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Thursday, 20th September, 1894. Mr. John Douglas recalled and examined. 1. Mr Scobie Mackenzie.] Where were you on the 30th of August, when you received a telegram from Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, to the effect that the Minister was favourable to your petition? —The telegram itself would tell if you look at the address. I have no date. I have no idea of the date. 2. Have you the telegram?—l put it in with some of the things there. I cannot tell. [Telegram produced and read : Appendix Al9.] 3. It was addressed to Mr. Turnbull, was it? —I wrote to Mr. Thomas Mackenzie on 17th August, and he replied and said he would do what was right and proper on the petition coming to hand. [Appendices A2O and A2l.] 4. You went to Clinton on the 26th; this was the 30th ?—I do not think I was in Clinton so long as that; not four days. 5. You went on the 26th to inspect the land; and you went on the land ? —I had been in Clinton before that. After being out on the land I would not be there long; I would go away next day. I was waiting for Mr. Adams coming down that day, or in a day or two ; but after going on the land there was nothing to wait for. 6. Did Mr. Turnbull mention that he had got the petition?—l do not remember his saying anything. I left the day after the land was examined. 7. When did you receive the letter from Mr. Thomas Mackenzie ?—That would be sent to Mount Eoyal. 8. What is the date ?—I have no idea. 9. The Chairman.] That would be after Mr. Thomas Mackenzie received the petition ?—No. He said he would do what was right in the matter when the petition came to hand. There is a letter from Mr. Thomas Mackenzie to myself. It is a short letter on the face of a sheet of notepaper. He said that when the petition came he would be glad to do all he could. [Letter from Mr. Thomas Mackenzie to Mr. Turnbull, 28th August, read: Appendix A22.] 10. Was Mr. Thomas Mackenzie's letter to you after the presentation of the petition ?—No ; he never wrote to me after he presented the petition. '■ 11. Dr. Fitchett.] There is one of the 22nd, before the petition was presented. There was none after the presentation of the petition ?—Nothing but the one saying that the Minister was generally favourable. 12. When you returned to Dunedin after the Clinton visit you would call on Messrs. Wright and Stephenson ?—lt is very likely I would. 13. But you do not remember? —I do not remember. 14. You do not remember discussing the success of your expedition with them ? —I do not remember; but I had plenty of time. If I did not go by the early train I would be likely to do that. 15. I find by the evidence of Mr. Begg that the land you previously sold was 1,140 acres, and not 1,450, as you stated in your evidence. You must have made a mistake ?—Yes, I was in error. He would know the exact amount. 16. You told the Committee that there was no secrecy about the petition ; that you consulted every one you knew about it?—l consulted every one that was available. 17. Will you tell us whom you consulted?—l consulted people I had a right to consult —my accountant and my agent. 18. But there was no secrecy ?—We desired to make the whole thing as public as possible. 19. There was no secrecy between you, Messrs. Begg and Turnbull, in Messrs. Wright Stephenson's office ? —On my own station I talked about it to the people. 20. Whom do you say you had a right to consult ?—My agent and accountant and others. 21. Do you remember an occasion ten years ago when I visited your house at Waihao ?—I do not remember. 22. Do you remember Mr. Watson Shennan and Mr. C. B. Haughton, of Dunedin, and myself staying at your house on the Waihao about ten years ago ?—I do not remember it. 23. You do not remember my being at your house ?—lt might be so; I know of a great many people coming and going, but I do not recollect distinctly your being there. 24. I was returning from the session of 1884; there were three of us and we stayed at your house : we all met together in the train—you were returning from Christchurch ?—Yes, I believe I do remember that, now you mention it,. 25. On that occasion did you speak about Pomahaka?—Not that I remember. 26. Do you remember telling me about the aspect of it and how you came to buy it ?—I might have told you; there is a bit of romance about that; I might tell you the whole thing if you wish to hear it. 27. But you now believe that I did visit your house on the occasion I have mentioned?—Yes. 28. Mr. Mills.] If the bank had not been pressing would you have sold the land for £2 10s. an acre ? —Certainly not, but for the financial crisis. 29. Do you consider that the colony has made a good bargain out of that land transaction ?— > Most decidedly. 30. What electorate is this property in ?—ln Mr. Thomas Mackenzie's, in Clutha. 31. In what electorate do you vote? —I am in Palmerston, in the Waihemo. I have a right to vote in either. 32. Mr. Green.] What electorate did you vote in?—l was laid up with influenza, and I voted in Waihemo because it was within ten minutes of my house. 33. From the time the purchase of Pomahaka was mooted, until the purchase was completed, had you ever any communication on the subject with the Minister of Lands ?—No; I spoke to the