I.—B.

175. Mr. A. C. Kimbell.] Is Mr. Johnston a married man?— Yes. 176. Has he any family ?—I did not see any. . . 177. Where does he live; on Cottesbrook Eun?-His wife is at Outram. He is working on Cottesbrook Eun, about forty miles from Outram. , . _ 178. So that he would sleep at Cottesbrook?—He comes home occasionally. He came down on Friday and returned on Monday. . + •*,-•„„•> ws, 179. Do you know any more of the Strath-Taieri District than you have told us I— JNo. Alfeed Chaeles Kimbell, examined. 180 Mr. Haaqitt.] What are you? —A wool-classer. - 18L I want to know whether you attended this sale.. First of all, do you know Section 2, Block VI., Strath-Taieri District?— Yes. , v 182. Did you attend the sale on the 28th February when this section was offered for sale ?-Yes. 183. Did you bid for that section?— Yes. 184. And the section was eventually knocked down to Mr. Bradshaw -"-yes. arvWo( -, 185. You questioned, and I believe you to-day question, the right of Mr. Johnston to be accepted aS " l B tV^tjfol7lt^on^ Mr. Kimbell?-Well, before going into that I should like to make a statement^ you my . aft j have done with you you can make your explanations ?-My objection to Mr. Johnston getting a license is that I believe he is not \^ n\^f^ eistm&! is not the result of your own knowledge, but the result of inquiries which you have instituted ? —Yes. The Board then adjourned till 2 p.m. The Board resumed. . n Kenneth Williamson, examined. 190 Mr Haaqitt.] Your name is Kenneth Williamson ?—lt is. _ _ 19E And 1 Sieve you are a shepherd in the employment of Messrs. Smith and Gellibrand?Yes ' 192 Whereabouts are you employed.; on what run ?-On the Nenthorne , 193: Is that part of what is called the Cottesbrook Station ?-It is a different run, but belongs to the same firm. Mr. Stout: It lies in the north. i 194 Mr Haggitt.] Was its manager the same?-The same manager. IS District on the 28th February last? ~YT97. You were not a purchaser at that sale?-I was. Not in the Strath-Taieri District; but on the same day in the Maniototo District. 198 You did not buy on Smith and Gellibrand s run .-*—No. 199 Were you asked to do so ?—No, I was not. You mean at that sale 1 M. Yes Were you asked on any previous occasion to do so?-Well, Mr. Bogson never asked me ; but I had it put to me. 201. When was that?— Some three years ago. ,-,,.«., -d i o v„* 202 That was when a sale was to take place of some land at Silver Peak t— xes. IS: You sly that some three years ago you were asked ?-It --^^oVT^S" was sold, and some time before the sale came on I was asked. As I understood, 1 was telt were "sounded "whether you would become apurchaser? _Ye2os. If it was not by Mr. Bogson, who was it?-By a man in his employ, a shepherd. 206 What was his name ?—Charles Patterson. ' , 207' What was it you were actually asked to do? -I was then living on a distant part of the run, set apart as pasto/al deferred-payment land be put upf and I was given to understand that I would have to shift from that pait ol the run where I was and go to another, or take up this land. 208. That if you did not take it up you would have to shift ?— Yes. 209. In point of fact to make room for some one else who would take it up ?-I do not kIIOW2IO. Did any persons who were in the employment of Smith and Gellibrand purchase sections at that sale of the Silver Peak? —Yes. 911 Gould you name any of them?—l could name one, John Watson. -~.r , ~ 919 T^Sere a man named Higgins?-There were two men of that name; but Ido not know of them was not. Charles and William Higgins were the names of the men who purchased at the Silver 1 eak sale. 213 Do you know any other ?—A man named Francis. 215: ?o7r y oiiT y aS rtho;f men have occupied the sections that they took up since ?- They have lived upon them. 918 They have'lived upon them ever since?—l do not say ever since. . 21?: Well, thly hive hved upon them. Have they fenced them ?-I think there is a fence ; here is a sort of a ring-fence round it. 218 Are there any sheep on that ground?—xes, 7—l. 8.

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