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C—l 2.

K. H. MAGILL.j

8. It would be at least reasonable to have a doctor within easy distance if required, would it not?—lt would be sufficient if there were a well-trained nurse in the district, and I trust that before long we shall have a district nurse in the Taupo district, whose services Would then be available. 9. Is the Auckland District the only one in which there are homes for consumptives I—ln1 —In connection with all the large hospitals there are similar institutions —Otaki, Cashmere Hills, and Palmerston South. Those are places for the treatment of consumptives who require medical attention. 1 want an outlet for patients who are cured. It is difficult to get people to take them, as they seem to fear a patient who has been in a sanatorium more than one who has not been there. We have a serious difficulty in finding an outlet for these people who can work, and this would provide a most excellent way of dealing with them. 11. Mr. Lethbridge.] I suppose a good many of the patients are without means of livelihood, and you want to help them over the difficulty?— That is so. We want to give them work for two or three years, because occupation of that kind would fit them to go back to their ordinary duties. 12. The Chairman.] In the camp you had what provision was made about cooking I— They had a cook who was one of the ex-patients, and there was a nurse in charge. I would make the place one not only for patients who had been in the sanatorium, but also those approved of by the Department before going to a sanatorium. They would then not be sent to the sanatorium, but would go straight to a place like Taupo. They are rather spoilt by the treatment at the sanatorium, so it would be better to send them to Taupo direct. 13. What provision would there be for overseeing their work? —I cannot give you that detail, 1 am afraid, as the work was all done under the supervision of an officer of the Forestry Department, Mr. Goudie. 14. Dr. Cockayne, ,] Have you had any experience of the climate of Central Otago? —I should imagine that it would be a very suitable climate for the treatment of consumptives, even better than Taupo, excepting lor the dust-storms. 15. Do you not get dust-storms on the |>mnice plains'!— Not so bad. But I have had no personal experience of Otago Central. One of our officers reported it to be a very suitable climate excepting for the dust-storms.

Alexander MoColl sworn and examined. (No. 60.) 1. The Chairman.] What is your occupation?—! am a timber-merchant, and wish to refer to two matters. I have had a lot to do with the forests of New Zealand, and my fifteen years' experience has convinced me that our architects, builders, and people generally need educating as to the value of many native timbers which are now destroyed as worthless, but which are of real utility for milling purposes. I suggest that the Government should circulate leaflets containing full information respecting the qualities of the woods I refer to. You cannot now sell either tanekaha or silver-pine. 2. Mr. Lethbridge.] Is taraire any good?— Yes, a splendid timber. . 3. Are you acquainted with Kirk's " Forest Flora "1 —Yes. 4. There is an account given of every timber in that work?—lt should be abbreviated a bit. That book is only looked at by a few people— J per cent. —and it should now be revised and brought up to date. 5. Mr. Murdoch.] How are you going to save the timber you speak of? Can you induce the settler to hold the trees if he wants to put the place in grass? —The settler will have other timbers to work on, and, that being so, if the information 1 suggest were disseminated the taraire would be worked out along with the kauri and other timbers. There lias been a great change in the market in favour of secondary timbers the last few rears. There is a market here for millions of feet of taraire. 6. Dr. Cockayne.] Supposing a settler cuts down all the rewarewa, in what market does he sell it? —That timber comes in for a number of secondary purposes, and if the public were educated up to its vise we could find a market for it, and also for other New Zealand timbers —in fact, for all. 7. You ask that leaflets should be published defining the qualities of New Zealand timbers? —Yes. Tawa is overlooked a lot. The difficulty about it is with regard to seasoning. It will rot very quickly in the ground, but if seasoned it will last a long time. Fifteen years ago I sent some to Queensland, and was informed that it was the finest possible timber for wine-casks. A trade in tawa timber could be developed to an enormous extent with Australia, and I could not supply the orders I got for it. 8. Mr. Murdoch.] I suppose they used large quantities of tawa for butter-boxes twenty-five years ago? —Yes; it is better than kahikatea, because with the latter you have to wax the boxes, but there is no necessity to wax the tawa boxes. 9. Dr. Cockayne.] Do you have to wax the kahikatea boxes? Is it not the one timber in the world you do not need to paraffin ? —They paraffin it here, but in my opinion it is not equal to tawa. There is always a certain odour from kahikatea. 10. Mr. Lethbridge.] Do you know the Waipoua Forest?—l issued a paper on the question of afforestation some time ago. That forest is a bone of contention, inasmuch as if forestry is going to be carried out on an extensive scale in New Zealand the Waipoua Forest should be set aside as a national forest, and the Government ought to take out all the kauri timber it requires solely for the purposes of the State. The whole bush should be placed under a forestry law whereby the age and growth of the native trees there now would be measured and tested. The actual growth per year could be ascertained. Then the Government should take out all the matured timber every year, and not interfere with the natural growth Thus the forest could be protected and kept going for all time. Replanting could go on at the same time, 11. With native trees? —With certain forfmt-plants,