J. STEAUCHON.'

9

I.—sb.

135. Are there not to your knowledge hundreds of sections of land under the renewable-lease tenure where a man has to go outside to earn his living? —Plenty, where the mai lives partly on the land-and partly outside. 136. I think you said that you did not know of any land where the sections were smaller than 8 acres? —Any of that nature have been disposed of in Christchurch on that tenure. 137. Do you know the Hornby section? —Yes. 138. Do you not know that the sections there average about 3£ to 4J acres? —I cannot say I know it. 139. You have been dealing with it to my knowledge quite recently?—l may have been, and I have dealt with thousands of others. 140. And even in the Buddo Settlement there are smaller areas than 8 acres ?—There may be; I am not denying that. 141. Then you admit it is not impossible for smaller areas to have been disposed of than this? —There is nothing practically impossible. 142. Seeing that it was limestone country and you admit that you do not think that 3 acres is sufficient for all time, do you not think in the interests of those who come after us that this should have been reserved? —There would be no harm in reserving it. 143. But, looking at the future, do you not think it would have been advisable? —It would still be available. There are 3 acres which will last our time, and if it was sold the lime cannot disappear. 144. Then you think wo should not look ahead of your time and mine? —I do not think anything of the sort. It will no doubt last long after us, and will have to be dealt with in some way. 145. Then do you not think, in the interests of the community, this should have been reserved for lime purposes? —Not necessarily. The Ranger says 3 acres is enough. 146. Do you know if any one was prepared to take up that land on the renewable-lease tenure? —Yes, I have no doubt the man whom you just mentioned, Mr. Holton, would. 147. And you admit there would have a great many in for the ballot had they the opportunity? —No doubt. 148. Do you think there would have been more in for the ballot than for the auction?— I could not say that. It would be a mere guess. 149. What was your object in advising that this land should be sold?—I told you my object— a fair revenue. 150. Do you think revenue is better than settlement?—l do not; but I think the two combined is a very good thing. You might have got two houses on it, and that was my object in putting it up. I wanted to get fair settlement and fair revenue. 151. You are not so likely to get it by auction? —I do not admit that. 152. And yet you see it stated that the land was too small for settlement? —That was said in the letter, yes. 153. Then you think that this land, although too small for settlement, might be used for residential purposes? —Yes, a man might make a splendid residential site of it. He might work portion of his time out and make a home on it also. 154. Do you think a man in a position to buy a home for himself would go to Cheviot?— Cheviot—l believe, it is a very fine place. I hope to see it some day. 155. You prefer cash to settlement in this case?— Yes, you could only get one settler. 156. Is it in a case of selection on renewable lease compulsory to reside there?— Yes. 157. And in the case of purchase for cash it is not compulsory?—No, but there are certain improvements to be made. 158. The man adjoining could then purchase the land and not be compelled to reside on it? —That is true. 159. Did Mr. Massey see the letter on the file from the Board and the Commissioner recommending that the land be. put up on the renewable lease before his sanction was given? —I could not answer that question. Probably the file was sent over with the recommendation. 160. As a rule the file is sent along?—No, not always, by any means. 161. You mean to say, then, that you would send along a letter recommending a certain course and not allow the Minister to know the contents of the file?— The Minister would know the position. I stated it. 162. He would know the whole file? —I could not say whether he got the file. 163. Is it usual for the head of the Department to send along a letter from himself recommending a certain thing and not give the Minister the whole particulars?—We generally give him the full particulars. 164. Not always? —We sometimes send the file, and often the Minister sends over and asks for the file if he is not satisfied with the letter. 165. Is it fair to the Minister to send him a letter recommending a certain thing without his knowing the whole contents of the file? —I would not send a letter without giving him the full knowledge of the business. 166. You would let him have the whole file? —I do not say whether I did or did not. I would give him the whole information. 167. Do you object to the ballot personally? —I decline to answer that question unless I am compelled to by the Chairman. 168. You wanted cash —that was your object?— Yes, I wanted revenue. 169. You are not that hard up, are you?—We always want revenue. 170. You would not bar a man from working outside his section, would you?— No. 171. That is, you would give him an opportunity to lease the land and work outside?— As long as a man has his home or family there we never object to his working away.

2—l. sb.