C.—4.

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116. Is the timber sufficiently good for the Government to reserve a large area of land for the purposes of obtaining railway-sleepers and timber for bridge-building, &c. ? —We would not put such blocks as that in the market. 117. When a person takes up an area of 200 acres for sawmilling purposes do you assess the actual value of the timber on the land ?—Yes. 118. Is it checked after it has been cut down ?—He pays a, royalty before he commences to cut—that is, a royalty on the assessed value. 119. With respect to the regrassing of the land, hitherto runholders have spelled tussock land a little and then burnt it: have they sown anything in its place ?—ln a few places, but very little. 120. What did they sow?—l have known places to be sown principally with the " seconds "or the "thirds" from the threshing-mill or seed-cleaning machines. 121. Is that one reason why the ragwort is so plainly visible along the railway-line ?—I think very little good grass has been sown. 122. That sort of thing is under control now, is it not ?—I do not know that it is. The Commissioner has no power over any person buying seed. A person may buy bad seed. 123. Surely the Land Board has some power over a man who may deliberately go to a seedthreshing mill and get " thirds" and sow it on his land? —I do not think the best seed has been sown, judging from the appearance of the land. 124. It simply means that the Crown lands will become infested with ragwort and other weeds?— Our pastoral land, as a rule, is not very bad with noxious weeds, because it is all high country, and there has been little or no sowing upon it. 125. If the land were kept-idle for, say, six months, and then burnt and sown with good seed, do you think that would be advisable: would it be the same as has been done in the case of the bush country in the North?—lt would be very risky. You might sow it, but if it were dry weather after sowing you would not have any grass. I think in the North Island you have a larger rainfall in the bush country. In the interior of this district there is no bush; it is all high barren hills, and there is no rainfall to speak of. 126. Could you suggest any way of regrassing these lands?— Surface-sowing is the only way I could suggest. 127. Would surface-sowing do on bare tussock land ?—Yes, I think so; but if that system were initiated you would certainly have to allow the tenant valuation for improvements. 128. But it can be done with surface-sowing ?—That is doubtful. 129. Do you know of any high land having been regrassed in your district ?—No. 130. Mr. Paul.] With reference to village-homestead settlements, I understand that these have not been successful —holdings of 100 acres ?—lt has not been a success here. 131. And you think it would be a success if the area were increased to 250 acres, not including worked-out sawmill-areas ?—I said that was the land that might be available now for smaller holdings. 132. With reference to Crown tenants, do you not think that relaxing the residence conditions would lead to speculation as against genuine settlement?— Not if the Land Boards do their duty. 133. That would be the difficulty?—l think the Land Boards, as a rule, can be trusted to see that the conditions are carried out properly. 134. You think there is no aggregation of estates going on?— Not here. 135. There is not an aggregation and accumulation going on at the same time ?—No, not here. It is the very reverse in this district. 136. Mr. McLennan.] With reference to the ballot, do you not think it would be advisable to prevent those who have been successful, and who have sold out their goodwill, from balloting again ?—I think that is trading in Crown land. I think that a tenant who has held a land-for-settlement section, and who has sold it, should not be allowed to compete in another ballot for a certain time. I think he ought to be excluded for two years at the very least. 137. Do you not think it would be advisable to provide that he should not be permitted to go into the ballot for, say, two or five years?-—lt occurred to me that the term might be made two years. 138. Mr. Anstey.] With regard to the constitution of Land Boards, you expressed yourself as being favourable to a wholly nominated Board, but, if any change were suggested, that certain members might be elected by the tenants ?—Yes, from Crown tenants as voters. 139. Would it not make a very one-sided Board in favour of the tenants? —I do not think so, as the Board is constituted here. There are four members and the Commissioner. 140. Would it not be sufficient if one member were elected by the tenants ?—I do not think there would be any harm in two being elected. Two would be nominated as at present, and the Commissioner would have a direct and also casting vote. I think the Commissioner could be trusted to act in a fair spirit in carrying out the law or Acts. 141. What is the quorum of the Board?— Three. 142. Two tenant members might be present at a meeting?—lt is not likely that would occur very often. 143. But it might happen that only two tenant members might be present ?—Yes. 144. It seems to me to be very desirable that the tenants should have some representation on the Board, but when you suggested half the representation it appeared to me that it would overbalance the Board altogether?— Perhaps lam wrong in that idea. You have mentioned a case in which the Crown tenants would outvote the other member of the Board. 145. With regard to residential conditions in the case of inaccessible sections, you suggested that the Land Board should have a discretionary power: would it not be better to allow a discretionary power until a passable road was made to the farm before the residential conditions are enforced, or until reasonable access was given to the farm by road, sea, or railway ?—As the Act