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1388. There are some Cobden Town sections that you have been asked to value—still referring to Mr. Dalston's return of the Bth February : did you total them up ?—Yes ; fifty-eight sections, and the value I put them down at is £684 55., viz. : —

1389. They are valued at ss. per perch?— Yes; corner sections at 7s. 6d. per perch and the others at ss. per perch, with £1 added as a business license. 1390. Dr. Findlay.] With regard to the Gobden sections, how did you arrive at the value you put on them ?—At the value the Government charged. 1391. Your method of valuing was to take the old Government method of charging ss. a perch and 7s. 6d. for corners? —Yes. 1392. So that it does not pretend to be the actual present selling-value of these sections ?—I could not say that. I took the sections right through from Reefton, Ahaura, and Cobden. 1393. It is a theoretical value?—lt is the same value that the Government put on years ago. 1394. It'does not pretend to be the actual value?— Not according to the positions of the sections. 1395. Mr. McEerrow.] What area of land within your district lies in to and is served by the railway from Brunner to Eeefton?—l7B,l3o acres. 1396. That is extending from the Inangahua Junction right down to Cobden ?—Yes. 1397. Of that area how much is agricultural, pastoral, and barren land? — Agricultural, 41,380 acres; pastoral, 132,880 acres ; and the balance is barren —about 4,000 acres. 1398. How much is occupied in freehold over this extensive area, and how much is leasehold?— Freehold, 31,870 acres; there is no leasehold. 1399. Could you say how many settlers are there ?—Eoughly, about one hundred and fifty settlers. 1400. Then, of the lands presently unoccupied how much could be occupied for settlement, and in whatareas, within the next ten years, do you think? —I could not say. Ido not know the number of applications that have gone in lately; if I had that I might be able to say. 1401. What is the remainder of the land capable of settling—l mean after the bush is off?— It would have to be in very large areas—say, 1,000 acres—to be of any profit at all. 1402. Would that apply to pretty well all the remainder of the land that is for settlement ?— Yes; if the timber was off. 1403. You would have 147,000 acres left. Do you think that could be settled on an average of 1,000 acres each holding?— Yes, if you could get persons to take it. I am doubtful whether any person could take it. 1404. In other words, it would hardly pay to put it into grass?— Only the residents there. Ido not think it will pay anybody else to come in; it is all cattle and sheep country. 1405. Your reply is that practically there would be no great increase of settlers ?—Yes. 1406. Do you know if there is coal or other minerals within the area ?—Yes, in portions I know myself; and I have been told coal has been found in other places. I believe there is coal all the way up the Paparoa Bange. I have been told of coal being found at Stony Creek; and there is coal at Giles's, Inangahua, and at Fletcher's ; and then on the spur between Larrie's there was a road surveyed there some years ago, and they found outcrops of coal there on the top of the range. That is just at the Junction and at Coal Creek, and just immediately behind the Town of Eeefton ; and at Boatman's it extends southerly to different places. They say there is coal all down the flats, but I do not know about that.

No. 70 73 137 139 141 144 145 146 147 148 149 151 195 203 205 207 209 211 212 215 216 217 221 225 231 233 235 241 243 245 A. B. P. 0 1 17 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 a. 5 5 5 5 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 5 5 5 7 7 5 5 5 5 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 d. 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £1 added if it a it it a a a a a it a it £ 15 11 11 11 16 11 11 11 11 11 11 16 9 9 9 13 13 9 9 9 9 13 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 s. d, 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a it it it a a a it it a a tt it a it

No. 261 263 265 267 269 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 281 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 A. B. P. 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 s. 5 5 5 7 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 a. 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 £1 added // II ft If It II ft II It £ s. d. 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 16 0 0 16 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 16 0 0 16 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 HOC 16 0 0 16 0 0 16 0 0 16 0 0 HOC HOC HOC HOC 11 0 0 HOC II ft It It ft ft ft It It ft It 58 sec. 14 0 17 684 5 C