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99. Where does most of this sly-grog selling go on ?—Well, I believe there are seven sly-grog places at Kawhia. 100. You said something about accommodation-houses at Te Kuiti. What accommodation do travellers get there?— The house has good accommodation. 101. I believe the house there is second to nothing of its kind in the colony? —Yes; it is a splendid house. 102. In your opinion is it a well-conducted house ?—Yes ; very well conducted. 103. It is conducted by a half-caste?— Yes. 104. And the man's wife is also a half-caste?— Yes. 105. Mr. R. McKenzie.] Do you think that these boarding-house owners or keepers put the buildings up with the intention of getting a license in the future? —No ; Ido not think so. One of these houses has been up for the last ten years, and at that time there was no possibility or prospect of getting a license. 106. Do you think the owners of these houses are supporting the present license agitation in the hope of getting a license?—No; I do not. I think it is the general wish of the community that there should be a change in favour of license. 107. Do you think that houses controlled by Government officers would be better than those conducted by private persons ?—They could not be better conducted, some of them, than they were at the present time by private persons. 108. But of course you will see that there would be no inducement to Government officers to make people drink. Considering that there are so many Natives about in these parts, would it not be better to have Government conductors of the houses ?—I would not like to offer any opinion on that. 109. The Chairman.] You are aware that liquor can be taken into the King-country at the present time without breaking the law ?—Yes ; I believe that is so. 110. A man is allowed to have two gallons in his possession at a time as the law stands at present, I think ? —Yes ; I believe that is the case, or something like that. 111. Mr, Lawry.] Are there any travelling sellers of grog in the King-country ?—Well, Ido not know about that; but I have seen Natives travelling with bottles of grog in their pockets. 112. Mr. Do you consider that, after this Committee has heard the evidence, it will be able to judge as to the advisableness of introducing liquor into the King-country?—lt is impossible to answer that question properly. If the Committee hears true evidence, it should be able to judge the question. 113. Although the majority of the Committee have never been in the King-country?— Yes; that is, provided they hear reliable evidence. 114. I suppose that hundreds of people have been in the King-country, and to-day are scattered throughout different parts of New Zealand? —Well, I do not think so. Comparatively very few know the country. 115. Do you not think it quite possible that the great majority of the six thousand or seven thousand who signed the petition in the South are, by hearsay at least, familiar with the condition of things in the King-country ?—lt is doubtful if many of those people would have signed the petition if they had seen the state of the country for themselves. Some of them might have been in dead opposition to the petition if they had been in the country. 116. You do not think that those who signed could have known anything about it ? —No. 117. Eeally you do not know anything about those who signed in favour of no licenses in the King-country ?—No. 118. Mr. Lawry.] Is there a tourist route in the King-country? —No, not now. 119. Very few people go into the King-country unless they have business there?— That is so ; a few might go there to see the caves. 120. But there are very few tourists through the country?— None. 121. So that you would say that the country is very little known to outsiders ?—Yes, very little. It is only within the last few years that any numbers of Europeans have gone into the King-country. 122. How often does the train go through ?—Twice a week. It reaches Otorohanga at 4.30 p.m. 123. Are there many passengers ?—Yes. 124. Both Europeans and Natives? —Yes. 125. In what part of the King-country is settlement extending most rapidly ? —Between Otorohanga, down the west coast, to Kawhia and Mokau. 126. Is there a direct route to the settlement?— Yes. 127. And a graded road ?—Yes. 128. Is there a lot of land coming under settlement soon ? —Yes, about 60,000 acres at the end of this year. 129. Do you know anything about Awakino ? —Yes ; from there down to the Mokau settlement is extending rapidly. 130. Mr. Rhodes.] Do you know the proportion of the population—that is, of whites to Maoris —in the King-country ?—There are about five or six thousand Natives to some thousand whites. 131. That is about six to one?— Yes. At the end of this year the population will be much larger. 132. The Chairman.] You really do not know the number of inhabitants, Natives and Europeans? —No ; the great number of Europeans working on the roads, the railway, and bushfelling makes it difficult to estimate. 133. Mr. R. McKenzie.] Do you know of any prosecution for sending liquor into the Kingcountry to be sold ?—I have not heard of any.