H.—9a

18

it. I think I paid this man £2 7s. for this. I do not remember Mr. Macfarlane saying that he did not believe in giving his money to men who were trying all they could to injure him. I said that in the next specification I should insert that any man not giving satisfaction should be discharged. These men gave satisfaction so far as I was concerned. We were hindered because we could not get logs. We had not enough men, and they did not understand the work. Mr. Macfarlane must have given the notice of the lease of the mill. I did not keep the men on because I found Mr. Macfarlane so bitter against the men that it would have been very disagreeable. These men afterwards tendered lowest for work for logging. I did not accept their tender. Mr. Macfarlane has never interfered with me in the working of the miil since then. I put in this extract: "Be Doherty's petition. He came into my office and offered to withdraw it if I would let them go on with the mill, and if I would not give him the job he would send it. I came near kicking him out of my office, but there is nothing mean enough that those meu will not do; so no matter how they blarney, don't trust them. I will be back in about a month. In the meantime push on the order for the vessel." After the men were discharged I employed, with Mr. Macfarlane's knowledge, Bay and Burmeister, and since then Dwan and Cronin for about a week, as men were scarce. Mr. Macfarlane said he did not mind my employing Eay and Burmeister. He was not so bitter against them as he was against the others. When Mr. Macfarlane wrote to me we were on confidential terms. We are not on very good terms with one another now.

Saturday, Bth March, 1879. Hon. Mr. Bonar re-examined. In my evidence on a previous occasion I omitted to mention that we have urged the Government to get a small steam-launch for entering the small rivers along the coast, which would I think be of great service. The Harbourmaster reported against an open steam-launch, but not against one decked over. I would also call attention to the transfer of the store to private hands. I would say it was quite against the wish of the original promoters to have anything to do with the supply of stores. The most liberal terms had to be made by the Government as to the arrears of rent and for stores supplied before any private person could be induced to relieve the Government of the supply of stores ; and only one tender was sent in when the stores were advertised; and the original agreement was that not more than £1 per month should be deducted from the wages of the settlers. John Tobien re-examined. The stores were given to me for £3 against my will. Everything was cleared, and nothing more over and above the £3 was taken without being paid for. I took more stores afterwards. When the £3 were taken up I was obliged to take more stores under circumstances for my living. My son obtained the latter goods and paid for them to the man who was at the store. When I took the £3 worth of goods I wanted the money instead. The last time I was in Mr. Macfarlane's store the book was not made up. Eudolf Tobien sworn and examined. lam son of John Tobien. I went with my father to Jackson's Bay in August, 1875, to sett' 6 there. We took up land and lived at Jackson's Bay in one of the Government houses. I took up land, and my father too. The sections were adjoining. The ticket produced is my father's for No. 61; mine was next to it. lam not sure of the number. My father and myself both went to select land with Mr. Bowmaster and others. Mr. Macfarlane did not go. These pieces of land looked good, and we took it. We had a house build on my section. My father and I lived there together We went to live in the house about three months after we went to live at the Bay. My father and I and a settler then built the house. One man who was there said the house was worth £12. There were two rooms in it. Ido not remember the size of the rooms or the length of the house. I lived in the house, and left it at the end of July or tho beginning of August, 1876. We left the house because the land flooded, and we could not get crops. Thera were ten acres in each section. They were suburban sections. We went down to Jackson's Bay, aud stayed about four or five weeks, and returned to Hokitika. We did not sell the land, we simply left it. We paid £3 per annum for each section. We paid two years' rent. The amount was stopped out of our wages. The second time it was stopped I objected. I went to Mr. Macfarlane's store before I gave up the house. The second year's rent was stopped before I left the house. I could not say how long. It was somewhere about this time I saw Mr. Macfarlane at his own place. I went myself. I asked Mr. Macfarlane for £9 due for wages. I cannot say how long it had been due. I asked for it. Mr. Macfarlane said he stopped £6 for rent. I think the year was not over, and that he had no right to stop it. I did not tell Mr. Macfarlane so. Nothing more was said then about the £6. I asked for the £3. Mr. Macfarlane said ho wanted to see my father about it ;he did not say what for. I asked for the money. I cannot remember exactly all his words, but he said, " You can take it out in stores." I cannot remember if I took any stores then. I did not want any stores at the time. I did not tell Mr. Macfarlane so. He wanted to see my father. After this I and my father met Mr. Macfarlane on the road. Ido not remember how long after. Ido not remember who spoke first. I asked Mr. Macfarlane for the £9. He said there was £6 kept for rent for the next year, and £3 to be taken out in stores. I was speaking, and told Mr. Macfarlane what my father said, Ido not remember what my father said. Ido not remember telling Mr. Macfarlane that he was not right in keeping back the money. Mr. Macfarlane was scolding my father for going away from Jackson's Bay. He said it was not right for him to go. I said the land was flooded, and we could not grow crops. Mr. Macfarlane said we could have land at Okuru; and I said there were too many rivers. I had no talk with Mr. Macfarlane after that. I could not say whether I saw Mr. Macfarlane after that at the store. I said no more to Mr. Macfarlane about the £9, but I had more stores and paid for them. (Pass-book handed in to witness.) I know this book. I got it to have everything entered in which we had from the store. (Items from pass-book read to witness.) After the £9 I did not work any more. I paid for my stores afterwards in cash. Ido not remember how much. It was about £2 ss. 6d. Ido not remember who entered in the hook the items