FRIDAY, 7TH DECEMBER, 1916. (At Nabawa.)

Present : J. O. Giles, Esq. (Chairman), B. L. Clarkson, Esq., H. H Paynter, Esq., F. E . Venn, Esq.,

SAMUEL HADLEY JUPP, Farmer, Nabawa , sworn and examined:

6918. To the CHAIRMAN : I have resided here for 49 years, and all that time I have been a land owner up till recently, when I sold out five years ago. I was mixed farming all the time. I held 1,500 acres of land and I grew wheat. oats, barley, and experimental plots, as well as fruit trees.

6919. What do you estimate the wheat average of this country would be in fair seasons and with cultivation ? - I should say 16 bushels. This year they are taking off 32 bushels, and the average rainfall would be about 14 inches.

6920. Have you ever had seasons as bad as that of 1914 ? - I cannot say that we had, but there has never been a total failure in the district.

6921. By Mr CLARKSON : How much rain falls in the growing period ? - All our rains fall in the growing period from June to the end of September. with the exception of occasional showers at other times of the year.

6922. To the CHAIRMAN : This country is watered by wells and you can get water anywhere about here, but the land is not all first class. I am referring to Chapman. I do not know of any block where water is not procurable at an average of 24 feet, and then it is quite fit for domestic use. There are no poison plants in this district, but there are on the coast, and there may be some on Mt. Erin, but there are certainly none on the farms here. The land here is principally repurchased and the average price the settlers pay under repurchase schemes varies. For instance, on the Mt. Erin estate some land went for 6s.and 6s. 6d. an acre up to £2, and the terms were 21 years. My own land was taken up long before the repurchase schemes. I think nine years is the longest period down to three years that our later settlers have been resident here.

6923. Do you think they will make a success of farming ? - A great deal depends upon the man. They have had two bad seasons already, but I think with careful farming and attention that they will be successful.

6924. By Mr VENN : What is the average size of the farms in this district ? - The best of the farms crop 200 acres to 400 acres, and the average would be about 300 acres.

6925. By the CHAIRMAN : How many times has the district been visited with rust ? - Twice to any extent; once in the second year after I came here and the next time last year, and that covers the whole of my own experience of rust.

6926. By Mr CLARKSON : How many bushels to the acre does it cost to pay the expenses of putting in and taking off a crop without making any allowance for a man's own labour ? - Certainly 16 bushels would be profitable, but to pay the actual working operations it would be absorb about nine bushels.

6927. Do you go in for fallow ? - No , only to a very small extent. It was not in vogue in past times here , but it is advisable every time. Personally, I believe in the plough. I think the cultivating machines are ruining the farms. The proper method is to plough and not to cultivate. I think the farmers here and their methods are quite correct. The early wheats are apt to go down in this district, but some of our farmers are reaping Currawa at the rate of 32 bushels to the acre.

6928. To Mr PAYNTER : I think our land laws are very liberal and also the bank's methods when they are properly used, but there is no doubt that thousands of pounds have been wasted through lack of proper supervision. Those who have had the money should have been compelled to cultivate by the best methods.

6929. By Mr VENN : Do most of the settlers carry sheep? - A few of them but they all want more sheep very badly and this is very good grazing country. The Government should assist by supplying the farmers with more stock. There is very little dairying done in this district and I would not call it a dairying district. We have no means of irrigation. Cows do well in the winter for about three months, but I am quite sure that with artificial grasses we shall be able to make butter here.

(The witness retired)

LEONARD JAMES BEIT and RONALD DUNCAN, McKELLAR OWEN , trading as Owen & Beit , Farmers , Mt. Erin Homestead, sworn and examined:

6930. To the CHAIRMAN : I have been settled here for five tears and we occupy two thousand acres. It is repurchased land. We are paying to the Crown