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291. Hon. the Chairman.) It has been stated that the season is a bad one?—l do not think so. I think that is all pretence ; for Hopefield, Tarndale, and Molesworth Stations, all high country,, have cleaned. It is so stated in the report. I have seen it so. Mr, Gibson's sheep are said to have always been scabby for twenty years. 292. Hon. Mr. Campbell.) And after these fines have been absolutely inflicted, have the fines: been recovered ?—I have been informed that they have not been recovered; but I have been told that a bond has been taken, which may be exacted under certain circumstances. 293. Hon. the Chairman.) The Government chooses the course to be taken for recovering the amount of the bond ?—I think it is against the law to take this bond. 294. But, in Canterbury, the ordinary bond was allowed, and a person being fined might insist on his bond being taken ? —There is no mention of a bond within the four corners of this Act. Ido not blame the Inspectors for that. The Inspector has to sue. The Magistrate inflicts the fine, and the Government lets the defendant off. The Government is, in such case, to blame. 295. I think there was a case against Mr. Gibson about eighteen months or two years ago, the Besident Magistrate recommending that the fine be remitted ? —lf the Resident Magistrate recommended the remission of the last fine he inflicted, I think he did so against his will. 296. Has there been any joint attempt to clean the district as against those sheep from Crown lands? —I cannot say whether all the neighbouring runholders in Marlborough have joined. I myself sent six shepherds last year to muster the Crown lands in the Amuri county. I cannot speak as to Marlborough. 297. Hon. Mr. Nurse.) I am informed that the snow breaks down the fences ?—The only way I know to get rid of these sheep is to employ men to follow them up systematically and kill them. When the snow comes down it buries the fences, so that the sheep can walk over them. 298. Mr. Buchanan.) In the cases of the Tarndale and Molesworth, do you know that the declaration under Schedule B was signed ; was there any prosecution for false declaration ?—There was a difficulty in bringing the charge home. 299. Section 24 says that a penalty of not less than £10 nor exceeding £50 shall be inflicted, and not exceeding £10 for every twenty-four hours for which an owner fails to give notice. I understand you to say that in the case of Tarndale there was only £10 inflicted, the penalty for one twenty-four hours ?—There was a month without notice nearly, and he ought to have been fined £10 a day. The Magistrate only fined him in the penalty of £10, which was illegal, I think. On the 26th of May he got his certificate ; on the 28th of May he killed scabby sheep. 300. What is your opinion as to the local management of the Scab Act—that is, the local administration of the Act, as compared with what is known as the " Central management" ?—Do you mean leaving it to a local Board? 301. Yes.—l do not believe in that. I think you want a strong arm from the centre. 302. What do you think as to the efficient means which should be taken? Are you of opinion that the owner of sheep should be tied down to actual results, leaving him to judge for himself as to what means are sufficient for effecting a cure?—l think it would be best to come to an understanding as to what is an effective dip. Lime and sulphur is an effective dip and the cheapest dip known. I should like it stated in the Act that all persons having scabby sheep should be compelled to dip them with sulphur and lime. 303. Has there any case occurred of a certificate being refused until the Crown lands should be fenced off?— There has been no case of that sort so far as I am aware. 304. Are you of opinion that the Crown should take steps to clean those lands ?—I think something should be done in the interest of all those who are around them. Many of those persons, although they are also strongly interested, are not well able to spend any money for the purpose. The whole of the country south of the Waiau is a clean district. All sheep passing from the north of the Waiau have to be dipped twice at the cost of the owner. 305. Mr. Lance.) I would ask a question with regard to these Crown lands, whether these lands, which are for the most part on the tops of the ranges, are not under snow for several months -of the year, and whethei Mr. Low thinks it possible sheep could live on these Crown lands during these winter months ? —During heavy frosts and snow the sheep would naturally find their way down to the lower ground and into the bush. 306. During the winter months no sheep could live on these Crown lands ?—I think it is extremely probable that every sheep on these lands would descend necessarily to the low ground, and when the snow cleared off they would go back. 307. Would that be the best time to destroy them ? —I think it would. Ido not think it would be a difficult thing to kill all the sheep on Crown land. 308. Suppose these sheep were killed off when the snow clears away, even so the process would have to be repeated every year ? —A man can follow these sheep wherever they go. Give a man £1 or £2 a head, and he would soon clear them off. I know one case of an employer doing this with the best result. Give any man who is expert with a gun a reasonable sum, and he will soon be able to give a good account of the wild sheep on a run. 309. Hon. Mr. Campbell.) You think that Mr. Bayly is a competent man for this kind of employment? —I know that he is anxious to do his best. 310. Has he the requisite experience or knowledge ?—Mr. Bayly, so far as I know, never had the management of any station in Now Zealand ; but he told me that he had been brought up among sheep in some capacity, although not having the management. 311. Hon. the Chairman.] Is there any further suggestion which you would like to make?— There is one clause—clause 25 —which I notice has not been enforced in our district. That is one -of the clauses which the Inspectors have taken upon themselves to abrogate, refusing to act or prosecute under this clause and under clause 26. 312. Will you mention a case?—l have mentioned the Tarndale case. We have only had two scabby runs in our district lately. 4—l. 5.