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744. Captain Russell.] Why did you not apply to the head of the department—the Chief Inspector —instead of taking the course you did ? —I did not think it would be of any use. The administration of the Rabbit Act is a farce. 745. In what way?—ln carrying out the measures of the Act. 746." Then, you wish this Committee to understand that the reason you did not apply to the head officer was because you considered the whole administration of the Act was bad?— Just so. 747. You were put to Court expenses? —Yes. 748. But you were only fined £2 : how was it your expenses were so large ?—I had to engage a solicitor and get witnesses in support of my case. 749. Had you a solicitor in the district ? —Yes; but the Inspector had engaged him for the purpose of putting me to extra expense. 750. Have you ever read the Act yourself?—A portion of it, but not all. 751. Did you not know that the case was almost certain to go against you? —Well, I thought the justice of the affair would commend itself to the Resident Magistrate; but, to my surprise, he would not listen to anything, and would not even allow my witnesses to be called. 752. Then, why did you not apply to the head of the department up here?—l did not know the proper course to adopt. 753. Why did you petition the Government instead of going through the ordinary channels?— The solicitor I had in the case drew up the petition. 754. And you had no special object?—No ; I left it in his hands to do it. 755. Having lived in a rabbit district so long, can you suggest any alteration to the Act which would make its work more beneficial to the settlers in killing and keeping down the rabbits ?—I think it would be better if the district was put under the control of a Rabbit Board; it would be much better that there should be one Inspector responsible for each district, and, if it was seen he was not doing his duty, to dismiss him. 756. Mr. McKenzie."] When you brought your case befofe the Court, the Magistrate refused to hear your evidence ? —Yes; he only heard my two boys. 757. What did the Magistrate say ?—He said it was useless for me to bring forward any more witnesses. As long as the Inspector said that I had not done the work the Magistrate had no alternative but to fine me. 758. Your general complaint is that you have been exceptionally treated, considering the nature of the district ?—Just so. 759. The others have as many rabbits on their place as you?— Yes. 760. And you consider that putting the 11th section of the Act into force was unfair to you?— I consider I have been very unfairly dealt with all through the case. 761. The Inspector stated that his reasons for departing from the usual course in your case was from the complaint made to him by Duncan; have you been harassed before this ? — Yes; before this. 762. Can you bring any evidence before this Committee to show that Duncan complained to the Inspector before the agent went on the ground ? —Yes ; there is a gentleman in Wellington now who can say something on this question. I asked him to examine the ground about the neighbourhood. 763. This is Agent Dorris?—Yes. 764. Would you like him to be examined ? —Yes, I would. 765. Has Duncan got down the rabbits himself ? —No; I poisoned my ground on the 7th May, and up to the 20th June Duncan had done nothing, nor has he been asked to. I have taken particular notice of what has been going on. 766. Do you mean this year ?—Zes. 767. He has not been compelled to do it ?—No; he did not do it. He had done nothing up to the 20th June. 768. Douglass has put in a memorandum that he had been over most of the farms in the district, and had found rabbits pretty numerous ?—Yes; he was there on the 15th of this month. I have a neighbour, a widow woman, and there were a few rabbits on her place, and she is allowing them to go on. There is a sandy bank on her boundary which is a good breeding-ground for them. They come out to my place, but I poison the boundary, and I took men to dig them out; but they only got three. 769. What would be the area of this piece ?—About a quarter of an acre. I put on a couple of men, and after two days' digging they got three rabbits. That was since I received notice on the 15th instant. 770. Did you see Douglass on that occasion ? —Yes ; he said there was a letter in the post-office that would touch me up. 771. It was not Hull that said you were a stubborn fellow ?—No ; Douglass. 772. And this piece of land where the rabbits were was only about a quarter of an acre ?—That is all. 773. You dug all over the place and only found three ? —Yes ; so I told the men to knock off, after they had been working for two days. 774. And being used in this way you consider you have been exceptionally treated?— Yes. 775. Mr. Dodson.] You say your solicitor drew up this petition ?—Yes. 776. Did you read it ?—Yes. 777. And it is all true ?—To the best of my knowledge it is. 778. You stand to all the clauses now? —I cannot recollect them all. 779. Now, about the Resident Magistrate censuring the Inspector : is that true?— Yes; I am perfectly satisfied that is true. 780. If you were told that the Resident Magistrate denied it would you still adhere to what you say?— Yes.