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track, but when it got to our plantation it struck to the northward, so that I do not know that it did much damage to our plantation. 204. Have you ever seen gum-digging on the east side of the line ?—Never. Some Maoris came to me and asked if they could take out the gum close to the house. I was living there at the time, and I allowed them to take it out. I then stopped them. I never saw a Maori on the big swamp. The fact is they could not walk on it. 205. To-day you examined the place where the big fire commenced. Did you see any sign of gum-digging ever having taken place there ? —No. I examined it with you, and I did not see a single spade-cutting on the bank. 206. How many times have you reported fires to the department ?—Four times, at least. 207. How many times have the department recognised your reports by sending men to examine ? —My son will tell you that in his evidence. I may say that every summer it was a constant dread to me that the whole country would be burnt. 208. Mr. Cooper.] There are fires all over the country in this hot weather, are there not ?—Yes. 209. From various causes ? You would not blame the railway for every fire that occurs ?— No, not unless it is alongside the railway-line. Coming in from Eemuera some nights it is like a smithy's forge. 210. Have you any knowledge of gum-digging?— No. 211. You do not know whether it is the practice to burn a swamp off before starting to dig it ? —Yes, that is the practice. 212. When you saw the fire start on the 15th you were a mile and a half away? —Yes. 213. And whether the fire was smouldering or not, you saw no appearance of it the next morning ? —No, only the black track. 214. You could see the black track ?—Yes. 215. You saw no smoke ? —No. 216. And it was not until 1 o'clock that you saw the smoke or the fire again ?—That is so. 217. It was then in a different place ? —lt was in the same course. 218. But how far away from where the fire started?—lt stopped in the bay. 219. But the fire you saw on the 15th started in the swamp ?—Yes. 220. And how far away from the swamp was it that you saw the fire burst out on the 16th? —When I saw it it was actually coming up the road towards the shed, but my men saw it before that. 221. How far from the swamp was it that you saw it ?—lt might be half a mile. 222. Was it on the high ground ?—Yes. It had crossed two hills. 223. During all the time you have been managing the plantation you have taken no precaution, have you, by making such a thing as a fire-break?—l have looked into that and found it impossible. 224. Well, it may or may not be impossible, but you have not done it ?—No. 225. Do you not think it is a dangerous thing to plant a plantation so close to the railwayline ?—Well, it would have been better if a break had been left. 226. If you had had the planting of the plantation you would have left a break ?—Yes. 227. As to the fire in 1890, can you say what damage was done? —It destroyed 5 acres growth of a fine plantation. It threw it back for two or three years. 228. And the fire in 1897 : did it do any damage to the plantation ? —No. 229. Your real grievance is the fire of 1896 ?—Yes; but it is really a case of grievance for the ten years. 230. But if the fire had not taken place in 1896 you probably would not have made any claim ? —lf you read the letter I sent in in 1890 you will see that I said I would hold the department responsible. 231. But if the fire had not occurred in 1896 you would not have made a claim?—l question if I would. 232. Mr. Oliphant.] You say it is the practice to burn before digging. What is the swamp you saw to-day? Is it not an impassable swamp? —I have never seen any one cross it. 233. So that if the fire occurred on the railway-track, and went into the swamp some distance and died down, could a man have followed into the swamp and started it again ?—No ; I should think not. 234. Mr. Poynton.] What distance is the edge of the plantation from the edge of the swamp? —Our trees are planted right to the edge of the swamp. Frank West Green, sworn. 235. Mr. Oliphant.] What is your calling?—l am a settler. 236. How long have you been in the district ?—Five years. 237. Do you remember a big fire occurring in the plantation on the east side of the line in 1896 ? —I remember seeing the fire, and I heard subsequently what it was. I was not nearer than Whangamarino, and I did not know at the time whether it was a scrub fire or not. 238. How far is Whangamarino ?—From where I live it is about nine miles, but as the crow flies it is probably half the distance. 239. Are fires numerous along the line ?—Yes, they are very frequent. 240. What is the cause ?—I believe —and I have reason to believe —they are caused by sparks from locomotives, or by live ashes. 241. Have you seen a fire commence immediately after a train had passed ? —I have. I saw one recently. 242. When was that? —I am not quite sure of the date, but I believe it was on Wednesday of last week. It was a night on which rain fell.