C—l 2.

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[j. POLLOCK.

7. Do you think it would be wise to have certain restricted areas set aside as deer-parks, treating all deer found outside those areas as a pest and destroying them? —It would be safe to treat them as a pest if found in areas set aside for forest conservation, water-supply purposes, or catchment-areas; but it would be rather a drastic step to specify a few small areas as deer-parks, and make them vermin in the rest of a very large district. 8. Are they multiplying rapidly?— Yes, and spreading well. A few years ago there were no deer at the head of the Wangapeka, the Buller, and at Karamea : now they are all over that country. 9. Have you any idea as to the number of deer in the district? —No; a great area of our district is not even used by deer-stalkers. 10. Dr. Cockayne.] You spoke about small areas for deer-parks, but I do not think that is the idea of the Commission. In Canterbury deer have been turned out in certain parts. There is the Rakaia herd, and those interested in the sport think it would be a good thing if tin's herd could mix with the Nelson herd, and form one continuous herd throughout the whole northern part of the Southern Alps. This Canterbury herd has been placed in the Waimakariri National Park, on which that part of the country depends so much in connection with flood-prevention. Do you think it is reasonable that such large continuous areas should be turned into a deer-park, a large part of which is a climatic reserve? —It seems a question of climatic reserves as against the deer. Ido not see how you can confine the deer to one part. You must let them roam or else clear out the whole lot. 11. Could you not provide that in certain areas it would be legal to shoot them, and in others —which would be deer-parks—it would be illegal to do so?—I should be very much opposed to such a provision, because that would be fatal to the conservation of deer, and to the society deriving any revenue from sportsmen for the improvement of the herds. If you had free country to shoot in men would not take out any licenses, but would shoot in that free country. 12. How many English tourists take out licenses to shoot deer in the Nelson area? —Not many; Ido not think we average four or five a year. We are hardly in the line of tourists here. 13. Does the sport bring people here from other parts of New Zealand?— Yes, 'out it is a matter of only six weeks or two months at the most. 14. Mr. Murdoch.] Can you suggest a solution of the difficulty'—lt is a difficult matter, the only alternative being extermination if the animals are doing the damage alleged. If the) , roam through the whole forest and are damaging the underscrub —they do not affect the foresttrees —of course, the question of the trees as against the deer comes in, and the latter would have to go. But the question is whether they are eating the underscrub, and doing such serious damage to the bush. 15. The Chairman.] There is the further question of whether, if the underscrub is eaten out, it would not render these forests more liable to the danger of fire? —I presume it would, but the underscrub, being green, is hard to burn. 16. Would "not the destruction of the undergrowth render the land liable to the growth of noxious weeds?— Yes.

James Sim Evans sworn and examined. (No. 30.) 1. The Chairman.] I understand you are the Stipendiary Magistrate and Warden for the Nelson District? —Yes. I. travel about this district, and if there is anything that comes in the way of my duties that I can give you information upon I shall be pleased to do so. 2. The question of the dual control of the timber industry in the mining districts is being considered by the Commission. I do not know if the provision in force in the Westland Land District as to the timber in a mining-area being administered by the Warden applies here also? —Yes, in the mining district. 3. Is the dual control a satisfactory method, in your opinion, of dealing with the timber?—l have never had any application in this district for a timber license, and I have been here nearly four years. I practised as a lawyer in Riverton, where there is a good deal of timber, and I have had experience in regard to making application for timber licenses; but I think that the Warden should have the control of the granting of timber strictly for mining purposes, but not for sawmilling purposes. I know that many mining-areas are taken up by grants from the Warden and are used for ordinary sawmilling purposes, and not for mining. In that case the matter should be under the control of the Commissioner. 4. The Warden having no Rangers or officers he can use to exercise the proper control over the sawmillers? —No. The Warden's license should be strictly confined to timber-cutting for mining-props, &c. 5. Have you had opportunities of noting if the deer are doing any damage to the forests? —I know the Tapanui country and the Blue Mountains, and I know what deer are like down there. Ido not think you can confine them to a particular area. 6. Dr. Cockayne.] Could you limit them to the Tapanui Mountains with one of the Umbrella Mountains ?—No. 7. Mr. Adams.] Do you think they will become so numerous as to be a source of danger to the native flora and forests? —I do not think so, or any more than the wild cattle used to be, or the wild pigs, in parts of Southland. 8. Dr. Cockayne.] But they were exterminated by the settlers? —Yes, for their hides. 9. Mr. Murdoch.] Is there not a danger of the deer clearing out the young trees so that the forest will never regenerate ?—I dare say there is a positive danger in that respect, but I do not know whether they are attacking the bark like the rabbits.