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Ido not remember it. He may have dropped me a note, telling me there was a fire, but Ido not remember that he did so on that particular date. 450. You saw the Maoris fire this side of the line about the time of the big fire* did you ?— I did not actually see the Maoris set fire to it, but they were there. I saw one particular Maori noticing the train, and there were several others with him, and after the train had passed the place took fire. I said, " Very likely our men will be blamed for that "; but, as a matter of fact, if a spark had come from the engine it would have gone to the other side of the line. 451. Did you speak to the Maoris about it ?—No, but I had spoken to them before. 452. But not on this occasion ? —No. I had previously told them not to light fires, and they said they did not, and that it was the train. 453. Hiow far were the Maoris from the railway?— About half a chain. 454. And how far were you from the Maoris ?—About half a mile away. 455. And you said nothing to the Maoris ? —Not at that time. I did afterwards. 456. How long afterwards?—lt might be on the morning I went down to see about this big fire. 457. Was that the 16th ?—My report will show that. 458. The fire was all out on the day you went there ?—Yes. 459. There was no fire in the plantation ? —I could not see that, because I could not see so far. 460. It is only three-quarters of a mile ?—lf it was a big fire I could have seen it, but I could not see a small fire. 461. This was a big fire, that crossed nearly 500 acres? —Well, it was not burning when I was present. 462. You have been a ganger here for—how many years ?—I have been a platelayer and ganger for about nine years. For about two years I was away from here. 463. If a number of witnesses have sworn to-day that fires often occur after a train passes, and that they attribute these fires to the engine, would you say they were telling untruths ?—No, I could not. 464. It is a common occurrence to find a fire after an engine passes ? —lt is a common thing for the engines to be blamed, but I think it is difficult for any person to say the engine does it. 465. What causes the fires, then ? Your evidence goes in the direction of stating that the engine never causes a fire ?—No, I could not say so, nor could I say the engine did not cause it. 466. But you do not admit the engine has ever caused a fire here ?—I cannot admit it, becaues I have never seen it. 467. Have you seen this coincidence of the engine passing, and shortly afterwards a fire takes place near the line ?—Yes. 468. That is the most you can say ?—Yes. 469. And that has happened when no one else was about—no Maoris or trespassers ?—Yes, I have seen fires occur when no trespassers were about. 470. How often have you reported about fires in your section ?—I could not say, but it is several times. Unless the Inspector has a record of my reports I could not say how often I have reported. We usually report any fire that occurs, no matter where it is. 471. Have you ever had occasion to put out a fire on the Government plantation ?—Yes, all round at times. 472. But near the railway ?—Yes. 473. Many times ?—Several times. ~ 474. And no one was trespassing at the time ? Could you blame it on any one?— No. 475. No one else but the engine ?—No, we could not. There was no one about. 476. Mr. Cooper.] It might have been caused by some one throwing a match out of the train ? —Well, I have stated already that I have picked up a cigar that caused a fire. You could, of course, account for a fire in many ways. James Bennett, sworn. 477. Mr. Cooper.] What are you, Mr. Bennett?—lnspector of Permanent-way. 478. Do you know anything about the occurrence on the 15th and 16th December ?—No; I came after the fire was over. I went over the ground with Mr. Macdonald. 479. You have certain regulations for the guidance of gangers on the line with reference to fires?— Yes. These are the regulations I refer to, are they not ?— 190. When practicable, notice must be given to the oooupier of adjoining lands before burning is begun, and the time of burning arranged with him. 191. As far as possible, the burning should be done before the grass ia so dry as to be dangerous. 192. When it is necessary to burn the grass, and it is so dry that the risk of spreading is too great, it should be done in the evening, when the dew is falling. 193. As much burning as possible is to be done in the spring. 194. Fires are never to be lighted on both sides of the railway at the same time. 195. Always burn against the wind. 196. Men are not to leave the ground after burning till the fire is oompletely extinguished. 197. When grass or rubbish is tall and thick an open space must be out by mowing, digging, or ploughing before lighting the fire, so as to restrict the range of the fire. 198. The greatest care must be exercised, and no precaution neglected. Have these regulations been carefully carried out ?—Yes, at all times. ' 480. By the men on your section?— Yes. 481. And your section includes this particular piece of land? —Yes. 482. Have you ever known fires to occur on the side of the line through passengers throwing out matches or cigars ? —That is hard to say.