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167. It has not diminished our sale of heart kauri, and in many places it has taken the place of heart kauri, so to that extent it has not decreased the earning-power of the worker —it has rather increased it? —If that Oregon had not been used New Zealand timber would have been used, and have employed more labour. 168. In many cases we had to import Oregon from Australia before. 1 can show you where there is 27,000 ft. in one building?— That is a solitary instance —one out of a thousand buildings. 169. With reference to lengths over 30 ft., if one firm here alone have in less than'six months sold three-quarters of a million feet of Oregon timber in long lengths, would you think that a small proportion ?—But were they to be used in that form? . 170. Yes, in those sizes? —Then 1 should be very much surprised indeed. 171. With regard to quickness of growth, have you noticed the phenomenally quick growth of puriri—which is probably one of the strongest timbers in the world—where it has been planted for ornamental purposes? —No doubt it would grow much quicker then than in the natural stato, because the trees would probably be fed by manure, and not have other trees competing with them. 172. I want to compare the growth of puriri with rimu. In my place twelve years ago I planted both rimu and puriri, and this morning 1 measured the surviving rimu-tree—a healthy tree —and two puriris 2 ft. from the ground, and I found that the puriris had grown six times as fast as the rimu. Is not that a proof that a timber is not necessarily poor because it grows quickly? —I should not take that as a proof, because you might go into another district and find that the rimu had grown quicker than the puriri. It all depends on whether the location suits the tree or not. 173. You made some reference to Oregon growing in swamps. Do you know for a fact that the Oregon grows in swamps?—l think I said it might have come from low-lying or swampy ground. 174. I have here a map of British Columbia, and I will challenge you to point out a place on that map where Oregon grows in swamps?— Oregon comes from other places than British Columbia. 175. But it does not grow in swamps: it grows on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains and the plains at the foot?—I simply say there is that risk that consumers have to take— that that timber might come from low, swampy country. 176. Then you inferred that the lowest grades of Oregon were sent here. We have had evidence to show that the lowest grades are not sent here? —I excepted the lowest grades. 177. It is first-class Oregon, we are told: it may have knots, but it has no sap in it?—l understand that very little of the better classes comes to New Zealand, and that there are three higher grades than that imported. 178. There is clear, select, and merchantable. The quality is the same, only there is a small proportion with knots? —I understand that to get 5 per cent, of an} r thiiig better than merchantable you have to take 95 per cent, of merchantable. If we sold our timbers by that rule we should bo told we were imposing on the consumer. 17:). With regard to the principals in the church in Dunedin of which we have heard, the inference was that the trees had been tapped for turpentine. Do you know that none of the Oregon has been so tapped?— Then I think that makes the case very much worse for Oregon. 180. But the architect traced this timber to the port in America from which it came, and found that it had been tapped for turpentine. That is proof that it was not Oregon, is it not?— I do not know that. 181. Oregon pine is never tapped for turpentine?—l have heard from people who have been in Canada that the trees arc tapped. 182. With reference to the logs that you are afraid of from Asia: are you aware that it costs Bs. to land them in Australia?—l have heard it stated so. 18.' S. Did you know that the timber is of very inferior quality?—l did hear that. 184. The price of it in the log is 95., so have we any need to fear that timber —an inferior article costing Bs. to land, plus any duty you like to put on it? —My remarks referred to any timber, including Oregon. 1 think it right that the colony should be protected against the importation of foreign timber produced by Asiatic labour. 185. You say that the importation of Oregon has not decreased the cost of building?—lt has not, to my knowledge. LB6. If it has not decreased the cost of a cottage, is it not because it has not come into competition with ordinary buildiug-rimu in cottages?—A dealer to whom we sell our timber says that owing to Oregon being used the demand for framing has decreased with him. 187. Do you not think that Oregon has been used where they would have used a higher-grade kauri, for instance, and not in place of ordinary building-rimu to any extent? —The man who handles our timber in Auckland does not sell kauri, practically. 188. You say that Oregon is easier to work?—l understand that it is easier to work in that it is lighter. 189. In that way it would decrease the cost of building, would it not?— Yes, to a very slight extent. 190. If it went into a building for joists in place of first-class kauri at least 2s. 6d. a hundred cheaper, it would decrease the cost of the building?— Yes. 1!)1. W T ith_ regard to Mr. Stallworthy's questions, if a dealer ordered a million feet, would not that be a big order? —No dealer has ever ordered that amount from us in one Order. 192. If a dealer from Auckland went up to the King-country and took the whole of the stocks of the State sawmill, would that not be a decent order?—l do not think any dealer has ever taken the whole of the output, nor do I think the Government would sell it. 193. If he took the whole of the 0.8. in stock, would that be a big order if it amounted to 250,000 ft. ?—That would be a very big order.