[j. GIBSON.

I.—sb.

18

21. Are you quite sure of that? —Yes. What do you mean by that? 22. Do you mean to say that at election-time you are on opposite sides? —No. 23. Then he is a friend of yours?— How do you mean 'worked with me politically"? I cannot understand the trend of your question. 24. When it came to election-time were you and he not on the one committee? —I was not on a committee. I have never been on a committee in my life. 25. Did you ever discuss politics with Mr. Rentoul? —The same as I have with everybody; the same as I did with a gentleman at breakfast this morning—no more. 26. How many times did Mr. Rentoul see you about this section? —I do not suppose he mentioned the thing to me more than three times, and that was to inquire what was being done. 27. Did he write to you about it .' -No, not that 1 remember. 28. Just interviewed you?— That is all. 29. Ami you thought it your duty to call the attention of the Commissioner to the fact that the other man's tenure was uncertain and that this man Rentoul would be glad to have the section? —No; I do not think I said anything of the sort. 30. Well, what did you say? —I simply pointed out that this section was available, and that there was an applicant for it. 31. One applicant? —That was all I knew of. I have heard since that there were others. '32. Did you recommend the Commissioner to send the Ranger up?—No, the Land Board did. 33. Did you recommend the Commissioner to send the Ranger up'J—l do not think so. 34. You were a member of the Board?- Yes. 35. Did you make the suggestion on the Hoard? —I do not remember. I might have. Ido not think I did. I think Mr. Brodrick suggested it himself. It is a matter that I could not be quite sure about. 36. You seem to suggest that there has been some underhand influence at work in connection with this business? —I do not know whether it is underhand or not. It seems to me that the excuse that was given is not tangible to any business man. 37. Have you any reason to believe that any improper influence has been used in connection with the section? —I would not like to say that. I w-ould not care to answer that question. I do not think my opinion in that respecl matters much. 38. it matters a greal ileal to me, because I am going to tell you my reason for asking the question. Have you any reason to believe that any improper influence was brought, to bear in connection with this section —in connection with the suggestion that it should be put up to auction? Ido not know that it could be called improper. I think that influence was brought to bear. 39. Well, what grounds have you for thinking so? —From the general appearance of the thing ami from rumour. 40. You pay attention to rumour, do you?— Certainly. Everybody does. 41. What was the rumour? —As 1 said, Mr. Holton hail remarked —it was common property —that he had gone beyond the Land Board and gone to headquarters. 42. What do you mean by "headquarters"?—l do not know what he meant: that is what he said. 43. Did he say so?—As far as I know. 44. To whom did he say this? —I will not tell you. 45. You decline to answer the question?— Yes. 46. When did you cot ence to move in this matter? At what date or in what month did you call the attention of the Commissioner to the fact that this land was held on a somewhat insecure tenure !- -That I could not tell you exactly. It would be about eighteen months ago, I presume —twelve months last April or May, 1 think. I have no memorandum at all of the date. 47. Would you he surprised to hear that in February last the permanent head of the Department in Wellington wrote to the Minister of Lands—myself—as follows: "The Canterbury Land Board has recommended that the above section be offered for selection on renewable lease. In making the recommendation the Board litis apparently been influenced by the fact that three looal people have applied for the land on that tenure. The section is not large enough to maintain ti settler, who under renewable lease would be required to reside on the holding. Recommended therefore that you approve of the land being offered for sale by public auction for cash, and not of its being opened for selection on renewable lease." Do you know of that letter being sent?— No. 48. That letter was sent to me. Would you be surprised to learn that I referred the matter back to the permanent head of the Department, asking him to make inquiries in Canterbury if this land was required lor a reserve?—l do not know anything at all about that. 49. Would you be surprised to hear it, after the suggestions that have been made?-—I do :iot know, I am sure. 50. Will you accept that statement?—l have to. 51. I need not follow up the point that inquiry was made, that the Ranger was sent up to report as to whether the section was wanted for the purposes of a reserve for lime, and that the report was to the effect that the reserve was not required. Would you be surprised to learn that another letter came to the Minister of Lands on the 2nd June of this year from the UnderSecretary in these terms : " Referring to the attached letter from Mr. G. W. Forbes, M.P. I have to inform, you that the above area has been withheld from sale hitherto on account of its containing limestone deposits: it has not, however, been formally reserved, and may therefore be disposed of under Part IX of the Land Act, 1908, which deals with the Cheviot Estate. There is a permanent reserve of 3 acres of limestone land adjoining Section 20, which is considered by the Crown Lands Hanger to be ample for any requirements for lime in that part of the district. The section consists of land of special value and will be keenly competed for. I have