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36. Mr. Poynton.] How far was the nearer edge of the plantation from the rails?— Not very far. 37. Mr. Purnell.] Was it a chain, or what distance?—lt might be half a chain, but I could not say. 38. Had the fire started between the plantation and the rails ? —lt must have, from what I saw. 39. At the time you examined it you considered it had started between the rails and the plantation ? —Yes. 40. Was there any tussocks or dry grass in the plantation?— Any quantity, of both tussocks and dry grass. 41. Was the grass on the strip of land long and dry? —Yes. 42. It had been a dry season?— Yes, a very dry season. 43. Was there any men about who might have set fire to the place ? —I saw none. 44. You would have seen them if there had been any ?—I think so. 45.. There was no apparent cause, except sparks from the engine?—l concluded that that was the cause. 46. You came to the conclusion, from what you saw, that the engine had set fire to the place? —I did. 47. With regard to the damage done, I believe your fencing was destroyed?— Yes. 48. What sort of a fence was it ?—Some of it was gorse, with wire in it, and some of it was stakes and wire. 49. All the fences destroyed were of the same description ?—Yes, and where the fire went they were all destroyed. 50. Before they were destroyed were they in good order ?—Yes. 51. Can you tell us how much fencing was destroyed?—l think there were 116 chains. 52. Take the fence nearest the railway : was it destroyed ?—Part of it was, but I cannot tell you how much. Mr. Miller has the measurements. 53. How much a chain would it cost to replace that fence?—l calculated that it would take 7s. 54. Do you think that is a fair price ?—I could not exactly say whether it is fair or not. 55. Would it cost you 7s. to replace that fence, including the cost of clearing away ?—lt might take more than 75., because there would be a lot of work to do in clearing away. 56. How much would it cost to do the extra work?—ls. a chain. 57. Have you re-erected the fence?— No. 58. Why ?—I have not had the means. 59. Then, I think you claim for 50 acres of grass destroyed ?—There was more than 50 acres, but I only put in for 50. 60. How much grass altogether was burnt ? —I should say there were 60 acres burnt. 61. Was it completely destroyed?— Yes. On 50 acres of it there was not a thing left, and the other ten acres were partly burnt. 62. What sort of grass and feed was there ?—The 50 acres was good feed. I kept it purposely for my sheep. 63. Was there plenty of feed on it at the time of the fire ?—Yes. 64. And feed was scarce that year ? —Yes, very scarce. 65. Supposing you had let that 50 acres of feed, what would you have got for it? —I would not have taken less than £15 or £16 for it. 66. Do you think you could have got that for it ?—Yes, if I had wanted to let it, but I required it myself. 67. How long would you have let it for that money ?—Three or four months. 68. What loss do you consider you sustained with regard to the other paddock ?—lt may be about £1 or £1 10s. 69. I think that at the time of the fire you owned some sheep and lambs ?—Yes. 70. And as a result of the fire, what did you do with them ?—The fencing and the feed were burnt, and I had to sell them at a loss. 71. Were the lambs fit to sell?— No. 72. Can you give us any estimate of your loss in that respect?— That is a thing I would not like to say. If I had kept them I would have made more out of them than I did. 73. Is there any feed on the paddock of 50 acres now? —Plenty. 74. Last year the feed did not grow at all ?—No ; there was no feed on it till this year. 75. Did you have any use for the paddock last year ?—The sheep were running over it because I could not keep them back. 76. Did they get any feed on it ?—They would get a little. 77. Mr. Cresswell.] There is a public road.running alongside the railway-line near your property ?—Yes. 78. On which side of the line : your side ?—Yes. 79. Does it run between the rails and the plantation?—No, it runs between the plantation and my section. 80. What is the width of the road ? —The roads are supposed to be a chain wide. 81. The fire, according to your view, passed over the road to your property ?—Yes. 82. Was there any wind blowing at the time?— Yes, a strong nor'-wester. 83. When you visited the spot on the following day, did you satisfy yourself as to the point at which the fire had started?—l satisfied myself that it started on the low side of the line. 84. Did you not take pains to satisfy yourself how far from the rails it started ?—Now, how could any man do that ?