H.—2l.

98

[t. westacotk.

688. Why would they be in poor condition in October ?—Well, they are pretty run out; they are coming on to the spring grass, and the sheep would come on to the spring grass. 689. Do you remember the actual condition of any turnips there were on the pre-emptive right ? —I cannot say that I noticed much good turnip on the pre-emptive right. It is nineteen years ago now since that time. 690. Would you remember roughly how much was ploughed ?—Really, I could not measure by the eye. 691. Can you tell us anything about the state of the cultivation of Meikle's farm ?—Well, I have been over the lower portion of it, which seemed pretty good grass, and one portion—a few acres of oats —seemed very good. 692. What sort of grass ?—lt seemed pretty good English grass. 693. What was the nature generally of the feed outside ?—I did not take particular notice outside, only coming through the corner of the pre-emptive right, and by the road-line. I generally rode a colt. 694. What would you say generally as to the condition of Meikle's as compared with Islay Station ? —Well, I would prefer the portion of Meikle's that I have been through before anything else in the Islay Estate. It seemed very good what I have been through. 695. How long have you been accustomed to stock ?—I think I have been amongst them, I recollect, since I was only a boy eleven years of age. I was bred and born a butcher amongst stock. 696. You describe yourself as a drover now \— Yes. 697. Do you know the smithy in Meikle's buildings ?—I never took particular notice of the smithy. I know about where, it "is. 698. Would it be an easy job to put in, say twenty or thirty sheep through an 18 in. door in the dark ?—A lunatic might try it, but I should not like to try it in the dark. 699. And suppose there were a 4 ft. door just around the corner ?—Even so, you would knock the stock about more than two days' driving would do, you would do them more harm. 700. What business dealings did you have with Meikle ?—I supplied him with beef and bread, and used to get potatoes and oats off him occasionally. 701. How much would his account with you average for the year ?—The average would be about £60. 702. Have you got your books ?—I am sorry that I have not. As I said, I was burnt out —books, plant, and all. There should be one account here for £26, but it was left at the Supreme Court. 703. Which trial would it have been ? You refer to one of his previous actions ?—I think so. 704. You gave evidence in one of them ?—I think so. I have been twelve months sick, and my recollection is gone a bit; but I must study up a bit. 705. One was produced in the Supreme Court previously ?—Yes. 706. Do you remember what period it covered —what length of time ?—lt was between £9 and £10 for the time. 707. How long would that be for ?—I think for one month —that he had some men ploughing for him. I would not be sure to a few shillings, but I fancy that was the amount. 708. Can you recollect what season he got the most from you, or was it quite variable ?—At harvest time and lambing time he had the most. 709. What is the lambing time ?—From August up to October. 710. Can you remember the items ? I think there was a receipt produced. Do you remember the items for the first part of October of that year ?—I think I could give you nearer the middle of the month. There was a carcase of mutton, 50 lb. corned beef, and 80 lb. steak beef, and so-many loaves, amounting up to £2 6s. or £2 ss. 711. Have you any means of fixing any of the dates covered by these items ?—lt was on a Sundaymorning I gave them to Meikle. It was a very rough Saturday night, and he said he was not going home, and I got up and gave them to him on Sunday morning ; that was the 16th. 712. So youi business was done on Saturday night, and he did not take them away until Sunday morning ?—No. 713. Did you see any sheep-skins ?—I was ordered out of the lower Court, but I saw them outside. 714. Were you put into the box ?—Yes, but I was ordered outside. 715. What was the reason ?—I do not know, but I was ordered out. 716. Was it not that Meikle was charged with stealing skins ? —I do not know as to that; but as soon as I was ordered out I walked out. 717. What sorts of skins were they ?—Dead-wool skins. 718. What does dead-wool skins mean ?—Skins of sheep that died of inflammation. 719. Could you form any idea of the age of them ?—No. 720. Were there any peculiar marks on them ?—Wire-marks. 721. Is that a distinct mark ?—A wire-mark from hanging over a wire fence, head and tail, like that [illustrating the position]. They showed the wire-mark. 722. You were saying something particular about the wire-mark ?—They were not hung head and tail down ; they were hung over this way [illustrating the manner]. 723. Dr. Findlay.] You do not pretend to remember definitely how all the pastures on Meikle's land compared with those on the company's land ?—No. 724. I think you mentioned' a little while ago that you were supplying Meikle with goods ?— Yes. 725. Were you in his debt, or was he in yours ?—He was in debt, undoubtedly. 726. At the time he was tried, how much did he owe you ?—I think it was something between £9 and £10.