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i. FOBSAITH.]

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with the large mass of evidence I am calling of men who are living there that I put it to you that the evidence you are giving is in respect of the previous year —1886 ? —I believe I had cows up both those years. 566. If about nine witnesses —men who are living there from day to day—swear that the pasture at that time on Meikle's land was quite different from what you have stated, would you exclude the possibility of your having fixed the wrong year ?—lf there are so many witnesses who can prove that, I may be wrong ; but it was one of those years. 567. You cannot say which ?—My impression is it was 1887. 568. Now, perhaps I can help you a little. I want to draw your attention to a map which I think will help you. You say you remember the pre-emptive right on the company's land ? —Yes. 569. Was it the year you saw it in turnips ?—Yes, but I think the turnips were eaten off when we passed in September. I think some of it was turnip ground. 570. Was there, or was there not, a large area of rich turnip land on the company's property when you saw it ?—You see, I have not been over the whole property at all; I only went as far as McGettigan's place. 571. How long were you up there ? —We might have gone up in the morning to muster the cattle, and came away about midday. 572. That is the only opportunity you had ? —Yes, I was never over the company's pastures. 573. Then you cannot say whether the company's pastures were better or worse than Meikle's ? —It was merely from casual observation. 574. And the same applies to Mr. Winter ?—Yes. 575. Now, I ask you, both from your experience and as a frank witness, suppose you have rich pasture upon Mr. Meikle's land,.and poor pasture on the company's land, and poor fences, where would you expect to find the greater number of trespassing sheep ?—On Mr. Meikle's land, of course. 576. Then, the deduction you would make from this is that on the Ist November twenty-seven sheep of the company's were found on Meikle's land, and no sheep at all of Meikle's were found on the company's land ?—Yes, the trespassing sheep would be on the better pastures. 577. What area of turflips were there on Meikle's land ? —I have no idea. 578. You could not say whether there were any turnips or not on Meikle's land ? —No, we only just passed through it. I was not over his land at all. It was only what caught my eye in passing and repassing. 579. And you are not sure what year it was ? —Well, I am almost sure it was 1887. 580. But if I bring these other witnesses to say it was 1886 ?—Well, of course I must admit I am wrong, but I am speaking to the best of my belief. 581. You told us you were one of the Justices who heard this case. When were you first asked by Meikle to say whether or not these skins bore the marks of wire ?—Never. Mr. Meikle never spoke to me of the skins. 582. Who asked you whether or not the skins bore the marks of wire ?—I saw them in the Court. 583. But you were asked about the skins before you gave evidence just now ? —Never before Mr. Atkinson asked me about them last night. 584. So that between the time you saw them and last night you had never been asked about them before ?—No ; but it has been in my memory all through. I had spoken to my co-Justice about them. 585. Who was your co-Justice % —The late George Crosby. 586. Do you know whether your co-Justice gave evidence in this case ?—-I am almost sure he never did. I should have remembered it if he had. 587. Mr. George Crosby did give evidence. His depositions were taken before Mr. Rawson. Your co-Justice was called apparently on the 15th of August, 1894, at the trial of Lambert in the lower Court. He was not asked any questions about the skins ?—I did not know that. I never was called. 588. What was the nature of the mark which led you to infer that they had been on wire ? —No one accustomed to sheep-skins could have any doubt at all about it. A skin is often thrown on the wire, and across the inside you will see a black stripe when it has been hanging, say, a month. 589. You are charging your memory with an event of nearly nineteen years ago. Might not the mark have been produced by the skin having been folded and pressed ? —No, that would be a different mark altogether. 590. You do not agree with that suggestion ?—No. 591. Mr. Atkinson.] Do you remember ever buying a cow from Mr. Meikle ? —I bought a cow from him, at one time when 1 was up there, in passing. 592. Which year was that ?—lt was either 1886 or 1887. 593. You remember, of course, the year that he was committed. Can you say whether that was the same year that you passed through. He was committed in November ?—lt is likely enough. 594. I want to get from you the road you passed along ?—We came along the road between Gregg's and Meikle's, and passed through the company's land between the parts marked " Tussock " and " Turnips." I did not particularly notice the part marked "P. R." John Templeton examined. 595. Mr. Atkinson.] You were a storekeeper at Wyndham twenty years ago ? —Yes. 596. Are you still in the same occupation ?—Various occupations—storekeeping, butchering, farming, accommodation-house keeping, mail contractor, and livery stables —just a combination. 597. Have you some land of your own ?—The land I have is leased. It is an education lease of fourteen years. 598. What area ?—lOl acres. 599. You gave evidence for the defence at Mr. Meikle's trial in 1887, and also in the prosecution of Lambert in 1895 ?—I cannot remember the dates, but I was there at the trials.

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