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405. Did you not require to deposit so much per aero ?—With such a man as Mr. Dilworth they were not very particular in that way. 406. Do not the regulations require that a certain sum per acre should be deposited when a formal application is to be made ? —I am not aware of that. 407. Can you tell me how much money was actually deposited by Mr. Dilworth at that time ?—I cannot say whether it was £25 or £50. It was only a matter of form, to give me time to explore the country. 408. "Why did you fix these suma of £25 or £50 ? Might it not have been £40 ?—I am satisfied it was either one of these two sums. 409. You are positive the amount was not higher than £50 ? —I am sure it was under £50. 410. Can you say positively whether the number of acres was stated or not ? —I cannot exactly say. There was some talk about 3,000, 5,000, or 10,000 acres, whatever I could get, and I was to pick out the best. 411. Was the sum deposited arrived at by some calculation of the acreage applied for?— No. 412. Mr. Macandrew.] Did you get any receipt for the money ?—None. 413. The Chairman.'] Do you mean to say no application was filed in the office ? —I am not particularly sure about that. I really canuot say :itis a good while ago now. 414. Who filled up your application when made ?—I am not sure about an application for this land. 415. If an application had been made you ought to recollect it ? —Possibly I should. I did not take any particular notice ; I was busy at the time. 416. Did you fill up an application on that occasion yourself? —I do not remember doing so ; but I might have. 417. Speaking to the best of your recollection P —l do not think I did. 418. Did Mr. Dilworth in your presence fill up an application ?—I am not sure about that. I remember drawing a line upon the map in the office with pencil. 419. Are you prepared to say whether an application was made under the Land Kegulations ?—I cannot declare solemnly whether it was signed or not. 420. With regard to your conversation with Mr. Sheehan, where did that conversation occur?— Down here in AVellington—in the street. 421. When ?—About a month ago, I think it was. He met me in the street and began some remarks about this inquiry. He said he did not want to bring me into that affair or into collision with the Government, or something to that effect. 422. Did Mr. Sheehan commence the conversation ?—I think it was he who first commenced it, by asking me something touching the swamp. 423. Mr. Sheehan was aware you were a witness about to be examined before the Committee ? — From the tenor of his conversation he had some idea of it. 424. When was this ?—About a month ago. 425. Did you tell Mr. Sheehan in your opinion the transaction between the Government and Mr. Thomas Russell was an improper transaction or a swindle ?—I do not think I made use of the word " swindle." He threw out the remark that the swamp had been sold by the Government for 2s. 6d. per acre, and I said for a portion of the swamp Mr. Dilworth would have given ss. 426. Did you express an opinion that the transaction was an improper one ? —I do not think I did. It was Mr. Sheehan himself who broached it first. 427. Mr. Sheehan.'] Do you remember, shortly after you came down here, coming out of the House of Representatives and saying there was a big row inside about Piako ?—I do not remember that. 428. I am speaking of a discussion that took place in the House —you saying there was a row about this swamp ; and that you knew more about it than most people about here. Do you remember saying that ?—I do not remember saying it. 429. Will you undertake to say you had no conversations with me in the lobby of the House—not once, twice, or three times, but frequently ? Try and recollect ?—I do not remember having any particular conversations. 430. Do you remember mentioning it to me at all ? —I remember your speaking to me in the street. 431. Do you not remember mentioning it to me on several occasions in the lobby of the House ?— Ido not. I was never in the lobby with you. 432. Do you not remember saying to me, just as I was going away from Poverty Bay, that you had been dismissed, and were coming down here to get justice ; and that, were it not for the fact of your position with the Government, you could make it very warm for them ?—I never said any such thing at all. 433. I will try and refresh your memory. I will ask you if you recollect, the night before you went away from here, my saying that you might possibly have to remain, and your begging that you would not have to be called as a witness before the Committee for fear of compromising your position with the Government ?—I never hoard about the Committee sitting until very recently. 434. lam asking what you said to me. Do you remember asking me not to drag you into this business ?—I do not recollect it, for the simple reason that I did not know why I should have anything to do with the matter. 435. Did you not request me not to drag you into it ?—I do not think for a moment I formed any opinion, so as to bring me into it, from any conversations we had. 436. Did you not tell me of Mr. Dilworth having paid a cheque as a deposit, and having it returned ?—Yes. I thought so. 437. From that, will you undertake to say you did not request me not to draw you into it ? —I do not think I did. 438. 1 will put a more specific question, which may refresh your memory. Did you not tell me you had settled with the Government, and that Sir Donald McLean was sending you back to Poverty Bay?—l did,

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