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urging on them to take the management of the rabbits into their own hands, and save people who were in their own interests doing all that could be done to cope with the evil from being persecuted. You know that I am in the heart of a rabbit district, and to pounce on me without serving all others alike, I say, is not fair. I was put to the expense of fully £25, which I consider the Government ought in all fairness to refund. A meeting of settlers was held at Dunback, which decided that they should begin poisoning on the 13th May. The Inspector objected to this, and afterwards put an advertisement in the local paper that the Ist Juno was the time to begin, thus ignoring the settlers. Should you want a cheap farm for one of your sons you can apply to me. This rabbit question is a very vexed one. My neighbours, so far as I am aware, were not even asked to make any effort. I have had for the past two years a professional rabbiter on the ground almost constantly, and very often two or three of my sons. You can use this letter according to your own judgment. Accept kind regards," &c. I may state that the settlers at this meeting knew well enough that the Ist June had been the time fixed for a general poisoning. The settlers decided to start on the 13th May, when the grass was green, and the consequence would be that no good results would follow. I believe this was done in a spirit of opposition. My reply to the above letter was as follows, dated the sth August, 1889 : " Sub-Inspector Hull consulted with me on different occasions as to what steps he should take. I was in Court during the whole of the hearing, and thoroughly agree with his action. Mr. Duncan made several complaints as to the injury he was suffering from Boss's rabbits destroying his turnips, and the latter did not put on a proper rabbiter as he promised to. The two sons alluded to were employed at their ordinary farm-work, and only rabbiting in their spare time. It was after Inspector Hull had fixed the Ist June as the best date to commence simultaneous poisoning that the meeting of farmers, in a spirit of opposition, decided to start on the 13th May, whilst feed was abundant. The Magistrate certainly made some uncalled-for remarks on the Babbit Act and its working, but was more severe on defendant's counsel than to Inspector Hull. A portion of the Waihemo County is about the worst-infected land I have seen in Otago, and I believe this to be greatly owing to the landowners trusting to political influence, instead of endeavouring to carry out the Inspector's instructions, and work together to put the pest down. It is a common boast that they have had five Inspectors at Palmerston in seven years, and will have the present one removed before long, Mr. George Boss being one of the ringleaders." There have often been complaints from settlers in other districts about the Inspector, but afterwards they have thanked him for bringing pressure to bear. I think, gentlemen, that should be sufficient, as regards a preliminary statement, and it would now be as well, perhaps, to ask questions. 647. Mr. Dodson.'] I think Mr. Douglass's letter is quite clear. He seems to have been quite satisfied with Mr. Hull's actions. All Mr. Hull's actions have been approved of by you?— Yes. 648. And he consulted you as to what was best to do ?—Yes; about every fortnight we had a personal conversation about this and other matters. His district extends down as far as Dunedin. 649. You are satisfied as to the measures he adopted?— Quite ; when once a notice is given it is necessary to insist on some extra work being done. 650. And you do not serve a notice without having sufficient reasons for so doing?— No. 651. And then you insist on it being carried out ?—Yes. 652. I suppose it is pretty generally known throughout the district that you are the Chief Inspector, and responsible for what is being done by the Sub-Inspectors?—Yes ; I think so. 653. You would say that Boss knew that ?—He ought to know ; at any rate, I should take it for granted that he did. 654. Did Boss ever see you before the petition came up ?—No ; Mr. McKenzie and I had a private talk about it; that was after Inspector Hull put the man on. Boss made a complaint to me just a few days ago ; we had a talk over it, but I did not see him previously. 655. Mr. McKenzie.] What do you mean in your letter in regard to political influences being brought to bear ?—I mean that directly the settlers are at variance with the Inspectors they at once petition. There have been two or three petitions got up in the district before. The settlers do not try and kill off the rabbit themselves —that is, some of them—and then they commence getting up an agitation for the removal of the Inspector. 656. From whom does it originate ? —That I could not say. 657. You are not personally acquainted with the heart of this district ?—No ; I only know from hearsay. 658. Is it not a fact that these Inspectors have been removed through the influence of Mr. Bell, and not because of the settlers ? —I never heard so. 659. In regard to this political influence :do you know of any of your own knowledge ?—No ; simply what I have heard. When I wrote that letter the petition was not presented. 660. But it might have been talked of?— Yes. Boss, Lindsay, and Anderson all said they would soon have Hull removed from the district. 661. Will you say whether the remarks made in your letter are from facts obtained from your personal visits or from what you heard previously? —From what I had heard previously. I had no personal knowledge at that time. 662. It was only hearsay, from persons in the district?— Yes; and from what I heard from Inspectors who had been removed. 663. Did you ever hear that Mr. Bell was the greatest sinner in the rabbit district?— Yes. No doubt all last autumn hig country was in a bad state ; but I could see no distinction between one farm and another. 664. At the time you took charge, did you go over the district to see for yourself ?—I only paid a flying visit through. 665. Was the district properly attended to before you took charge?—l am not prepared to say what was the condition of the country. I was in company with Mr. Clifton, and we drove along the roads. It was in December, and we did not see many rabbits.