1.-8.

609. But you found it difficult of access. Did you buy the land without seeing it ?—Yes ; I had a brother there, who told me he had been through the land. 610. Mr. Pogson had seen the land before you bought it ?—I cannot say. My brother has a section adjoining me. 611. How many sheep w rould your land run ?—I think about 500. 612. What did you give for it ?—£l an acre. 613. What would it cost to fence ?—I have not had to fence. I could do it myself. 614. The cost of the land and improvements and 500 sheep would be altogether about £2,000 ? —Yes ; as near as I can tell. 615. What means have you of getting wool away ?—None, unless it was packed away in bags therefore I found it best to keep cattle and horses, which I shall have to increase gradually. 616. Major Harris.] By the agreement you have heard read, have not Gellibrand and Co. possession of the land for fifteen years ? —No ; it belongs to me. 617. But you could not turn off their sheep at anytime in the fifteen years ? —No, it seems not, according to the agreement. 618. Mr. W. White.] What led you to believe you had power to compel the removal of the sheep ?—I do not know exactly. 619. In what case would you give notice for the removal of the sheep?—lf I could stock the land myself I would tell Mr. Bogson I would not care to have the sheep there any longer. 620. But, by the agreement, you have absolutely given the full right for the company to run their sheep for fifteen years. What power have you to alter that ?—I thought I had the power. 621. Did Pogson tell you so?— No. 622. As a matter of fact, Pogson could compel you to remove your cattle, instead of you compelling him to remove his sheep ? —I do not think he could compel me to remove them. 623. Mr. J. W. Thomson.] How much do you make in a year from all sources ?—During the poisoning season I can make £1 a day for three months at rabbiting. 624. Then it is chiefly from rabbiting you make a living?.—l had money before I went there. 625. How much money have you spent of your own ?—About £300 in various ways. 626. Mr. Fulton.] To whom do you sell the rabbitskins ?—A storekeeper at Hindon buys them. 627. Who supplies you with poison ?—I buy it of Mr. Pogson. 628. You occasionally go away from home and get a job of work on the station?— Yes; I went away at shearing time and poisoning time. I gave notice to the Board and got leave. 629. The Chairman.] How long has the agreement been in force between you and Gellibrand and Co.? —Two years. 630. When was it first committed to writing?— About two years ago. 630 a. Has there been any new agreement since ? —Not that I know of. 6306. Here is an agreement dated only a few weeks ago [handed to witness]; did you sign that?—Yes.| 630 c. You say you made an agreement in writing two years ago, and now you say you signed this a few weeks ago, and you say you have only signed one. Which is correct ? —I really forget; that is the only agreement I have signed. 630a\ Then why did you say you signed one two years ago ?—I was under the impression that I had, but that is the only one I signed. 630e. Well, did you also sign one two years ago ?—No ; none. 630/. Is your memory so short that you confuse two years and six weeks ?—I have not a good memory. 630</. There is no other agreement than this existing ? —No; none whatever. I have only signed the one. 630/z.. But two years ago or more they made an agreement with you. Was it drawn up ? — No ; there was no document. 631. Then you went on a verbal agreement for two years?— Yes. 632. What was the cause of the delay ?—I cannot say. 633. There is no other agreement existing?— None whatever. 634. What did Mr. Pogson say when he asked you to sign the agreement ?—He told me that was th arrangement. 635. Who was present when you signed it ?—Mr. Duncan Smith. 636. Was Mr. Humphries not there ?—No, I think not.

Wednesday, Bth August, 1883. Thomas Johnston, further examined. 637. The Chairman.] Are you prepared to state on oath that you had no arrangement either in writing or verbally, with any one of the firm of Gellibrand and Co. or with any person on their behalf, to the effect that, if the said firm assisted you to purchase the land and paid your instalments, you would allow them to graze their sheep on the land ?—There was no such arrangement; only, as to getting the land, that Mr. Pogson would pay the instalments. 638. What were yotf to give in lieu of that ?—He never asked me about it. 639. Was there any arrangement to running sheep on the land ?—No. 640. Has there been no arrangement that you shall give an agreement about it ? —No. 641. Nothing ever said about it ? —No. 642. What interest are you to pay for the money ?—Nothing was said about interest. 643. Do you tell the Committee positively that at no time has there been any arrangement or

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