COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

11

F.—No. 0

150. I conclude that, from the absence of scientific works of reference and other circumstances, if you had attempted such a wort you felt you would not be doing justice to your subject ? —Yes ; and to the Province. 151. Then there has been simply a postponement of a tiling that will inevitably be done ?— Certainly. If it is within the duty of the Committee I should wish to explain the plan of operations. A general sketch map [produced] will be published shortly, and with that will be a complete description of the general features of the geology of the whole Island. At the same time, lam completing a set of maps in sheets, giving full details of the geology of the country, and the result of investigations since 1864. In that way the detailed geology of the whole country will be published. These will include Hochstetter's map, and all other sources of information. It is evident that, at the time, the Province of Otago was not able to publish that map that I supplied to them, or they would have done so long ago. A geological survey, like all other surveys, culminates in a map, and not in a report. 152. Then you were not in a position to do the whole work at the time ? —I have stated so. 153. Mr. Hall.] That map of Otago was handed over to the Province, accompanied by sections on a very large scale, showing the relative position of each rock formation in the Province?—Tes; it was so executed as to bo easily understood by the most ordinary comprehension; but I did not see the section or the particular specimens when I was in Otago last. 154. Have you ever been applied to for any particular report ?—After the termination of my agreement, I promised a full report in a popular form, and sent in a sketch of its contents. A great deal of this report has been published in other forms, but the report itself has not been published for the reasons given in the attached memo. I was asked for that report in October, 1865. 155. Mr. Maeffltrlane.] Has there been any complaint of your not having fulfilled your agreement ? —No. 156. Mr. Peacock.'] Did you give notice when leaving ? —I am not sure. I may not have given notice, but I am sure the Provincial Government were quite aware of my intention, as there was correspondence on the subject of the disposal of the collections. 157. You were fully engaged the whole term of your agreement ? —I did all I could in the time to render information available for the purposes required. 158. Mr. Stevens.] And the work was practically complete ? —No ; the time was not at all enough to complete it. When the matter was submitted to Sir Roderick Murchison, I remember he said that after five years I would then bo able to commence a complete geological survey of the country. My own opinion is, and that of many other scientific men, that I did not only what was expected of me, but a great deal more. 159. Mr. Macffarlane.] Did you sign the agreement in Edinburgh ? —Yes. 160. Mr. Sail.] Have you sent specimens and furnished information on the subject of your survey to persons in the mother country ? A complaint of something to that effect has been made to the Committee ? —Well, I may say that in London the scientific bodies levy what 1 may call a black mail upon us, expecting us to send not only specimens but our ideas and views on the subject of our researches ; but I have carefully refrained from doing so when not in the interest of the Colony. So much so, indeed, that I fear that I have got into their black books. I have sent some letters and papers, but as to sending them my results Systematically, I have, as I said, refrained from doing so. I have sent home papers, but they were in reference to topics of general interest. I, of course, sent home information to the Geological Society, in which I described the system of classification adopted in the map. 161. Mr. Macffarlane.] With regard to the instruments, what became of them afterwards ? —They were my own. I took them with me. They have been used for the General Government service since. 162. This agreement prevents you going into the service of any other Government. Were the provincial authorities aware of your engagement with the General Government ? —it was certainly with their knowledge. 1 did not think that it was necessary to get their formal sanction. 168. Chairman. | You have told us that, long before the termination of your engagement with the Province of Otago, you were arranging terms to enter the service of the General Government ? —Six months before the Exhibition I was sent round to the several Provinces, and when I was in Auckland some correspondence took place upon the subject of obtaining my services for the whole Colony. It was with the Colonial Secretary of the time, Mr. Fox. 164. Was there any dissent on the part of the provincial authorities ? Were they aware of it ? — At that time I was in constant communication with the Superintendent, Mr. Harris, and the various members of the Executive. They knew all 1 was doing. In fact, Ido not remember very much about this. If it comes to the letter of the agreement, it only precludes me from entering the service of any other Provincial Government. In fact, that refers to the agreement that if I were engaged by any other Province the Otago Government were relieved from paying my return passage to England. 165. Mr. Hall.] Which they were obliged to do otherwise ? —Yes. 166. What would be the value of the work you have done in Otago to a general Geological Survey of New Zealand, supposing it to be incorporated as part thereof? —If Otago hands over all the plans and sections which are yet unpublished, and retains the collections of specimens in the Museum, and if proper allowance is made for the expenditure really for purposes not strictly connected with other local purposes —surveys, and things of that kind not strictly geological —I think about £5,000. 167. Chairman.] Supposing these to be included as part of the results belonging to the Colony ? — There are some results that could not be given over. For instance, the impetus given to the development of certain gold fields, —the impetus given towards colonization in certain parts of the Province, — these, and other results of a similar nature, could not be handed over, nor estimated in money. 168. Mr. Peacock.] Supposing the work to be purely geological, what would be the value? —I cannot at present say. 1 shall furnish it in writing. 169. Mr. Hall.] Will you also include your opinion of the value of the collection which Otago retains? —If nothing were known of the geology of Otago, the formation of a collection of the same extent, and embodying the same amount of information in a practical way, could not be effected for less