35

H.—9a.

if I did not take my fair share of the trade and supply meat in the same way as Mr. Eobinson he would not recognize my accounts at all. I came to the office and tried to see Mr. Macfarlane, but Mr. Eobinson was not there. I came afterwards with Mr. Eobinson. The meat I supplied suited the settlers. I consider the mutton was first-class. Mr. Eobinson charged in the account put in 7d., 7H-, and Bd. at the Okuru. [At the Arawata and Jackson's Bay, Murdoch's account shows that the settlers were charged 7d., 6|d., and 6d ] Up to the Ist of October, 1877, my accounts for meat were recognized by Mr. Macfarlane. From that to the 10th of December some of the debts incurred I lost. I lost £2, £3, or £4. I cannot say how much. Part of that has been paid since. At the present time £2, £3, or £4 is still owing. I remember three accounts : one quarter of mutton to Doherty, one quarter of mutton to Dwan, and some to Burmeister. I could sell at the price because of the guarantee. Without that I could not have afforded to sell so cheap. On the 15th of December the guarantee was first repudiated. I went to Hokitika about the 22nd of October. I killed nothing between the date of the receipt for fifty sheep and my going to Hokitika, except about ten sheep. The sheep I could kill when I liked. About the 22nd of November I returned from Hokitika. I killed a sheep the same day I returned, or the day after, and sold the meat. I think Mr. Crawford had some, and has since paid for it. I came to the store and asked for payment, and Mr. Macfarlane said it was no use. I had expected to get paid by Mr. Macfarlane. I think Mr. Crawford paid about January. Ido not know that I killed anything else up to the 12th of December. I believe the agreement Mr. Macfarlane wanted Mr. Eobinson and myself to come to was to supply the settlers in the Bay, and at tho Arawata, and in the Okuru, week and week about with meat on the same terms. It is quite likely I had complaints made to me about my meat. If the Government had killed sheep weighing about 25 lb., and supplied the meat to the settlors, I should consider it very inferior, and I should not like to eat it. It would be no advantage to Mr. Macfarlane to pass this meat through his books. I know of nothing founded ou fact to show that it w rould have been of any advantage to Mr. Macfarlane to pass Mr. Bobiuson's meat through his books. I have spoken of a system, called the truck system, of paying the settlers by stores. lam not aware of Mr. Macfarlane trying to get rid of this system. Mr. Macfarlane went out of his way rather to try to get rid of the system with respect to meat. I understood Mr. Eobinson was paid up until the end of December. Up to three months before the store closed my debts were guaranteed for meat. Charge 5.—1 have nothing to say on this subject. Charge 6. —Some time in the month of September I heard some timber was required. I applied for the work, and I was told that there was none wanted; and I have heard 5.0C0 feet were ordered from Hokitika. I have supplied planks, &c. The 5,000 feet was weather boards obtained from Hokitika. I offered to supply it for 175., delivered at the Bay. Charge 7. —My statement is that there are reports which are erroneous made to the Government with respect to the amount of cash available for business purposes in the settlement. I refer to a letter written by Mr. Patten, dated the 29th of April, 1878, in which he alludes to a memorial from the settlers that payments should be made in cheques instead of cash. Charge B.—l have nothing to state, that I know of, more than I have said on this. Charge 9. —Payment for boating. Two men told me they signed for £2 for day labour—Skipper and Love, I think. There were five men in the boat, I believe. Charge 10.—I have nothing more to say on this head. Charge 11. —I gave Mr. Macfarlane grass seed to sell for me. Ist. He sold it too high; he credited me with the amount received for some of it; and some he never gave to me at all. I refunded 2s. per bushel in value to one party who bought some of it. I gave Mr. Macfarlane about five and a half bushels for sale. I received the money for two bushels ; one and a half were not paid for. I was paid for two other bushels, and afterwards Collyer paid for one and a half bushels. Ido not know whether Collyer was charged for it in the book. Two settlers asked for grass seed. Mr. Macfarlano sold them some, and Collyer took the rest. Mr. Crone told me that he made out a bill including Collyer's, and then altered it. Charge 12.—Courtenay is at Lake Wanaka. Charge 13.—1 know no more than I have said about that. Charge 14.—1 was paid £10 10s. on account of purchase of a cow before I went to Hokitika. I was paid before Max's cheque arrived from Wellington. Ido not know that Mr. Macfarlane paid the £10 10s. out of his own pocket. I received the money for the cow. I applied to Max for the balance, and he paid it to me when he had the money. Charge 15. —Jacques applied for work, and he was asked what he had done with his cheque, and when he said ho had given it to me he was told to come to me for work. Ido not think Jacques asked me to bring it forward. Jacques is in Taranaki. Ido not know of my own knowledge anything about it. Jacques gave me a cheque for £3 10s. I bought a cow from Jacques for £8. I left him possession of the cow. The condition was that on delivery of the cow the balance of cash should be paid. I asked Mr. Macfarlane's advice as to whether I should take proceedings for breach of contract for nondelivery of the cow. When I took out the summons Mr. Macfarlane called my attention to the cheque for £3 10s. in my account. The cow was bought from Michael Dwan. I offered the cow for sale for £8. Ido not know of my own knowledge of any other case of the Eesident Agent refusing persons work because they bought goods of me. Charge 16. —I have nothing further to add on this. Charge 17.—When the s.s. "Stella" was here in December I told Captain McKerzie that I was prepared to give all that certain settlers possessed in their behalf to get them away —Hayfield, Eay, and Beveridge. lam not sure that I told Mr. Macfarlane this. I knew Beveridge had two cows at this time, and was working at the saw-mill, so far as I know. Ido not know that his son was at work at the saw-mill. I hare given Beveridge supplies since this. He owes me a little over £4 now. I mean I have sold goods to Beveridge and entered them in my books against him. Hayfield is a married man with a family. lam aware he has sold cattle to the value of over £20 to Eobinson. lam aware that he was working at the saw-mill, and has crops, &c., about his house. I have not supplied him with goods out of charity. Between August and December I supplied Beleski and Bilsky with