E.—7a,

14

191. What is your idea as to the lack of students?—ln the first place, I consider the fees are too high—£6s per annum. Small farmers cannot afford to pay that amount. I consider £50 a year would be a fair sum to charge; but you would have to reduce the payment to Mr. Ivey for board. He gets £45 per annum ; but I think he ought to be able to do it for £35, as he gets his produce cheap from the farm : for instance, he gets his milk at Bd. a gallon, while other people pay Is. elsewhere, and he is found in lights, fuel, and has no house-rent to pay. I consider, also, there is not enough supervision. When there was a larger number of students they had a farmmanager, or, rather, inspector—a very good man. 192. Then you consider the work would be better done if a competent farm-manager were appointed ?—Yes. 193. Do you think the Board of Governors could cater for the students at a cheaper rate than at present paid ?—Yes. I think you could get a man to cater for them by contract at a much less rate. 194. Why not do it in the same way as is done on large stations?—l think it would be better to do it by contract. I heard that the Board at one time tried to do the catering itself, but; the arrangement was not satisfactory. 195. Mr. Murphy.'] Do you consider that a farm-manager is indispensable to the proper working of the farm ?—Yes. 196. The Chairman.] In what way is there a lack of discipline ?—I think the students are allowed to do too much as they like : if a task is allotted to them there is no one to see that they do it. Ido not say they do their work badly, but they do not do so much as if they were supervised. In fact, I should doubt their ever doing a full day's work. 197. Do you think payment to the students is necessary to get them to do their work ?— I think it is quite unnecessary. Another thing the committee suggested was that a blacksmith should be kept on the farm, instead of, as at present, getting a man a few days a week from Lincoln. I think that the blacksmith should also be the engine-driver. I think the farm is well farmed; the only question is the cost. The cost of labour is very heavy for a farm of 600 acres ■—there is too much extra labour. 198. Do you consider that forestry and practical gardening should be part of the farm-work?—■ Yes : but Mr. Ivey has stated that the students would not do this work, and he asked for a grant to employ labour; but the Board would not give it. My idea is, that the one thing wanted is supervision. Another thing is the cost. The cost of living is too much, when the produce of the farm could be utilised. 199. Mr. Murphy.] How is it that it costs so much?—-I consider it is simply bad management. For instance, the number of servants is too large. They had two laundresses for fourteen boys. 200. Are you a practical farmer ?—I ought to be. I have been farming ever since I was a boy. 201. The Chairman.] How is it that the number of students suddenly decreased ?—Firstly, I think, owing to the depression, and, secondly, to the increase in the rates. 202. Mr. Murphy.] What is your opinion as to admitting boys without examination?—l do not think that any examination is needed. 203. Mr. Overtoil.] What do you think about the stock ?—I consider there are too many sheep in proportion to the number of cows. The stock is in good order; but Ido not think the cows give as much milk as they ought to do. They have some very nice pigs. 204. The Chairman.] What do you think about the breeds of stock ?—I do not think they have any particular breeds of cattle. The cows are all shorthorns. 205. Mr. Overtoil.] Why are students not taken to the saleyards?—That is a subject the committee took into consideration. They recommended that all stock should be sold at the yards. 206. The Chairman.] Is a balance-sheet made out showing a profit-and-loss account of the farm ?—I have always understood the accounts of farm and school were kept separate, and have myself complained that several small items—viz , garden, plantations, cleaning ditches, &c— were placed to school account to make farm balance-sheet look better.

Thursday, 21st Febeuaey, 1889. Mr. J. Eennib examined. 207. The Chairman.] You are one of the examiners on farm-work at the School of Agriculture? —Yes. 208. How long have you had that appointment ?—Since 1882. 209. How often do you hold your examinations in the course of the year?— Three times a year, sometimes oftener—viz., at ploughing, shearing, harvest, and threshing. 210. Will you be good enough to state the subjects you examine the students in ?—We put them through their work in ploughing, drilling, and managing horses. At shearing-time we try them at shearing, and inquire what they know about sheep, their breed and management. At harvest we try them with the reaper and stacking. We also test their knowledge as to the best time for seed-sowing, state of ground, &c.; as to values of stock, condition of wool. We find they generally take an intelligent interest in their work. 211. Does it come within the scope of your duties to examine into and report on the general management of the farm, the cost of working the same, and the extent to which students' labour should be available? —We report generally as to the state of the farm and how it is managed. We