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289. What is the general character of the land except the places about Waiwera?—At Waiwera it is very good, and then as you get towards Clinton and Otaraia it becomes poorer. It is cold country ; and about the vicinity it is generally of that character. 290. And right on to Gore ; is not that a cold soil ?—Yes, generally. 291. Mr. Green.] You presented the petition ?—Yes. 292. Do you think it contained the names of genuine settlers? —There were the names of genuine settlers upon it. I also saw the names of a good many people about Balclutha. I may say when I presented the petition I understood it was a genuine petition emanating from the settlers themselves, and I was justified in that conclusion from a letter received from Mr. Douglas. He says : — "Mount Eoyal, Palmerston, Otago, 17th August, 1893. " Dear Sir, —Settlers and others in your district are making petition to Government asking them to secure and then offer on long terms (the thing that a private individual cannot well do in these times) for close settlement my Pomahaka Downs and Burning Plains Estate, about 7,450 acres. The success of this depends very much upon the way you view it. But as I know you have hitherto done all in your power to advance the settlement of the district, venture to ask your aid, and consequently do so with the more confidence.—Believe me, yours faithfully, " T. Mackenzie, Esq., M.H.E., Wellington." " John Douglas. 293. Mr. Hogg.] At the time you presented the petition to the Minister you did not think that Mr. Douglas had anything to do with it?—l thought it was a spontaneous petition from the people, but from the evidence coming out here it appears that Mr. Douglas had more to do with it than the people, although it bears the names of a good many genuine settlers throughout that part of the district. 294. Mr. Hall.] You have spoken of having a knowledge of the country generally. Have you any knowledge whatever of Pomahaka ? —Do you mean from conversations or from its surroundings? 295. Of the ground?—No ; I have never been on the ground. 296: Do- you not find there is at times a great difference in the nature of country in the matter of a mile or so ?—Yes. 297. Although you know the country in that district, would you. say from your knowledge of its nature that Pomahaka is not good country ?—First of all, I do not say from personal observation that the country is inferior. I say Waiwera is good land. Although land may be inferior, qualities may quickly alter, and land quite near to it might be good. 298. Dr. Fitchett.] You said you took the petition to be entirely an emanation from the settlers ?—Yes. 299. Did you not know that Mr. Douglas was the owner of the land ?—Yes. 300. You got the petition on the 27th August. Here is Mr. Douglas writing to you about the petition on the 17th, ten days before it came up, and you really say you did not think Mr. Douglas had anything to do with it ?—I did not mean in that sense. 301. Then, you did think he had something to do with it?—Certainly. 302. Is that not a petition from the settlers to the Government ? It is from settlers and others in the district making a petition to the Government ?—That is true. 303. You heard Mr. Stevenson give an estimate of the land; do you support that estimate ?—I told you I have not been on the land. If you wish me to give you hearsay evidence I can give you ample. 304. Have you ever expressed an opinion as to what the land is worth ?—-Yes. I have expressed an opinion as to its value, based on the opinions of others. 305. What opinion did you express?—l have expressed the opinion that I thought the land might be worth £2 an acre. 306. Was it not £2 10s. ?—I expressed an opinion to Mr. Eitchie when he asked me about its probable value. I said, "If the land is as good as Clydevale, which lies into it—that includes this Burning Plains land, and the land between the Pomahaka Estate and Pomahaka Eiver—l have been on that—it ought to be worth £2 10s." I have got that in the letter. 307. Hon. Sir Bobert Stout.] What opinion from other people have you got about it ? —From the settlers all round there. 308. Mr. Meredith.] When you received the petition and scanned through the names—and knowing, as I presume you do, many of the names on the petition—had you any doubt in your mind as to the bona fides of the petition ?—No, I had not. 309. You say you have not been on the estate at Pomahaka ?—No. 310. But after going through the petition were you of opinion that the names of the gentlemen attached to that petition were sufficient to justify you in assuming that the acquisition of the land for settlement purposes was a good thing ? —Yes. 311. Dr. Fitchett.] Did you think it was suitable land?—l think it suitable land in suitable areas from what I know of the land in the neighbourhood. 312. Mr. Meredith.] At the time the petition was sent, did it cross your mind that there was any political jobbery in it ?—No. 313. Mr. Scobie Mackenzie.] What did you assume Clydevale was worth ?—£2 10s. 314. In its native state ?—My expression was, if the Pomahaka was as good as Clydevale that is lying into it —really between the Pomahaka Biver and the Pomahaka Estate—that it ought to be worth £2 10s. an acre. 315. Taking the comparison, what is Clydevale worth with all improvements ?—I would put that portion of Clydevale down at £2 10s. to £3 an acre. 316. When you made that comparison, did you not assume that that price would include all the improvements, fencing, &c. ?—Yes.