I.—B.

219. To whom do those sheep belong?—So far as I know they belong to Mr. Gellibrand. 220. Whose brand do they bear?— Mr. Gellibrand's. 221. This sale took place, you say, about three years ago ?—Yes. 222. And are those sheep running on to this day ?—Yes. Mr. Stout: You might ask him where those sheep are shorn, and what becomes of the wool. 223. Mr. Haggitt.] Who tend these sheep?— The Cottesbrook shepherds mark them. 224. And where are they shorn ?—At the home station—Cottesbrook. 225. And do you know whether the wool goes with the other wool belonging to the firm?—l do not know anything about the wool. 226. Have you ever heard whether any arrangement exists between Smith and Gellibrand, and these men you have mentioned—Higgins, Francis, and others—to depasture their sheep in this way? —I do not know anything more than that; no more than any of the public. 227. You have only heard it as rumour that there is such an agreement, but never heard particulars of it ?—That is all. 228. Now, then, as to this land that was sold the other day in the Strath-Taieri District. Do you know Mr. Johnston, who was the purchaser of Section 2, Block VI. ?—Yes. 229. What is Mr. Johnston ?—What does he follow ? 230. Yes.—The last time I knew him he was rabbiting. 231. Where ?—On the Cottesbrook Eun. 232. For how long was he rabbiting? —For a few months off and on. 233. You cannot say how many months ? More than six ?—I do not think he has been six months. 234. But off and on, how long ? —I could answer that question. 235. Would it be during the last six months or during a longer period that he was rabbiting cff and on?— Before that. 236. Twelvemonths?— Yes. 237. Very well. During the last twelve months he has been rabbiting off and on?—At times. 238. Have you known him to do anything else besides rabbiting during that twelve months ?— Yzs. ' 239. What ?— Shearing. 240. Where was he shearing ?—At Cottesbrook. 241. Well, lots of men who have no other occupation take to shearing, do they not, at that season when shearing is going on? —Yes. 242. Well, have you known him to have any regular occupation during that twelve months; have you known him to do anything except rabbiting and the shearing in the season?— No. 243. What was he doing before that ? —He had a team of his own. 244. A bullock team ? —Yes. 245. And, you say, of his own. Do you know that it was his own ?—lt was in his name; that is all I know. 246. You suppose it to have been his own; do you know what became of that team ?—I do not. 247. How long ago is it that he parted with it ?—lt must have been over a year ago that he parted with it. 248. What used he to do with his team? —He used to drive about for various people to various places. 249. Did he drive for Cottesbrook?—Sometimes. 250. Did he bring wool down ? —Yes. 251. And took stores up ? —I do not know that he took any stores up. 252. But he took wool down ?—Yes. 253. What else had he to drive for Cottesbrook?—l think wool was the principal thing; sometimes firewood going back. 254. Have you any idea what his position was ?— I could not say anything about his position. 255. Well, is he the sort of man you think capable of taking up nearly three thousand acres of land and putting stock upon it of his own ? —I do not know. A man might do that with very little money, if he was known. 256. Oh, I see; he must have some credit, if not money ?—Yes. 257. Could you say that he was a man well to do or otherwise?—He was not supposed to be well to do. 258. Now, there were several places sold at Cottesbrook on that occasion, the 28th February, were there not ?—Yes. 259. Besides what Johnston purchased, William Young made a purchase, did he not ?—Yes. 260. And James Bearsall ?—Yes. 261. James McCaw?-Yes. 262. William Free and Philip Young?— Yes. 263. And Charles Webb?-Yes. 264. These all were purchasers to your knowledge. Do you know any of these men personally ? —I know Charles Webb, Joseph McCaw, and Fisher. 265. Daniel Fisher ?—Yes. 266. Can you tell me what these men are, what their occupations are?— Two of them are rabbiters at present. 267. Which two ? —Charles Webb and Joseph McCaw. 268. Charles.Webb and Joseph McCaw are rabbiters, and what is Fisher?—He works in a mining claim. 269. Do you know whom he works for? —Mr. Smith—not Mr. Smith of Messrs, Smith and Gellibrand. 270. Mr. Smith, of what ?-I do not know,

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