83

H.—9a,

Gentlemen, — Arawata, Jackson's Bay, 13th March, 1879. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note of this date by favour of Sergeant Barrett. In answer thereto, I think it would be advisable to call every settler to attend the inquiry, if it is at all possible to procure their attendance, as something is sure to crop up in connection with almost each one. I gave Sergeant Barrett two additional names of persons who are working pn the Haast Track; but as we had some trouble in finding out the names of persons at work there, I forgot the names of Warren Cuttance, who was the means of sending the only persons to work at the Haast Track who had signed the petition ; also, Andrew Nolan, who had some of the grass-seed spoken of by me one day at Hokitika ; also, W. J. Wheeler is up the Arawata Eiver, whose evidence, I think, should be procured. I have, &c, The Commissioners, Jackson's Bay Inquiry. John Muedoch.

I went to Jackson's Bay about tho 19fch of January, 1575. I expected to get half-time labour, or £62 12s. each year for two years. The first year I got work for £51 4s. 4d , less £2 stopped for boaiing, leaving mo £13 7s. Bd. short for the first year. Tiie second year I earned £68 10s. 9d. ; leaving me about £7 9s. lid. short for tho two years. Had I received my proper amount of labour for the first j rear and payment in cash, I could have provided myself with goods 20 per cent, cheaper than could be obtained at the store kept by Mr. Macfarlane. From the Ist of March, 1875, to the 31st of December, 1877, I never received any payment in cash.

Sir, — Arawata, Jackson's Bay, 27th March, 1879. I beg leave respectfully to say that I was taken by surprise at the abrupt close of the proceedings this afternoon. I had, at tho request of the Commission, my books present to show the amount due by settlers for meat supplied by me under Mr. Macfarlane's guarantee up to 15th December, 1877, and the amount still outstanding. And I wished to show the Commission the prices charged settlers for goods during a few months before and afier the petition was got up, so that you might compare them with prices charged where their order was available. I will attach a list, and ask you to obtain a list for same period from Mr. Marks' store, if you please to do so. As to third clause of petition, I never wished to throw discredit on Mr. Marks. I always considered he had a perfect right to charge whatever price he liked for his goods ; but that settlers, either through getting very little work aud having to wait long for payment, had to take orders which were only available at Mr. Marks' store —for instance, Burmeister and Shopeliski have stated this in their evidence. And similar complaints have been stated to me by Antonio Max and Joseph Hevert (now here) ; — Lerika, John Jacques, Carl Belifski, and V. Bilski (now in Taranaki) ; Joseph Gorofski and John Stobo (now in Hokitika). Hence my application to Mr. Macfarlane on the subject in February and March, 1878. I have, &c, The Commissioners, Jackson's Bay Inquiry. John Murdoch.

A List of Prices at which Settlers could obtain Goods for Cash during the months June to November, 1878. Flour, per 100 lb., June 18s., July 18s., August 18s., September 155., October 155., November 155.; oatmeal, per 100 lb., June 245., July 265., August 265., September 265., October 265., November 265. ; pollard, per bushel, June 2s. 3d., July 2s. 6d., August 2s. 6d., September 2s. 6d., October 2s. 6d., November 2s. 6d.; tea, per lb., June 2s. 6d., July 2s. 6d., August 2s. 6d., September 2s. 6d., October 2s. 6d., November 2s. 6d. ; sugar, per lb., 6d., and per mat, sd. per lb. ; matches, 2d. per box ; candles, Is. per lb. ; beef, per lb., sd. to 7d., and sd. to Od. ; mutton, sd. fore-quarter, and 6d. hindquarter; butter, fresh, Is. 3d. per lb. Flour, oatmeal, and pollard, if taken from beach on arrival of steamer, were Is. per 100 lb. less than above prices. Also, rye-grass seed, per bushel, Bs. 6d.; clover, seed, white and red, per lb., Is. 3d. John Murdoch. P.S.—As I often paid freight to settlement, 2s. per 100 lb., entries will occur at 2s. higher than above prices, such as John Jacques' bill, freight added to price delivered at settlement. —J. M.

Communications furnished by the Hon. Captain Fraser, M.L.C. g IB Jackson's Bay, 7th December, 1878. I make bold to send you the enclosed for your information. I can assure you that I have not drawn on the imagination in the least. If you are in communication with the Italians who left this place you may believe them. I forward to you enclosed a statement in Italian. The complaint was made to me iv English, and, you see, was embodied in tho petition. We hope the Commission will come soon. 1 have, &c, Captain Fraser. John Murdoch.

Da Jackson's Bay, 29 Novembre, 1878. 1 sottoscritti dichiarano quanto appresso : — 1. II Tofanari, instigato da Mr. Nitinghel a porre il suo voto in di lvi favore, egli aeconsenti credendolo il candidato c non essendo cognito sul sistema di votazione diehiara il suo voto contro la sua volonta. 2. II Fabbri convinto di aver dato il suo voto per Mr. Merdah dacche entrato nell uflizzio di votazione. Mr. Mahfaler li domando se avesse voluto votare come il Tofanari eio c per Nitinghel, ma il Fabbri rispose con un no, c disse ben chiaro per Merdah siccome il Mahfaler esegniva da se la f unzione di cassare (almeno gli Italiani) non sail Fabbri quale dei due candidati sia stato cassato il nome.