all with him ? —No. 334. At the present time you are working for Pogson?—No; I am living in a tent on the land poisoning rabbits. 335. Pogson's sheep are at present on the land?— Yes. 336. If he wished to take them away at any time he could do so?— Yes. 337. Could you keep anybody else's sheep without fencing?—No; I intend to fence as soon as I get the license. 338. How does Pogson pay you now for grazing the sheep ?—He pays nothing. I cannot claim the ground till I get the license. 339. Hon. Mr. Eolleston.] Do you mean to tell the Committee you had no arrangement with Mr. Pogson as to the particular section to be selected ?—I had an arrangement with him. I was to take section 2, Block VI., at the top end of the run. 340. You had an arrangement to take that particular block ?—Yes. 341. He was to pay exactly what he pleased for it?— Yes ; I asked him to buy it for me and he did. 342. You had no communication with him or with anybody for him previously as to that section ?—No; not previously. 343. Mr. Fulton.] Who is Mitchell you speak of ?—A solicitor. 344. In a position to assist you?—l believe so. 345. Have you any idea of the cost of fencing the land?—No; I never thought of that. 346. Have you any means except your own labour of supporting yourself and family?— No. 347. They are all small children?— Yes. 348. Then, how do you expect to repay this money at all ? In the declaration you say you intend to take the land for your own use and benefit. Then I presume you intend to repay the money and retain the land yourself?— Yes. 349. Now, what hopg-have you by your own labour, with the assistance of Mitchell, of being able to repay the money. Have you any hope of being able to? —I intend to try. 350. You -left the price of the land entirely to Pogson. You do not know what it is going to cost to fence; you do not know where you will get sheep for the land, unless Pogson should be kind enough to lend them to you; and therefore you cannot possibly tell, can you, by what means you are ever going to make the land your own ?—No.