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a certain extent; but it was only the land about Balclutha that brought those high prices; it was not so throughout the country. 64. This adjoins Pomahaka ; is it not very similar land ? No; some of it is similar land, but it is not equal to the Pomahaka land. It is very stony, some of it, and it is sourer ; morever, it is lying up to the prevailing wind. 65. Is it not the fact that the soil is stronger?—No; I do not think it is. 66. Have you any notion what it was sold for in 1881 ?—I am not sure ; I think it was over £2. I heard some one speaking about it, but I would not like to say. 67. There were a good many stones. Do you remember whether it was fenced and improved at the time ?—I do not remember whether it was fenced at the time. 68. Do you know an estate called Popotunoa ?—Yes. 69. Does that join Pomahaka ? —There is a road between them. 70. It is in evidence that that is an old-established property ?—Yes ; it is cropped and laid down in grass. 71. Is it an improved property? —Yes. 72. Fenced?—Yes. 73. Is it subdivided ?—There is some subdivision. It is in large paddocks ; there are a good few subdivisions. 74. Are you intimately acquainted with it ?—Yes ; I have been over it and round about it a good many times. 75. The property had been divided into thirty-seven paddocks ?—I do not know; I cannot say. 76. This property was an early selection, was it not ?—I have no idea of that. 77. Has it been in a high state of cultivation for many years ?—Yes; it has been in grass for, I should think, seven or eight years. 78. Is the fencing of good quality ?—Yes ; it is fair fencing. 79. Is the homestead in good condition ?—Yes; there is a splendid house on it. 80. What do you call a splendid house, and what do you reckon is the value ?—lt is a new house ; I do not know that it was ever occupied. 81.' Plantations ?—There is not much plantation—-there is natural bush close to it. 82. It is an improved and cultivated property ?—Yes, it is cultivated property—very much so. 83. It is divided into two properties? —There are three estates. Ido not know anything about the other two. 84. How many acres in the Popotunoa?—Over five thousand, I should say, speaking from memory. 85. And Waipahi ?—I never had anything to do with Waipahi. 86. Popotunoa has been sold since you made the valuation ? —Yes. 87. Have you any idea of the prices? —1 have made inquiries. The average was, I believe, £3 Bs. 6d. 88. Do you know that of your own knowledge ? —I asked the auctioneer. It is impossible for any outsider to know. I asked Mr. Johnstone, and he told me that £3 Bs. 6d. was the average. 89. The Waipahi adjoins ? —Yes. 90. How is it then that you do not know Waipahi ?—I was Land-tax Valuer for Popotunoa, but not for Waipahi. 91. The Glenkenich Valley property, do you know that?—l have been up through it. 92. That is also a highly improved property ? —Yes; but not nearly to the same extent as Popotunoa. A great deal of it is lying in tussock ; but it is a nice property. 93. There is a good homestead on it? —Yes ; there is a good homestead, and there is also a good deal of fencing. 94. Woolsheds ?—I have never been through the buildings. I went through the centre of the property. 95. That has been sold ?—Yes. 96. Do you know the price ?—I did not make any inquiries. I have only been through it once in fact. 97. Did Mr. Douglas object to your valuations for rating purposes at all?—No. I got a letter many years ago. I believe it was either nine or twelve years ago. I would not like to say which it was, but I got a letter from Mr. Begg, objecting to the valuation. He was Mr. Douglas's agent. But there was no alteration made, so far as I can remember; it is so long ago. 98. Did he object because it was high, or low?—He considered it was too high. 99. Did he ever object on the score of it being too low?—I never heard of such a thing. 100. You also valued some land belonging to Mr. James Allen, M.H.E. ?—Yes. 101. What extent of land was there, approximately? —Well, at one time, he had, I think it was, 1,300 or 1,500 acres. 102. Did you buy any land from him yourself ?—Yes. 103. When was that ?—ln November last. 104. How many acres did you purchase ? —I supposed when I was purchasing that it was 445 acres 3 roods and 22 poles. 105. What was that valued at for rating purposes ? —£1,780, I think, but I am speaking from memory. 106. What did you purchase it for ?—£1,750. 107. Then in this case the rating value was higher than the selling value ? —Yes. . 108. The rule is not uniform, then?—Well that is how it was. I think the rule is uniform. 109, But it was not so in this case ?—No, it was not in this case. 110. You bought for fair value, I suppose ? —Yes, at that time; but if it was to buy now I would not care to pay such a high price.