Mr. J. M. Craig, continued.

1466. THE CHAIRMAN: You cannot get over his original report that there were burrows found, and numerous tracks. You do not suppose there was a single rabbit?

1467. Mr D. FORREST: I do not believe there was a rabbit at all.

1468. WITNESS: Where is that?

1469. MR HARPER: Point Cloates.

1470. THE CHAIRMAN quoted from a document signed by Mr Glyde.

1471. WITNESS: I do not think I was here at the time; I may have been.

1472. THE CHAIRMAN resumed reading the document, in which the writer said he thought it quite possible the rabbit referred to may have come across the continent.

1473. WITNESS: That rabbit deserved a place in the museum, if it did. You must remember there was £500 placed on the Estimates to deal with this subject. What could have been done with it to employ men to go out on "wild-goose" chases?

1474. By the Chairman: How can you call it a "wild-goose" chase, when I think any reasonable people would have supposed that was a rabbit that was caught?▬The man was sent out, when I was at the North, Geraldton, people came in frequently and told us they saw rabbits in the sandhills along the coast. I did not believe one of them. It was done to create a little sensation, and have a crowd go out. If the Government had believed those stories, they would have emptied the Treasury.

1475. You must remember the value of your witness's qualifications in deciding whether it was a rabbit or not; and also his reliability. With regard to that report about Widgiemooltha, you see you would not believe that from Mr Downes?▬I believe that has been contracted point blank.

1476. Mr White contradicts that point blank? How can a man contradict it?

1477. He is in your department?▬There is a vast difference between a man who saw a thing, and another who says he does not believe it.

1478. It is not a very strange coincidence these rabbits should come straight to Widgiemooltha two years after they were reported to have been seen? What knowledge had Mr. Downes that there were rabbits at Widgiemooltha?▬If none had been subsequently found at Widgiemooltha, we might have had some good ground for saying we did not believe him; but when we find rabbits in large numbers, 15 or 16 during a day, it shows there was something in that man's statement, and why Mr. White should come two years and a-half afterwards and say, "I do not believe it," I cannot imagine.

1479. By Mr. Harper: He said they may have been carried there?▬Yes, but they are not there now.

1480. By the chairman: You must remember that in one case we have had direct evidence, and in the other only hearsay evidence?▬It is direct evidence.

1481. From Mr. White?▬No, no.

1482. Before us as a Commission we had in the evidence of Mr. Downes?▬You had the evidence of Mr. Downes.

1483. You brought up the question of rabbits at Widgiemooltha, and I can only tell you that your Inspector who, I suppose, is a reliable man, absolutely denies the rabbits were there at a certain time? - How could he say that. We sent out a man. I would like you to be clear on this matter. Two years and a half ago, August 1898, Mr Downes reported the discovery of a rabbit at Widgiemooltha. Men were sent, police were sent. They could not verify that they saw any evidence of it, but still, two years and a half afterwards, we find there are rabbits there, and we know how difficult it is to find a rabbit or any of these small animals in the bush, and how easy it is for a man to miss them; so the fact of rabbits being subsequently found at Widgiemooltha in numbers shows pretty conclusively Mr. Downes's discovery was a true one.

1484. Two years and a half before?-Does it not seem a strange coincidence that these rabbits should have elected to come to WIdgiemooltha instead of 150 other places.

1485. By Mr. Wittenoon: When they got to Widgiemooltha they were on the Northern side of the line. They were found a long way South of it?-They were at Norseman at the same time.

1486. So they did not come to Widgiemooltha specially selected?-They happened to strike this same spot where they were said to have been seen two years and a-half before.

1487. By Mr. Richardson: You alluded to it as rather a strange circumstance that rabbits which had been there, according to Mr. Downes's evidence, two years and a-half before, had only then increased to the numbers of twenties and thirties?-I want that to show.

1488. That they were not increasing. I should take it rather the other way, and say it went to show they were, according to Mr Downes's evidence?-How do you account for what has occurred at a place called BIll's Paddock, where the rabbits have disappeared altogether.

1489. By the Chairman: Can you suggest anything you would like to have entered up in the evidence?-No.

1490. By Mr. Wittenoom: Did you ever hear that most of the cats which were taken out there were found dead?-Yes. Definite instructions were given to turn them out only where there was water, and I believe those instructions were carried out. The policeman said he saw cats dead all over the place. Graham assured me that he had seen rabbits at Fanny's Cove, go into burrows, and he released 10 cats, but could not find a rabbit track. He found a cat track. Seventy were turned loose at Hinman's Rocks, close to BIll's Paddock. Singularly, the rabbits disappeared from Bill's Paddock. The Burrows are to be seen to-day, but no rabbits.