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171. Did Mr. Percy Smith communicate that action of the 4th September ?—I cannot say. The file should show it. 172. Cannot you say when you began, or when you ended?—l began on the 21st August. 173. By looking at the file you could tell ?—Yes. 174. Not without ?—I could not retain in my mind all that, for this length of time. 175. Do you know when the order was given for the survey ?—I do not know the date. It is on the file. 176. You do not know when you gave the order for the survey ?—I do not know the date of it. It is on the file. 177. Does the Board of Commissioners report to you, or through you ?—No. 178. Do they report through Mr. Percy Smith, the Surveyor-General? —The Surveyor-General is Chairman of the Board. He signs the report with the other Commissioners. That report is forwarded to the Governor by the Minister. 179. Did this report go to the Minister ?—No; it is not sent to the Minister except for the purpose of being sent to the Governor. 180. Was that the first time the Minister had anything to do with it ?—To my knowledge it was. 181. You have no knowledge of any action connected with it before that?—l have no knowledge of anything of the kind. 182. Do you know what value was put on the Conical Hills land ?—£3 ss. I think the Board recommended the purchase at £3 ss. 183. Here we have the report of Mr. Adams on the Conical Hills Estate, valuing it at £3 an acre. What did the Board value it at ? —£3 ss. 184. How far is the Conical Hills from Pomahaka ?—Only a few miles—not more than ten miles, I should think. 185. Mr. Hogg.] You say that you had an interview with Mr. Eitchie on the 21st of August, and that incidentally this matter came up. Was that the first time that reference was made to this particular estate ?—I do not think it was. 186. Mr. Eitchie had previously spoken to you ?—Yes, I have no doubt he had, to the effect that Mr. Douglas had that estate in the market. 187. Do you remember whether he stated that it should be purchased ? —No, I do not. 188. Or that it was adapted for agricultural settlement ? —Yes. 189. Previous to this interview ?—Yes. 190. It was after that interview that you communicated with the Commissioner of Crown Lands and also with Mr. Adams ? —Yes, simply because Mr. Adams was on his way. 191. Had you any communication with Mr. Douglas before that time ?—No, none whatever, nor at any time. 192. Do you know whether Mr. Douglas was made acquainted that the purchase of his estate was contemplated? —No, I do not think so; I am sure he was not. 193. It was on the 21st of August that Mr. Douglas wrote himself, mentioning the price, and offering the land, and making the suggestion that it should be inspected ?—lt maybe a coincidence. I cannot account for it. 194. You say that Mr. Eitchie did not recommend the purchase ? —No. 195. He did not refer to the price that Mr. Douglas expected ?—I do not think so. 196. But he suggested that the estate should be examined ? —Yes. 197. Did you receive the petition that is before the Board ? —Yes ; it came to the department from the Minister. 198. Do you remember how long that was after your telegram was despatched ? —lt was a good while—several weeks, I think. 199. Would it be before the end of the month ? —I could not say. 200. What is this pencil-mark?—That is merely the number of the subject without the sub-number. 201. It is minuted. I presume Mr. Douglas's offer was entered in the ledger of the department on the sth of October. This petition would be received before that?—No, it was not; the offer must have been in Wellington the 24th or 25th of August 202. Sir Bobert Stout.] What do you mean by the offer—the letter to Mr. Maitland?—Yes. 203. Mr. Hogg.] Mr. Douglas's offer reached Wellington early in September. Why was the offer not entered until that date ?—I might state some theory on the subject, but I could not state why the fact is. 204. Mr. Scobie Mackenzie.] You do not know when the petition was received ?—I know it was some time after the offer was received. 205. From the Minister ?—From the Minister—yes. 206. You examined the petition yourself ? —Yes. 207. Did you see anything singular about it?—l did not notice anything singular about it. It seemed to be an indication of a demand for land there. That is one of the subjects which the Board has to inquire into. 208. Then the language did not strike you as something singular ?—No. 209. Nor the occupation of the signatories ? —Yes ; I observed they were mostly settlers. 210. Did you notice that nearly all who signed the petition were farmers ? —Yes, I think I did. 211. Did it not strike you as singular that they should be so anxious for settlement ?—No, there are many such who are anxious for settlement for their sons, friends, or relatives. Most of them would probably be farmers renting land from others. 212. They were not averse to any competition in their own line of business?—The apparent object was to get more land put into the market.