75

I.—sa

and one came to me afterwards and said he thought it would be a good thing to sign. That was Mr. Sanger. 62. Do you think all knew the contents ? —I am certain they knew the contents. Sometimes many would be together, and would read it aloud. 63. Did you ever hear any reflection upon the truth in the statements in the petition ?—No. 64. Was it known from whom the petition emanated ?—Yes, generally. Perhaps all did not know. 65. Mr. Scobie Mackenzie.] Knew that it emanated from Mr. Douglas?—Yes, from Mr. Douglas. 66. Dr. Fitchett.] Do you remember a conversation with any one on that particular point ? — Yes, there was one gentleman—Mr. James Boy, a Justice of the Peace —who said that he would not have signed it unless he had known it was with Mr. Douglas's sanction; that he would not have signed it otherwise. 67. Is it generally known in those parts that you are Mr. Douglas's agent?—Yes, pretty generally known. 68. Do you remember any other instance than that of Mr. Sanger, where the signature was refused ?—Yes, Mr. David Wallace refused. He is a Justice of the Peace too. 69. Did he give any reason ?—He said there were too many farmers in the country already. 70. As far as you can judge yourself, from your own knowledge, do you consider the statements in the petition true ?—Yes. 71. Not overstated ? —No. 72. What instructions had you, if any, as to the signing of the petition ?—Just to see if the settlers were in favour of the Government purchasing this land. Those in favour signed the petition, and, of course, if they were not in favour, they would not have signed it, and the petition would have been laid aside. 73. It has been suggested that you had special instructions to put down every one signing his name as a " settler." Is that true? —No, it is not true. 74. Did you get any verbal instructions from Mr. Douglas ?—We may have spoken about it, to feel the district to see what they thought of it. 75. Do you know whether the signatures were got elsewhere than in Clinton ? —Yes, in Clutha. 76. And by you ?—Not by me. I know nothing about them. 77. Were you paid anything for the work you did ?—Yes ; £12 for getting the signatures. 78. How long were you employed ?—Pretty much from the 26th of one month to the 28th of the next—something like four or five weeks. I was on horseback, and I paid a man 30s. out of it for going through another district. 79. What did you do with the petition when it was sufficiently signed ? —I sent it to the member for the district, Mr. Thomas Mackenzie. 80. Did you write to him ?—Yes. 81. What did you say to him ?—Just that this petition was got up in the district, and asking him to present it in the usual way. 81a. About when would that be ?—About the latter end of August. 82. I have a letter from Mr. Thomas Mackenzie to you on the 28th August. Had you any other communications from Mr. Thomas Mackenzie ?—I do not think so. 83. Had you not a telegram ?—Oh, yes; I had a telegram. 84. On the 13th August ?—Yes; I think when it arrived he wired. [Appendix A.] 85. Did you communicate further with Mr. Thomas Mackenzie ?—No, I do not think so. 86. From your knowledge of the property, do you think £2 10s. a fair or unfair price?—A very moderate price. At that time I think it was a very moderate price. 87. Mr. Scobie Mackenzie.] About this section sold in 1889, Mr. Turnbull: Were the roads constructed to these properties ?—Yes, nearly all the way. They were formed to a little bit on to it. [Sections pointed out on the map.] 88. Are you prepared to say that the land is as valuable now as it was in 1889 ? : —No, it is not as valuable as it was last year. 89. And not last year as it was before ?—No, I do not think there is a very great difference. There might have a slight drop up to last year, but there has been a greater drop since last year. 90. That is your opinion? —Yes, that is my opinion. 91. But there was a drop before?—Yes, I dare say there was a slight drop. 92. And as the result of those persons you have taken over the land to see it, not one made you an offer, as I understand ?—Not one came to terms. I did not sell any of it. 93. No man made a definite offer ?—Mr. Matheson ; but he said that it was more than sufficient. 94. Mr. Matheson did not offer you the £3 ? —No; but there is no doubt he would have given £3. He said £3 was more like it, when it was offered at £4. 95. Mr. Murray made you no definite offer ?—I had no dealings with Mr. Murray. 96. And you said that the statements in this petition were in every respect true ?—Yes. 97. The petition describes this property as embracing the Burning Plains?—Yes. 98. Now, did the Burning Plains ever belong to that property ?—Yes, I believe they did. Last night was the first time I had heard that they did not—that Mr. Douglas's property did not embrace the Burning Plains. 99. And you say it does ?—ln my opinion. I have been twenty-seven years in the district, and have known all the property for twenty-five years. 100. Is there any plain in the property at all ?—Yes. 101. How much do you estimate ?—About 200 or 300 acres level. It is inclined to be ridges, but about 2,000 acres are comparatively level.