1.—5.

1240. In some cases you obtained fines?—lf a man does not clean his sheep in a specified time it is the duty of the Inspector to lay an information. It is left to the Court to judge of the amount of the fine; that is, if the Inspector does not press for a fine. The Court in that case would perhaps inflict the minimum penalty. 1241. Then, sometimes you recommended small fines?—l have stated that when I did not wish to press for a fine then a small fine was inflicted. 1242. Do you not think that the continuance of scab in the district was owing to the manner in which fines were inflicted ? —How ? 1243. In consequence of your withdrawing cases? —No. 1244. But you did not treat all alike ?—lt all depended on the circumstances. Some of them promised to do certain things, and afterwards I found that they had not done so. 1245. Did you find that they generally carried out what they promised ?—ln most cases. 1246. Do you think the Act gave you power to exercise that discretion?—lt rests with the Inspector. I was never found fault with by the department in dealing with the Act in that way. 1247. Did you report these cases ?—Yes ; I used to report and take them into Court. 1248. Did you report those cases you withdrew?— Yes. 1249. And your reasons for doing so ?—Yes; they did not disapprove of my doing so. Since I have been in the department I have never heard of them complaining of my administering the Act. 1250. You are not in the service now? —No. 1251. You did not resign?—No, I did not resign. I w-as ordered to be removed to another district. I applied for leave of absence then. It was refused to me. 1252. And you resigned ?—No, I did not resign. They told me that my pay was stopped, and that my services were dispensed with. 1253. They did not ask you to resign? —I simply stated that upon such short notice (six days) I could not leave. 1254. I want to know whether it was through your own wish that you left the service or otherwise?—lt was through some representation being made to the Government against my administration of the Sheep Act. I then asked for an inquiry to be made, but up to this time they have not granted it. 1255. Do you know by whom these representations were made? —By two gentlemen in the district. 1256. Hon. the Chairman.) You do not say whether you resigned or whether you got notice?— I did not resign ; I refused to resign. 1257. Hon. Mr. Water house.) You state that one of the difficulties in North Wairarapa in cleaning the district was the existence of wild sheep in the bush in certain parts of the district ?— Yes. 1258. Was this bush not fenced out from the runs ?—Some runs were temporarily fenced. Fencing, unless it is very good, such as rabbit-proof fencing, will not prevent wild sheep coming through. 1259. Have you any experience of that ? —Yes; I have seen a dozen sheep hunted through fences —apparently good fences. 1260. Have you known wild sheep to go of their own accord through what is called a sheepproof fence ? —Yes ; I have known them to come through and go back again. 1261. Where ?—On the East Coast. 1262. How could it be sheep-proof fencing if that was the case ?—ln fact, there is no sheepproof fencing if that was not; there is no really sheep-proof fence. 1263. My experience is not in accordance with yours?—l only speak from what I know. 1264. Did you enforce the clause of the Act which requires persons having infected sheep to run these sheep within wire-proof fences or else have them herded ? —The regulation fence is supposed to be a sheep-proof fence. 1265. Did you enforco that clause, and never give a certificate until they had a sheep-proof fence : you are aware that it is the duty of the Inspector to lay information against a person whd does not run his sheep between sheep-proof fences ? —Yes. Where they had not sufficient fences I compelled them to have boundary-men. 1266. Did you cause them to be herded? —That is what is considered to be herding where men are constantly following sheep. 1267. You are aware that under the 27th clause persons not keeping sheep herded by shepherds, where their flocks are infected, when these sheep are not running between good fences, are liable to a penalty of not less than 3d. a head or more than ss. Have you ever laid an information under that clause ? —Yes. 1268. Against w-hom ? —There were two informations laid—against a man named Cross, and against a man named Cameron. 1269. In Wairarapa?—ln Wairarapa. 1270. Were the penalties inflicted?— Yes. 1271. Can you say what date that was ?-—I cannot now. 1272. Were these the only cases brought against persons for not shepherding—for not hording their sheep ?—What do you understand by the term " herding." 1273. Having men in immediate charge ? —But not to keep them altogether in one mob. You could not expect a runholder, say that he has seventeen thousand sheep on his run, to keep them all herded together in one place. He can only keep his boundary, and-not allow his sheep to stray off his land. 1274. The term "herding" is well known in sheep-farming: it implies that a man shall be in immediate charge of sheep ; it means that these shall be constantly followed up and kept in sight? -—That is right enough, but it depends upon the country. It would be impossible for a man or men in certain kinds of country to keep sheep in sight.

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