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ever convinced since last giving evidence. I have had further successes at the Waikato Winter Show against all comers with turnips; and these were grown on a first furrow with 2 cwt. manure to the acre. I have had great success also with an experiment of a mixture of rye-corn and red clover for pasture. I venture to submit a few photographs illustrating xvhat the country xvill produce. 5. Mr. Hindmarsh.] Hoxv many acres have you got? —40,000. 6. Would the Rotorua-Taupo line go right through your land I —l think it is likely to. There are three alternative routes proposed, but the Engineers have not gone through my land. 7. Are you a freeholder? —Yes. 8. Mr. Wilson.] You say that if the Government took over the Putaruru Railxvay, Rotorua will be ruined? —Yes, I think so. 9. Do you think that is a more serious consideration than the opening-up of this land for settlement?—No; but I think it is a serious one. The Government would suffer from the private competition in the tourist traffic. 10. Will you read what you said before on that point?—" The company would naturally exert itself to secure the tourist traffic, and the active forces of private business concerns will always beat the vis inertiae of Government institutions hollow. A glance at. the map will show the great improbability of the tourist, once at Taupo, returning a hundred miles back on his tracks to visit Rotorua. That would mean a total journey of two hundred miles extra." If he wanted to continue his journey south to Wanganui he would not come back txx-o hundred miles to visit Rotorua. The natural desire of the tourist is to see Rotorua, Waiotapu, Wairakei, and Taupo on the one run, xvhich he would do on the proposed Government line from Rotorua. 11. There is a load there-—could he not go back by car?—By car is an expensive luxury. The charge is £10 for a party of five. 12. You seriously say that, because there is a danger of a private company giving better facilities to the public, the Government should construct another railway instead of taking the present one over? —I say the company would not give better facilities, but worse. 13. You think they would capture the traffic? —Yes; and I say the Government have a right to retain their oxvn traffic for their oxvn benefit, and that they could shoxv the xvhole of the sights on a continuous run. 14. You argue that the tourist traffic to Rotorua is of greater benefit to this country than the settlement of this enormous area of laud?—By no means. In addition to xx'hat I have said about the tourist traffic, I say the line from Rotorua xvill open up the country, and better. 15. Is there not on the western side of the Rotorua line a great portion of hilly country which xvill prevent access/—I do not know —I have not been over those hills; but for a good distance out of Rotorua the hills on that side are very moderate in height, and in the higher hills a gorge might be found suitable for putting a road through. 16. Where did you grow your notorious turnips? —I did not know they were " notorious." [Place pointed out on map.J It is near the Waikato River. 17. With your experience of this enormous area of country, do you consider it is capable of settlement? —I believe praetically the whole of it is. There is some broken country of very little value, but that xvhich can be ploughed is capable of settlement, 18. You would not suggest that poor men could be put on it to break it in? —There are three properties in my neighbourhood which cannot obtain labour, and poor men could be employed at times when not on their oxvn holdings. 19. A hundred men xvould cope with your difficulty as to labour?—Yes. 20. I mean from the possibility of breaking this countiy in you xvould not suggest putting poor men on it?—No; but 1 have seen other blocks of country where it has been said such men could not get on, and they have got on very xvell. 21. But a little cash would be a necessity? —It xvould be of huge advantage. 22. What xx'ould this country when broken in carry on the average—approximately ? : —1 should say it xvould amount to about a sheep and a half. 23. Would it make fair dairy country?—The land varies greatly; on the greater part to make dairy coxvs profitable it would have to be very xvell done. 24. It is just as necessary for sheep to have good feed to make it profitable?—No; but breeding-exves must have good feed. 25. Hon. Dr. Pomare.] Is there very much Crown land in this area? —Yes. 26.' All occupied? —Not the whole of it. 27. How much is occupied? —More than 75 per cent, is unoccupied. On a lot of the runs the people are paying rent but are not on them. . 28. You say that the company should not be allowed to acquire any of this land at all?- — It would not be advantageous to the Croxvn to part xvith it. 29. You commended the company for its proposal to acquire some other land?—Yes. 30. What other land? —Native land. 31. Whv do you discriminate between Croxvn land and Native land? —Because for practical purposes it seems impossible to get the Natives to do anything xvith it. The Europeans have so much difficulty in dealing with tbern that they become disheartened. 32. You xx-ould not object if the Natives tlirexv their lands open?—No; it xvould be a handsome thing for the country. 33. If so, would you withdraw your commendation of the company?—lf the Natives would alloxv their lands to be'acquired it.xvould enable lands to be cultivated which are at present idle. 34. You say there is 75 per cent, of the Croxvn land neglected? —Yes, at the present time; when the railxvay is through I hope we shall see it taken up quickly. Want of access is the cause of the land not being taken up.