THE LAND COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 13

THE LAND COMMISSION.

(By Oub Special Repoetze.)

CHRISTCHHRCH, April 14. The members of the Land Commission visited the Otakaro, Braco, Roimata, Tarawihi, and Tamai village settlements in the vicinity of this city to-day, and after luncheon drove out to Lincoln College, where they -we c shown over the buildings and farm by the director, Mr W. Lowrie. 'The commissioners were evidently Tery much impressed with the college .as a training school for "young farmers, and were surprised to find tLais, though the fees -are so reasonable, : Sie college is not taken vantage of to a greater extent. It was ascertained that two scholarships offered were 6till vacant, no candidates having come forward to claim them. Mr Lowrie was asked if he would give evidence Tjefore the commission on the 26th -inst., -when a sitting is to be held here. He readily consented to do sOj provided he was not asked to reply to questions dealing with the political aspect of the subject into which the commission is inquiring. It is probable that the eviden *c given hy Mr Idowrie, especially in regard -to cropping conditions, will be quite -unorthodox in character, as it is evident' that he does not favour the cropping restrictions opdanaTily imposed on Crown tenants. His evidence is being looked forward to with a great deal of interest.

It ie understood that the chairman of the commissio.i, Mr James .M'Kerrow, will be absent from the commission for a week to give evidence -before the Compensation Court on the Fkxbourne Estate case, and that in his absence Mr G. W. Forbes has been nominated by the Government to take she position o T acting-chairman.