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351. Then you have just quietly gone into the thing with your eyes shut. Have you done it for yourself ?—Yes, for myself. 352. Has there been no conversation with Pogson as to the security for the money he has advanced to you ?—No ; he said he would lend me the money to carry on. 353. Do you expect he is going to lend you money without security at all ?—I suppose he would not. 354. What security have you to offer ?—I have no security to offer. 355. What security do you think he expects from you?—He never asked for any security. 356. You think he would lend you the money without any security at all ?—I do not know, I am sure. 357. Does he not expect to be secured in any way?—l suppose he thinks he will be secured. 358. How?—lf I get friends to help me I shall be able to return the money in a year or two perhaps. 359. Have you had any conversation with any other person who took up land at Strath-Taieri9 —No. 360. You never talked to them about the matter at all?— No. 361. It was kept all to yourself and Pogson?— [No answer.] 362. The Chairman^ Is Mitchell in business for himself ?—Yes. 363. Mr. Stevens.] Have you signed any promissory note to Pogson as security for the repayment of the money ?—No. 364. Anything ever said to you about one?— No. 365. The Chairman.] Are you sure Pogson has not ever spoken on the question of security to you ?—No ; he has not. 366. Mr. J. McKenzie.] You made a declaration that you purchased the land for your own exclusive use and benefit. How can you possibly tell the Committee you purchased it exclusively for your own use and benefit, seeing you had not a sixpence ?—Mr. Pogson said he would lend me the money to carry on, and I think in a few years I would manage to get round. 367. Do you believe it would cost you £1,500 to fence the land?—l believe it would pretty nearly. 368. And £1,000 to stock it with sheep ?— [No answer.] I desire to state that when I replied in answer to question No. 300 " No " I made co misstatement. 1 meant to say " Yes." —Thomas Johnston. Bth August, 1883." Daniel McEwen Fishee, examined on oath. 369. The Chairman.] What are you ? —A labourer, residing at Strath-Taieri. 370. Were you at a Crown lands sale at Dunedin on the 28th February last ?—Yes. 371. Did you make a purchase? —It was made for me, by Mr. Cargill, who bid for me. 372. Had you instructed him to ? —No. 373. Who instructed him to bid for you ?—I signed a written agreement for him to bid for me. 374. To whom did you give that ? —Mr. Pogson. 375. What were the contents of the agreement? —Just authorizing Mr. Cargill to bid for me for section 9, Block XII. 376. Was that all?— That was all. I told him not to go beyond £1 10s. an acre. 377. Did you give an agreement to any one else to bid for you ?—No. 378. Was anything in the agreement as to repayment ?—No. 379. Who found the money?— Mr. Fogson. 380. Did you find none of it ?—No. 381. You hold 2,002 acres?— Yes. 382. Did you see and select the land before the sale ?—Yes. 383. Did Mr. Bogson select for you?—l selected for myself. 384. What do you labour at ?—Mining at present, at Sutton's race, at Strath-Taieri. 385. Whom are you working for? —Smith, the manager of the claim, employs me. 386. Whom does the claim belong to ?—lt is said to belong to Mr. Pogson. -s- 387. When did you see Mr. Pogson last?— About two months ago. 388. Have you had any communication with him since ?—No. 389. You say Mr. Pogson advanced the money ; have you given him any engagement ?—No. 390. Not a promissory note ?—No. 391. Have you given him no engagement to run his sheep on the land?— No. 392. No security ?—No. 393. What do you earn now at the mine ?—£2 a week. 394. Are you a married man with a family ?—Yes. 395. How do you suppose you can pay for 2,000 acres and maintain a family ?—I expect my 'father to help me. 396. Who is he?—A hotelkeeper at Springbank, Taieri. 397. Is he wealthy ?—I do not think he is wealthy. 398. The price of the land would be £2,000 ?—Yes. 399. Do you propose to fence it ?—Yes. 400. That would cost another £1,000 ?—I suppose so. 401. Do you propose to build a house ?—Yes. 402. That would cost another £200 ?—Not so much. 403. Say £100! " How do you propose to occupy the land ?—With sheep. 404. Where will you get them ?—Mr. Pogson promised to advance me any money I required. 405. Then you expect to get the money from Pogson to pay for the land ?—No; from my father.