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the Crown have suitable lands for settlement. A sawmill ought to be erected on the ground, and all timbers which have any market value should be sawn and sold, leaving only that which is valueless to be burned. If this were done, from what I can learn the expense of clearing would almost be met by the proceeds from sale of timber, thus enabling the settler to take up cleared lands with only the loading for roads on it, instead of, as at present, having to pay either £2 10s. an acre for clearing or having his annual rental fixed on the capital value, plus clearing and roading. It would also enable the settler to have sawn timber for a house at a largely reduced rate, as the haulage to some centre and back again to the settler would be saved, as would also expenses for timber for fencing or other purposes. As this land is cleared and made ready for settlement the men who have been trained on the State farm could be steadily drafted on to it, and you would thus have a steady flow of fairly trained men taking up and working this land, as the money earned on the State farm would enable them, with a little assistance from the Government, to grass and stock it. You would thus enable men who through no fault of their own had become non-producers to become producers, and thereby add to the wealth of the colony. The evidences before us re State farms, &c, show that, whilst not directly showing a money profit, indirectly they have done a great amount of good; but, as none have been established long enough to enable them to be brought into that state of cultivation at which a money profit could be shown, little or no weight should be attached to any direct pecuniary loss which may stand against those farms, as time will in all probability wipe that out.

APPENDIX K. Labour Colony Office, 364, Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, My deae Me. Maeoh,— 23rd October, 1897. The Hon. the Minister of Agriculture here obtained a gift from your Government of a nest of humble bees which were placed last week on the labour colony at Leongatha. In transferring they must have been smoked too much, for they have all died, but there was no food in the tray on arrival, so they may have been starved. Would you kindly obtain for me, immediately if possible, another nest with eggs, and let me know the cost, for which I will at once remit payment. The labour colony is getting along splendidly, as you will see by the last report, which I forward herewith. What have you done in the same direction ? I shall be glad to hear that you have succeeded. With very kind regards, Yours, &c, J. B. Y. Goldstein, Hon. Superintendent. Mr. J. B. March, Superintendent of Settlements, Wellington, N.Z.

APPENDIX L. g IE Department of Labour, Wellington, 29th September, 1898. I herewith attach the various documents required by the Committee. I wish to correct my statement as to the number of cows now in milk. I have not been at the farm for four or five weeks, hence the error I made in stating that there were eighty cows being milked, the total number on the 28th September being fifty-four. It is expected that this summer the number will reach between eighty and ninety. During the course of my evidence yesterday it was stated that the amount yielded by each cow equalled £4. I have gone into the matter very carefully since, and find that the greatest number of cows that we milked last year in any one week was sixty: the average return per cow for last year (not including calves) was £5 Is. Bd. I have looked up several authorities on this question, and I find that £5 is a fair average sum for a large herd to return in the course of the year. For the first year our average per cow was £4 lis. 4d., but as the result of weeding out the bad milkers, the average has risen to the sum stated above. After further weeding out next year, we willno doubt be able to show a still higher average. I have suppressed the names of the persons who have passed through the State Farm and in our opinion have been benefited thereby, as I do not know whether they would care to have their full names given. If the Committee insist that it should be done I will furnish the names. Of the 129 men who have passed through the farm I am certain that the whole number have to a certain extent benefited by their stay there, as almost without exception they were in destitute circumstances when first sent. I have seen Mr. Montgomery, who was good enough to say that having the general statement before you he would not insist upon the sheets being prepared, as just at present I am very busy in the office. I have shown on the statement attached the value of the buildings which I do not consider a part of the permanent improvements. This does not include the stable, cowsheds, schoolhouse, and other small buildings. Any farther information that the Committee may want I shall be happy to furnish, and if required will agiin attend for the purpose of explaining if possible anything that might not have been made clear during my previous evidence. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Bolt, M.L.C., Chairman Joint State Farm Committee. J. Mackay, Chief Clerk. Parliamentary Buildings.

Men who have Passed through the State Farm and in our opinion been benefited. S. D.—This man has been a soldier in the Imperial Army, was able-bodied, but totally ignorant of any country work. Stated had left his wife in Dunedin. Put him to work on farm at bushfeliing, brought wife and family from Dunedin. Wife had been earning a few shillings there by laundry work, practically destitute. They were on the farm about two years. Saved a little money. The man was discharged to make room for others, and went to work on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. Family got into work in Ohingaiti district, and are now doing very well. Xj. S. —Another family from Dunedin, in very poor circumstances. Man knew very little of outdoor work. On farm about two years and a half. Is now in Wanganui, and at latest accounts doing well. R. L. —On farm about three years. Has bought an allotment of land at Levin, arid built a nice cottage on it. la working about and is fairly comfortable. If had not been put on farm would have been about Wellington now, as he had been for years, only making a miserable existence.