P.—No. 6.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

7

64. Will the survey which Dr. Hector has so far made dovetail in with the general survey of the Colony ? —I should say so ; I think it would be of very little value if it does not. We are bound to think his services as valuable there as elsewhere. 65. Prom the way you express yourself are we to understand that, practically, except the Museum, his work is valueless ? —Unless he completes it. 66. I do not think you have made out a claim ?—lt is hard that we should have to pay one-third towards the general survey of the Colony after paying what we did. 67. Chairman.] I take it that what you mean is this: that if we are to have a geological survey of the Colony, you are not to be asked to pay your contingent of the whole without having a refund of the amount expended ? —Yes, I think it is but reasonable; or to let us have the completion of the thing as a test of whether the past work has been useful. 68. Dr. Hector was only to work for you while with you. You have no right to ask him to work after the three years ? —You will find that he was bound to give us a report at the end of his engagement, according to his agreement. 69. Mr. Stevens.] Do you consider that it would bo right that the Colony should refund to the Province of Otago the expense of the survey, and, at the same time, that the Province of Otago should have Dr. Hector's survey completed under the present financial arrangements ? —The Province claims to be refunded because Dr. Hector did not complete his survey. They are now making arrangements to finish that survey, but I would be quite content that it should be finished by Dr. Hector. Of course, it must be finished by him, or under his control, if it is to form part of the general survey. 70. Would that interfere with the arrangement made by the Provincial Council with Mr. Ulrich ? ■ —I do not think so, as it can be receded from. 71. Mr. Macffarlane?^ Did Dr. Hector leave his assistants with you? —No, I think not. I think the whole establishment ceased with his leaving. 72. And has nothing since been done to complete the survey which he began ? —No. 73. Did Dr. Hector supply any specimens of minerals during his survey ? —Yes, a very valuable collection, half of which, or rather duplicates of which, are in the Colonial Museum here. 74. Mr. llall.~\ Did Dr. Hector go down to Otago to arrange the Museum there, after he had left the service of the Province? —I think not. I think he did at the Exhibition, but not since then; Captain Eraser will be able to explain, as he is Chairman of the Geological Society there. 75. Has Dr. Hector told you that he must complete a survey of the Colony before he could give you a report of your Province, and that upon the completion of the survey he would give you a map? ■ —I am not aware. About the arrangement of the specimens of the minerals, I think it has cost about £400 to the Province to put them as they are now. 76. Do you mean the cost of arranging? —Arranging and classifying them, and the cost of cases. I know that Dr. Hector was in Otago a few days, but I would not be sure whether he gave any assistance or not. 77. That was the other day ?—I know he was not there except for a day or two ? 78. Chairman.'] Were you asked why Dr. Hector left the Province ? —I do not know; I can send down and get the particulars. 79. Do you consider the Minoralogical Museum at Otago of value, and if so, of what value? —It would be impossible for me to say. I believe it is of great value, but I cannot say of what value. Of whatever value the specimens may be, the Colony has got the benefit of them as well as the Museum hero. 80. Will you please get'the particulars of this £13,000, and how far the assent of the provincial authorities was given to Dr. Hector being removed to the service of the General Government pending the non-completion of his work' ? —I shall got those particulars. Captain Eraser in attendance, and examined. i 81. Mr. Sail.'] You were Deputy Superintendent of the Province of Otago for three years?— Yes. 82. And also connected with the Geological Museum ? —Yes. 83. Are you conversant with the circumstances under which Dr. Hector was engaged by the Province of Otago ?—No ; I have no particular cognizance of the circumstances, further than that I .am aware, from common report, that the Provincial. Government went to the expense of bringing out Dr. Hector and employing him at a cost of £13,000 to the Province. 84. We have been given to understand that you can give the Committee correct information in regard to the general character of Dr. Hector's work?— Well, so far as the Museum is concerned, he has done a great deal. We have specimens of all the geological formations of Otago. I may say that, with a few exceptions, the whole collection of our Museum is due to Dr. Hector. But what we principally wanted was a report of his work, and that I believe we have not got. 85. A report of his proceedings? —A full report upon the geology of the Province; that is, explaining the geological formation of it. 86. Do you know what Dr. Hector has done, and how long he was there?—l cannot tell, as I was absent from the Province for some time. 87. We have been told that you could give us better information as to what he has done ? —I may say that what he has done will be found more in the Proceedings of the Eoyal Geological Society in England than in Otago. 1 made inquiries of a similar nature in Victoria when Mr. Selwyn was in charge of the Geological Department there. I inquired where his report could be found, but I could find no trace of it, except in the Proceedings of the Geological Society. I except his very admirable geological maps. It appears to me that these gentlemen write more for the information of people at home than for the people of these countries. 88. Do you know whether he has furnished any report to the Provincial Government ? —I am not aware that he has furnished any report; I know that that is the complaint. I only know that the Otago people complain that no report has been furnished. In fact, it was stated the other day, in the Provincial Council, that they had entered into a contract with Dr. Hector, and that he was bound, in a penalty of £500, to supply a report which ho has not given.