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was clean ; subsequently the run was scabbed from the coast runs. These lands would have been clean but for a large area,3 7,800 acres, of Crown lands adjoining. These Crown lands were the ■cause of scab still existing on the runs held by me. There are wild sheep all over these Crown lands. There is a high bush country and rugged lands on the other side of the Kaikoura Bange. 122. Do I understand you that the wild sheep come over the range ?—Yes ; they cross over the range in winter. It is very wet, cold land there ; consequently they go over the range and come to my side. I have been doing all I can to kill sheep on Crown lands. There have been no efforts made on the other side tc* clear the bush ; the Government have not taken any steps for that purpose. 123. Have you done any fencing?— Yes; but fencing gets broken down in winter by the snow. The high lands and creeks are covered with snow. 124. That is hardly an answer to my question. Have you done any fencing?— Yes, a large amount of fencing. 125. Could you not put up fencing that would stand? —That would depend upon the position. We do not construct fences except upon the tops of ridges. Even there, in some places, the snow breaks the fences down. 126. Have you been compelled by the Inspector to clean your sheep?—-Yes, and I have constantly endeavoured to do so; and I would have succeeded but for the infection brought by sheep from the Crown lands. I have been dipping to July last, and am dipping the whole flock now, and constantly erecting fences, endeavouring to get rid of scab. ' 127. Have you been fined for not having your sheep clean?— Yes, I have been fined twice. 128. Have these fines been paid?— The first one was remitted, on account of my doing everything tha f was possible to eradicate the scab; for the second I have given a bond. The first fine was remitted to £5 and costs. 129. And the second ?—On the second I entered into a bond to pay it in eighteen months if my sheep were not clean. I was to be called on to pay within eighteen months, and if the sheep were clean the bond would not be enforced. 130. What was the ground upon which the first fine was remitted ?—Because I had used every effort to get rid of scab. 131. I suppose that was also the ground of the second one ? —Yes. 132. What were the conditions of the bond ? —I was to do everything the department might require me to do. I engaged to do everything the department asked me to do towards eradicating scab. I might be called upon to pay the fine at any time if I ceased making the efforts required by the department. 133. Suppose yonr sheep were not clean within eighteen months ?—The bond would have been enforced. 134. The fact of your having put up fences would not have freed you from liability ?—No; unless they were clean I should not be free from liability. 135. If at any time the Inspector thought you were not taking proper steps to clean your sheep, you were liable to be fined ?—Liable at any time. . 136. Do you know whether the same course was pursued in other cases ? —Mr. Ingles's fine was remitted the first time. 137. Do you know the circumstances of that case ?—No, I do not. 138. With regard to this bond into which you entered, and in which the fine was so far remitted, was it the Government direct or the Besident Magistrate that took the bond ? —lt was referred to the department for their opinion. 139. The Magistrate fined you in the first instance, and afterwards the bond was accepted ?—I only know, as a matter of fact, that it was referred to the department. 140. Who was the Inspector ?—Mr. Foster was in charge of the district. 141. Then, you attribute the continuance of scab on your run to the fact of these wild and scabby sheep coining down from the Crown and unoccupied lands ?—I could cope with the ground on my side of the range ; but wild sheep come down the other side of the range. It is a continuous thing: they come from the bush lands over the range. 142. Can you suggest any way which you think would be a proper way to get rid of these sheep : whose duty is it to get rid of these sheep ?—lt is the duty of the Sheep Department to compel persons holding leased lands to kill the wild sheep on leased lands. 143. Are these unoccupied lands ?—No; they are leased lands. These wild sheep come from Crown lands. I have killed all the wild sheep I could that came from the bush land and the coast. 144. Then, you hold those gentlemen who hold leased Government and bush lands responsible for these wild sheep coming over ?—Quite so. 145. Do any of your sheep go back? —The wild sheep go back in the summer-time. 146. Then, your sheep would bring the scab with them unless the country were fenced off. If I understand you rightly there is no fence so high up ?—No. 147. You describe the scabby sheep as coming over the range to your side?— Yes; the wild sheep go to and fro. 148. You say your own sheep go back?— The sheep belonging to my country are bred there; they do not go back ; they stay there. 149. Then do you say that none of your own sheep go back ?—Sometimes one or two might go back. — 150. Where do you shear? —At the reserve. 151. Which side of the range is that ?—On the coast side. There are only very high and dangerous bridle-tracks to give access to the Clarence runs; it is mountain land. 152. How do you get to the reserve?—l drive the sheep over the range for that purpose. The reserve is leased to me.