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—I consider that Mr. Seaman valued some of the property at a rate which, at the time the Board were meeting, was a high one. There has been a change in value. 1023. That is, since October ?—Yes. 1024. Mr. Peacock.] We have it in evidence that there was extensive dissatisfaction among residents in the neighbourhood at your being appointed a Beviewer, on the ground that they might not have any of their objections listened to, because you had made this offer to Mr. Stark. Are you aware of it ? —I never heard one remark but what was favourable to my being appointed to the position, and these were very numerous. If you make inquiry I think you will find that there has been no fault found with the action of the Assessors, of whom I was one. 1025. Did you appeal against the assessments of the Calliope Dock, or did you consider them too high ?—I consider that one or two of them were. 1026. Did you consider Mr. Seaman's valuations were too high?—He estimated the buildings at too high a price, 1027. But not the land?— No. 1028. Did you intend to appeal against it?—l sent in my notice of appeal and intended to do so. 1029. Do you remember the amount ?—About £30 or £40, I think. ■

Thursday, 15th July, 1886. Mr. H. M. Bebwbk examined. 1030. The Chairman.] You are Land Purchase Officer for the Public Works Department ? —I am. I have been so for the last fifteen years. 1031. You know the property purchased by the Government from Mr. Stark ? —I went to see it, by direction of the Under-Secretary. 1032. When was that ? —I think in December last, but I could not speak exactly. I think it was about the 31st December last. 1033. Were you not afterwards instructed by the Minister for Public Works to get all the information you could about the property ? —Yes ; I met him when he came up, and he told me to do so between that day (Monday) and Friday. 1034. W 7 ill you state to the Committee what steps you took in the matter ? —I went over to the North Shore, and made a few inquiries as to the value of properties there from several people— from Mr. Snell, and Mr. Mays, and various land agents in Auckland, and, in fact, from any one that I thought could afford me any information ; but I had a very short time to do it in—only one day. I made many inquiries after that. I inquired from any of the residents who I found could give me any information. 1035. W T hat did Mr. Mays advise you to do?—He did not advise me in any way. He gave me certain information about the price of Hammond's land, which is next to Stark's. That was all he mentioned, as far as I remember. 1036. Did he not tell you, for your guidance, that the place had been offered to Mr. Boss?— He said he believed it had been, some years ago. I understood him to say some four or five years ago. 1037. Did you make any inquiries about it ?—I asked Mr. Stark about it, and he said it was not true. He said that he had an offer of £3,500 for the place some four or five years ago ; but that the buildings were worth more than that. 1038. Did you see Mr. Seaman ? —No, I did not. I called at his office, but did not see him. The first time I saw him was on board the " Hawea," coming down. 1039. You did not communicate with him before the purchase ?—No ; I got the property-tax valuation from his clerk, and handed it to the Minister. 1040. What was the general character of the information given you ?—lt was to the effect that all round Mr. Stark's place there was no property to be got at a less price than £500 or £600, and in some cases £800, an acre. I asked the price of one piece of one and a half acres from Mr. Sullivan privately, as if I wished to purchase it. He said he could sell it for £1,200, which was very cheap. He said he had a professional man who would take the other half if I purchased onehalf. I have a letter from him to that effect. 1041. Did you proceed to value Mr. Stark's property ? —I did not value it; I took the propertytax valuation. I had only been a fortnight in Auckland, and was unacquainted with the value of property there. I had been down in the Waikato, and I had not had time to make myself acquainted with the value of property in Auckland. 1042. Who is Mr. Snell ?—He is a resident at the North Shore. He appears to be a man of independent means. 1043. What made you apply to him ? —I simply asked him, in the course of conversation. I generally make it a point, in cases of the kind, to get all the information I can from every one. 1044. You did not apply to any land agents at the North Shore?— Only to Mr. Sullivan about this particular piece that I mentioned. 1045. Do you know who he is? —I do not. He is a stranger to me. 1046. Is he a land agent ? —He is. 1047. Did you make any other inquiries besides these you have mentioned? —No; these were all. I made inquiries about Professor Thomas's property, and heard that he had a property next to Mr. Stark's, and paid £600 per acre for his land. That was all the information I could get in the time at my disposal. I got a great deal more afterwards. 1048. You were satisfied, on comparing the values of these properties with that you found put on Mr. Stark's by the assessor, that the assessor's was a fair value?—l was quite satisfied. Mr.