3

I.—sa

Dr. Fitchett: I will put in the Chief Surveyor's report. It is as follows. [Appendix B. Plan also put in.] 11. Dr. Fitchett.] On receipt of that report, what did you do ?—The next step would be the reference to the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners. 12. I have here a telegram to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin: "Please wire valuation of Conical Hills and Pomahaka Estates to-day.—A. Barron." It is dated 30th August, 1893, and marked "urgent"? [Appendix C] —I was just starting for Cheviot. I was to have left on the 30th, but the s.s. " Hinemoa" was going next day, so I went by her. There were about a dozen cases going before the Otago and Canterbury Boards, and I required the information to arrange my movements. On same day I got reply, and minuted same for Mr. Barron. [Appendix D.] 13. On the same day you received a telegram from Mr. Adams : " In my letter posted yesterday by ' Tarawera' I omitted to state that there is a plentiful supply of lignite on the Pomahaka Estate, the locality being known as the Burning Plains, and situated in Block XIV., Pomahaka District. Am informed that this seam of lignite has been on fire for the last thirty years, but I had not time to visit the locality." 14. You got it at Cheviot—it was wired on there ?—Yes. 15. You went down and held a meeting of the Board?—Yes, on the 9th September; but I stayed on the way at Christchurch, and arranged several departmental matters there. On the 11th, 12th, and 13th September the Board sat in Dunedin to consider the three cases before them— Conical Hills Estate, Pomahaka Estate, and Teanaraki Estate. The members present were—the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the District Land Eegistrar, and myself. The other member of the Board—the Commissioner of Taxes—was here in Wellington, and could not attend, because he bad a Bill coming on before Parliament. I had been in communication with him in Christchurch, which led to my delay and stay there. 16. What occurred when Mr. Adams sent in his report?—lt would be considered by the department, and the Minister would be recommended to advise the Governor to direct the Board to report, and the. Governor would direct accordingly. Dr. Fitchett: These are the documents. [Documents read : Appendices E and F.] 17. Dr. Fitchett.] Was this done in your absence?—Yes. -18. This being done, it would be necessary to appoint some one to value the land on behalf of the Board ?—Yes. 19. Who was selected ?—Mr. Dallas. This is how the appointment took place: When at Cheviot I heard that Mr. Adams's report on Pomahaka was in, and that it was satisfactory. I therefore communicated with the Commissioner of Taxes, asking him if he could suggest a good man to value Pomahaka. He recommended Mr. Dallas. Dr. Fitchett: I will put in the telegram. [Telegram put in : Appendix G.] Mr. Smith (continuing) : On receipt of that telegram I instructed, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, if he and the District Land Eegistrar approved, to instruct Mr. Dallas accordingly. [Telegram put in : Appendix H.] 20. Dr. Fitchett.] You had no personal communication with Mr. Dallas on the subject ? —No. 21. Mr. Dallas, however, was present at the Board meeting?—Yes. Mr. Turton, Mr. Maitland, and myself were also present at that meeting. We took the evidence of Mr. Dallas and that of Mr. Adams. Mr. Thomas Mackenzie : Is Mr. Dallas's evidence here ? Dr. Fitchett: We have his last report, and he is here. I will put that report in. [Eeport read and handed in, also plan : Appendix I.] Mr. Thomas Mackenzie : Does it state the carrying-capacity of the ground ? Dr. Fitchett: He gives the yield per acre, but does not say anything as to the carryingcapacity of the land. 22. Dr. Fitchett.] What further evidence, if any, did you take at the meeting of the Board in addition to this ?—We took the evidence of the Chief Surveyor, who is a man who knows a great deal about the value of land, especially in Otago. We had also the values by the Crown Lands Banger who is mentioned in Mr. Adams's report. Further, the Chief Surveyor and the Crown Lands Banger Hughan agreed as to the price at which it was valued. In addition to all this, one member of the Board—Mr. Turton —had a report of the amounts at which the adjacent lands were sold. Dr. Fitchett: I hand in this report as to the amounts which were paid for adjacent lands, but the Committee will please treat the names as confidential. [Eeport handed in : Appendix J.] 23. Dr. Fitchett.] You not only had the written report of the Banger, Chief Surveyor, Valuer, and others, but you had a list of the amounts that had been paid for the various properties round about ?—Yes. 24. Do you consider that your evidence was exhaustive ? —I do. Moreover, we had the taxvalue, and I have had very considerable experience of land-tax values. We consider this was 10 per cent, to 25 per cent, below the value of the land. I wish to emphasize what lam saying now, because it is one of the things which had an important bearing on the favourable report of the Board. 25. As the result of that meeting you held at Dunedin the Board made a report?—Yes, to the Governor, recommending the purchase at £2 10s. per acre, in terms of Board minute. [Appendix U.] 26. Up to this time had you been brought into communication with the Minister on the matter ? —Absolutely none whatever. 27. You finished your business in Dunedin, and in due time got back to Wellington?—Yes, I came back from Dunedin, leaving on the 14th. I held a meeting of the Board in Christchurch, which took me the best part of the week. I got back to Wellington on 22nd September. 28. What was your next step in the matter? —My next transaction in the matter was some-