[j. MABIN.

88

H.—2l.

280 In what state was the land marked " Tussock " land then, below the road ?—I am not positive about that, I had nothing to do with that portion of it; it was inside the fence I had my stock. lam not quite sure whether it was broken up or not. 281 Then, going north from the tussock boundary, what was there ?— Stubble land a distance above the road ; and then what was left of the turnip land was on the north of the pre-emptive right. 282. What about the area of the pre-emptive right ?—I think it was 640 acres—the usual pre-emptive-right size. . , 283. Generally speaking, what was the nature of the land ?—Just rrdgy land—some flat and some ridgy —gullies. 284. What proportion could be ploughed ?—I should say about two-thirds ol it. 285 What would be the nature of the rest ?—Gullies, rocks, and creeks. 286. What is the season in Southland for putting sheep on to turnips for them to do any good of them ?— At all times from May to September. 287. In what condition would the turnip-crop be for sheep in October ?—Not worth anything. 288. Why not ?—Because they would be too soft in that time—running to seed. 289 How would turnips in that condition compare with English grass as an attraction for sheep ? —Well naturally, sheep are inclined to hunt for young grass about that season in preference to turnips. 290 How would ordinary natural feed compare with turnips in that condition ?—Of course sheep arc inclined to ramble for feed, even although there is not very much of it. They are more inclined for young grass than turnips that have become short. 291. Will sheep always stay on turnips in the proper season ? Is it safe to leave them without a boundary-fence ? —Oh, no, that-would be a mistake. 292. What was the condition of feed along the Mimihau—going down from there to the southern boundary to the school reserve ?—Ordinary road-line feed. 293" What about the creek ?—Just along the river-bank. 294. Was there any feed there at all ?—The usual tussock feed was there just the same as the rest of the country round about. 295. What was there to stop sheep going down the road and along the creek towards the school reserve ? —Nothing to stop them but the river at the Teserve. 296. Then the two creeks met there just at the corner of the reserve ?—Yes. 297 Supposing a horseman came down along from the pre-emptive right and there were sheep of yours near the road, what would be the natural effect ?—They would naturally run in front of the horseman as far as they could get. . . 298. Where would they be first brought up ?—At the junction of the Mrmrhau and the Waiarikiki 299 Had you any occasion to observe the nature of Meikle's iV es ?— No, I did not take particular notice of them. I know there was a gate at the corner of the fence adjoining the Mimrhau, at the ford. 300. Meikle's land did not adjoin yours ?— No. 301. Who was the manager of Islay Station when you had your lease ?—Mr. Troup. Did you ever have any conversation with him about Meikle's case when Meikle was in gaol ? Yes. 303. Where ?— In Milne's hotel, Wyndham. 304. What is the other name of that hotel—the sign ?—" The Farmers' Arms. 305. Anybody else present ? —Templeton. 306. What part of the hotel were you in ?—The front parlour. 307. You and Templeton were in the room. Just tell us how Troup came along ?—I he landlord came in and told me that there was a gentleman who wanted to see me outside. I asked him to come in and he said he did not think that the gentleman would come. I then went out: it was Troup. We had some disagreement before this about the pre-emptive right—in gettrng stock off. Troup was manager and had to do with it. He told me he was leaving the company and that rf I would go in for damages for the eating of my turnips he would be along wrth me—that he had got the sack from the company virtually. 308 Was Templeton present during this part of the conversation ?—No. 1 asked lroup to come into the hotel, and he came, and a general conversation came up. Meikle's case came up. He said he had documents in his possession that would get Meikle out of gaol. I said he had better be careful or he would get into the same place as Meikle. 309 Do you remember any other expression ?—We had a talk over the matter, and that ended it. 310. Dr. Findlay.] You told Mr. Atkinson that about May or June, 1888, you saw Meikle's farm ? Yes. 311. And you saw the pre-emptive right ?—Yes ;I am not sure of the date. 312. It might have been earlier or later ? —Yes. 313 Your best recollection is June, 1888 ?—Yes, I think so. 314. You cannot say, or do not pretend to say, what the condition of things was in October of the year before ?—No, Ido not know anything about it. 315 Can you say whether the pasture or the feed upon the company s land m October, 1887, was better or worse than that upon Meikle's land at the time ?— No, I could not say. lam just speaking about it as I found it in June. ■ 316 Just so You cannot say the inducements offered to sheep on the company s land were better inducements than those offered on Meikle's land ?—Oh, no, Ido not know anything about that, 317. You were speaking of a period seven or eight months afterwards ? —Yes,