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37. His Honour.] Was that at the same interview ?—No, it was not at the same interview. 38. Mr. Chapman.] What was the finish of that interview ? You see a suggestion has been made to you, what did you say or do ? Did you refuse or consent ? —-I consented, certainly. 39. His Honour.] To what ? —I consented to their making use of my name. 40. Mr. Chapman.] Was anything written on that day or at that interview—written or signed ? —I do not think so. 41. This is a copy of a telegram apparently sent by you on the 27th February, 1891: " Please apply to-morrow morning on my behalf for Eun 93a, Lake Ohau, paying neceasary moneys.— J. E. Scott." It was sent to the National Mortgage Company, Timaru. It is preceded by a telegram sent by Mr. Eitchie, of the same date. Do you remember when and where you signed that ?—lf I signed it in my office it is in the letter-book ; if not, I must have signed it over at their office. I think it was over at their office. lam pretty sure it was. 42. You do not remember the actual date of this interview with Mr. Henderson?—The end of February. 43. Then, that telegram was sent. When did you next hear anything about it ?—Some days after I got a letter, or a telegram, saying that the run was to be bid for in Christchurch. 44. It was the Head Office letter of the 2nd March, 1891—a formal letter: what did you do with that letter?—l took it over to the National Mortgage Company's office. 45. Whom did you see ?to whom did you show it ? —I think, to Mr. Henderson. 46. Then, did Mr. Henderson say anything, or produce anything, for you to sign?—l afterwards, I think, signed a telegram to Christchurch to bid, to the National Mortgage and Agency Company, or a document of some sort authorising. 47. This authority to bid would be sent to Christchurch, dated the 4th March, 1891 ; that is a copy. You sent some authority to bid. This is not your signature; it is a copy ?—Yes, that is right. 48. Did you hear anything of the result ? —Not for some days afterwards. 49. Well, what did you hear?—l do not think I heard anything. I heard that the run was bought, but how long afterwards I do not know. 50. Did you go to inquire whether you had become a runholder in Canterbury ?—No, I did not. 51. Do you know how or when you heard it?—l think Mr. Henderson must have told me. 52. But you do not speak positively ? —I cannot speak positively. 53. When did you come to know the rent ?—I did not know it very well till to-day. 54. I think you had occasion to know it before that ? —The exact sum I did not know. 55. From first to last, did you say that any kind of rent was to be paid at all?— None whatever. 56. Do you remember signing the lease?— Yes. 57. In the Land Office here?— Yes. 58. Did you read it ?—No. 59. Who told you to sign it here ?—Mr. Henderson. 60. You had no sheep or cattle, had you ?—No. 61. Did you ever know what sheep or cattle were on this run?— No. 62. Did you ever make any arrangement for depasturing anybody's sheep or cattle on your run? —I never had a run of my own. 63. You never considered you had a run?— No. 64. Did you make any arrangement for depasturing stock on this run?'—No, I did not. 65. Now, when there was any correspondence or anything of the kind about this run, when it came to you, wjhat used you to do with it ?—Take it over to Mr. Henderson. 66. What was the next thing you heard about it?— The next time it cropped up was some notices about rabbit-killing, and I took them right over to Mr. Henderson. 67. Were there any conversations when you took these over?—No; only "Let them alone." Mr. Henderson invariably told me to leave it alone—to do nothing. 68. Afterwards you got a summons, did you not, for failing to destroy the rabbits ?—Yes. 69. What did you do with that ?—Well, I paid no attention to it for some time, I think, and then Mr. Henderson came over and dictated a telegram in my office to Mr. Foster. 70. Were you present ? —I do not know whether I was present or not on that particular occasion—Logic wrote it. Mr. Chapman : That telegram was sent to Foster. His Honour : Logic is your clerk, and Foster is the Eabbit Inspector ? 71. Mr. Chapman.] Mr. Foster is the Chief Inspector in Christchurch. That telegram, at any rate, was not originated by you ? —No. 72. You sent the telegram to the Inspector, at any rate, and it was not originated by you?— No ; it was dictated by Mr. Henderson. 73. His Honour.] Who signed it?—l signed it, and Logic wrote it. 74. Mr. Chapman.] It is, " Inspector Thomson has summoned me for rabbit-poisoning. Find I cannot continue to hold the run. Must abandon it.— J. E. Scott " ?—Yes. 75. That was dictated by Mr. Henderson ? —Yes. 76. Mr. Haggitt.] No; lie cannot say so? —Yes; I was not sure, but I must have been there, because, I see, I signed it. I remember I was busy about something else at the time, but I was about the room. 77. Mr. Chapman.] Did Mr. Henderson come over to your office? —Yes. 78. And your office is across the street from his ? —Yes. 79. You got the reply, did you not, " You had better see Chief Inspector Eitchie in Dunedin. —Fosteb, Chief Clerk " ?—I think that came while I was away. I heard of it after I came back to town.