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337. Sir D. McLean.'] Are you aware that a very large reserve is situated near the block called Tauhei ? —All this land was surveyed for military settlements ; but they would not take it on account of its swampy character, and it has been given back as Native awards. 338. Major Jackson.] If any good land had been there you would have found it? —Certainly. 339. Sir D. McLean.] Did you find any difficulty in carrying on your surveys on account of the Natives ?—The first time the Natives were very troublesome. When I first went up there I took a surveyor to cut this line (describing it on the map) ; but they seemed dissatisfied, and I withdrew. 340. "Were there many of them there at that time ?—Twenty came down armed with guns ; and from their demeanour in the morning, while we were having breakfast, I did not like to persevere in the matter. I took Mr. Weetman back with me. I was afterwards on very friendly terms with the Natives, and could have worked up to the boundary line without interference. 341. They have always opposed touching the boundary line ? —Not at that time. 342. Are you able to give an idea as to the value of that portion of the swamp land which is covered by water, during the greater part of the year, from the Waikato ?—lt is valueless in my estimation. I set no value on it. It is only people with great means who would purchase a block like this ; and Ido not think it will pay when the drainage is completed. When the drainage rests there the land will fall, and then be subject to these floods more than it is now. Mr. Dilworth's swamp has also fallen down considerably. There the drains were six feet at the top and three feet at the bottom; yet they are not now, in some places, moro than four feet, the ground has shrunk so. 343. Then they will close up as the ground goes down ?—Not only that, but will cause a great deal of extra labour to get them out. 344. Captain Kenny.] You state that, in your estimation, some 15,000 or 20,000 acres are subject to this flooding ? —I only made a sketch with pencil. 345. You said that was the quantity ; at all events that was your estimate. In saying just now that you looked upon the land as valueless, did you allude to that area ? —I did. 346. Do you know this portion of the country at the southern end of the block ?—I do. 347. What is the character of that portion of the country ?—I really cannot tell you. Here (describing it on the map) it is all swamp. 1 cannot tell you what is in the middle. 348. Is that land capable of being drained profitably ? —lt may be drained. 349. But drained profitably ?—I cannot say whether it can be drained profitably or not, but it would take a great deal of money to do it. There is no available land along the banks of the river; it has been all surveyed and disposed of. 350. Then you cannot speak from your own knowledge of this land; all you know is that it is swampy near the river and near the survey line ?—Yes. 351. In your opinion it would be difficult and expensive to drain it—that a largo portion, when drained, would not be improved; that is to say, it would still be subject to flood ? —All this portion (describing it upon the map) will be subject to flood, unless some artificial means are devised for backing out the water when floods come from the Waikato River. 352. Mr. Sheehan.] Did you, in company with Mr. Dilworth, visit the ground ? —I was never on the ground with Mr. Dilworth. 353. Did you not go up the swamp with him ?—No; he took this swamp upon my recommendation. 354. Did you not inform me that you went upon the ground with Mr. Dilworth ?—No. 355. After he had acquired his own swamp land ?—I went there with his brother-in-law. 356. Did you not inform me that you went over the ground with Mr. Dilworth, and discussed with him the advisability of his buying further land ?—No; I accompanied him to the Survey Office. 357. Was not a distinct acreage named at the time ? —He said about 358. How much ? —I think about 8,000 or 10,000 acres, or what was available. 359. Was it not 10,000 acres ?—lt was left an open question : when I went on the ground to survey it, whatever I could pick out. 360. Have you not informed me that your instructions from Mr. Dilworth were to select 10,000 acres ?—I think I said about 8,000 or 10,000 acres. 361. Did you not say 10,000 acres ? —I cannot be sure now. 362. Did you not say 10,000 acres without mentioning 8,000 ?—I said about 8,000 or 10,000 acres. 363. Try and recollect—did you not say 10,000 ?—lf I could get 10,000 acres it would be taken out of it. 364. My recollection of your statement is this—l will put it as a question : Did you not tell me that you had instructions from Mr. Dilworth to buy 10,000 acres of this land, aud that in consequence you attended the Survey Office and deposited £50?—£25 or £50 ; it was either one or the other—l not sure. 365. In substance that was your statement ?—I said Mr. Dilworth gave me £25 or £50 on this or other lands selected for Mr. Dilworth—l do not recollect which—to go and select a portion of this swamp on the plan for him. I went in and selected as I did. What I found I recommended him to buy: if there was 10,000, 20,000, or 15,000, it would be according to my own selection if he would take it. But I was to report to him before I could cut the back Hues. 366. Your answer must be specific. Did you tell me there was a specific acreage named—viz., 10,000 acres ?—I said 8,000 or 10,000 acres. Probably I did say 10,000 acres ; it would depend upon the quality of the swamp. 367. How long was it after you paid the deposit that you got the money back ? —That is a thing I cannot recollect. I went ou surveying, and when I came back Mr. Dilworth told me he could not get the land, and I supposed the money was refunded. 368. How long was that?— Some time afterwards, but how long I really cannot say. 369. Was it a month ? —Yes ; more than that. But I took no particular notice of it at the time. 370. Do you remember the account you gave me of the quality and nature of this land ?—ldentical with what I am now giving.

Mr.E. O'Zleara. 12th Oct., 1875.