(J.— No. 1.

Your Honor's statement, in reply to a portion of the evidence given by me before the Waste Lands Commission should not (T think and submit) have been marked " private," because it attempts to accuse me of, 1 at all events, incorrect statements ; and as these statements were made by me upon oath, every facility should be afforded me of replying to any contradiction which may be entered. I take it that this did not occur to your Honor. Now, as regards your Honor's quarrel with my statements, I have closely sifted the reply to them—a copy of which your Honor has kindly furnished me with—and I fail to find any proof that I erred in any important particular, save one, and that is, that I stated that your Honor had six months in which to save the Province from the state into which it has fallen; whereas only two months were actually in command. Such an error was easy to commit, and is really very unimportant. I cannot but observe that your Honor admits that at a cost of, say (at the outside,), £20,000 or £30,000, the leases (although covenanted to be granted by your predecessor) might have been withheld, and by that means an abundance of laud thrown open. I admit that such an outlay probably would have occasioned a considerable financial difficulty, but one that might and would have been got over, and by this time far different results, and far happier, would have attended the transaction, than those which we now witness and deplore. Your Honor will not deny that, when canvassing for election to your present office, your great cry was, ' Land, at all cost, and at any price." Had it not been for that distinct pledge to the people—popular as your Honor was for many reisons—very many who then voted for Macandrew would have voted on the opposite side ; and it is, at least, unsatisfactory to find that, for a mere money difficulty, the opportunity of saving the Province and its Estate from a gigantic monopoly should have been passed by, particularly when we consider that every sixpence expended (wasted) on Immigration would be saved if people here were given the means of living, viz. : —Land ! They are denied this ; and, consequently, they leave. Others are imported, who, in due time, go the way of their predecessors, and for the same reason. Your Honor having forwarded the statement to the Commission, as a matter of course docs not include th e gentlemen forming it in the interdict imposed upon me by the word '' private." That statement may, probably will, be published with the evidence, and it would be manifestly unfair for me to be denied the right of reply. I have consequently forwarded to the Commission a copy of this letter. 1 have, &c, John Keen. His Honor the Superintendent of Olago.

Ertclosure, with Mr. Ki'cu,\i letter. Continued.

PART 11.—EVIDENCE TAKEN AT ROXBURGH.

Tuesday, February 23, 1869.

No. 20. Mr, Behjhtoii. 23rd Feb., 18C9.

No. 20. Mr. Beighton being duly sworn, examined :— The mining population is collected at tlic Teviot, Cold Creek Flat, Pomahaka, Campbell's, Waikaia, Long Valley, Horse-shoe Bend, Moa Flat, and other places. It is a very long, scattered district. The great majority of these miners have an interest in grazing and agriculture. There are only two blocks of land in the district that have been open for settlement, and all the available land in these blocks has been taken up. One block is at Dumbarton Rock, on Clark's Run, this end of Moa Flat. The other one on Cargill and Anderson's Run, at West Clutha. Each is supposed to contain about 2500 acres. On the Moa Flat Block, the quantity taken up exceeds one-half of the whole block. A great part of this block is of a very shingly character. In the case of the other block, also, all the land available for agriculture is applied for.The applications for the latter block were all sent in within a week after it was declared open. I should say that every person applying has settled on the laud he got. I only know of one "dummy," and he is on Moa Flat. The Government has advertised its intention of throwing open another block on Clark's Run, near Horse-shoe Bend, called "The Island," comprising about 2500 acres. About IGOO will be available for agriculture. I am a,ware of parties desirous of taking up all the available ground in this block, whose applications have been refused on the ground as stated by the Warden—that he had no information on the subject. These applications were all made by persons intending bond fide to cultivate the laud. Their object would be to work their blocks together, so that all the cultivated land might be in a block, and so the expense of dividing-fences be saved. On Cargill's Run, on the East Clutha, there is no land at present open for settlement. I believe there is one block the Government have the assent of the runholder to throw open. But owing to tin; shingly nature of this block, and the want of water, it would be impossible for settlers to cultivate it. Adjacent to this block is a, large tract of land well suited for agricultural purposes, and within a couple of miles of this Township. It lies between the shingly block alluded to and the foot of the ranges. A deputation has represented the matter to the Government, but has failed to procure the throwing open of this block. It is believed that the Government, having taken up the shingly block, cannot take up another block

39

Lands in otago.