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663. Better than in the neighbourhood around Eeefton?—lt is timber that could be the easiest cut, because it is flatter country. 664. Mr. Bell.] Do you know anything of the area that shows coal ?—I could not form any idea of the area showing coal here. There is a large area showing coal about Brunnerton and Westport. There is a belt of country that goes seven or eight miles back from the seacoast. 665. Does coal show from Brunnerton all the way to Westport ?—Pretty well all the way. 666. Is it a good kind of coal?— Yes. You will get it all the way to the Mokihinui Eiver. 667. In regard to this Eeefton coal, is the outcrop extensive?—l do not think the area is so particularly large, but there seems to be a belt of it here and there. 668. Mr. Wilson.] Have you any information about the coal said to be in the Cannibal Gorge ? —No. 669. You would be likely, we thought, to have information about that ?—Officially, it could not be brought under my notice. 670. Mr. Bell.] That coal will be of similar quality to this Eeefton coal ?—I should say so. I should expect it to be so. There is an outcrop of coal near Castle Hill. It appears to be of the same quality as Springfield coal. Mr. Chaeles Macquaeib, Engineer, examined. 671. The Chairman.] We are anxious to ascertain the value of this Eeefton coal. Have you used it at all?— Yes. I have used it for nine years for steam purposes. 672. Whereabouts?—On Murray Creek. 673. Were you accustomed to engineering before you came here?— Yes; in Otago and in the Old Country. 674. What kind of coal is it that you use here?—lt is a black coal we get from the Golden Treasure claim. 675. Have you ever used the Westport coal?— No. 676. Which coal have you used?— The Grey coal. 677. Which do you consider best ?—The Grey coal; there is more body in it. 678. How much is it better than Eeefton coal?—I should say about 23 cwt. to the ton, no more. 679. Do you know whether most coals about here are of the same quality ?—They vary. 680. Are the coals about here principally brown, or are they true coal ? —Principally true coal. 681. Mr. Bell.] Do you know the quality of the Springfield coal?—I have seen it going across the country. I don't consider that good coal. 682. Is it as good as Eeefton?—No; it does not resemble it. I have used the Kaitangata coal. We got it in the Molyneux in 1859, but it was very inferior. We called in there to get the coal, and filled the bunkers full. 683. How does this Eeefton coal compare with Newcastle ?—lt is cleaner than Newcastle coal. 684. I mean in strength ?—There is more body in the Newcastle coal. I consider the Grey coal far superior to the Newcastle coal. You can run a fire with Grey coal for about four hours, and with Newcastle coal you would have to clean every hour perhaps. 685. Is this coal fit to burn in a locomotive ?—Yes ; there are no sparks in this coal. 686. Does this coal, when stacked in the open air, fall to pieces like the East Coast coal?— All coal will perish if exposed. The coal round here will keep the whole winter. I have coal I got last winter which is now as hard as when I got it. This coal is not so good for smithy purposes as Brunnerton coal. The Wallsend coal I consider the best smithy coal in the southern hemisphere. 687. The Chairman.] You consider the Brunnerton coal the more valuable of the two ?—Yes. 688. Mr Bell.] Is the coal about Eeefton a good househol dcoal ?—lt is far superior to Brunnerton. 689. Would you call it an economical coal ?—Yes. What I have seen of Grey coal does not give such a fire as this. You get a clearer, brighter fire from this coal. Mr. Joseph Wyldb, Mechanical Engineer, examined. 690. The Chairman.] We are anxious to get information as to the quality of this Eeefton coal. Is it a true coal or a brown coal ?—lt is a true coal, I believe —an excellent steaming coal. I have experience of the Energetic seam and the Golden Fleece seam. Both are true coals, and very good steaming coals—about the best I have had any experience of; very clean. 691. What other coals have you used ?—Newcastle, West Wanganui, and the Brunner. 692. And you consider Eeefton better than Newcastle ?—Yes, for steaming. 693. In what respect ?—lt is lighter, and does not require so much stoking. Brunnerton coal is very good. It is better for steaming purposes than Newcastle. I don't think there is much choice between Eeefton coal and Brunnerton coal for steaming. 694. Which of them do you consider most powerful ?—I think Eeefton coal would go rather farther for steaming. For blacksmiths' work Brunnerton is superior to any I know. 695. For household purposes I suppose Eeefton is the best ?—Yes ; it burns away to an ash. 696. Do you know which is most economical ?—I could not say. Eeefton coal makes a brighter fire. Mr. Hugh Geaham, examined. 697. The Chairman.] Are you an engineer?— Yes; lam a mine-owner here. We had a gold mine, and of course a coal mine attached to it, at Eainy Creek, about eight miles from here. 698. You use'the coal from your own mine ?—Yes; only for our own steaming purposes. 699. Do you know anything of the coal generally about the district ?—Yes; I have seen all of it about here. Our coal is very similar to Lankey Creek coal; if anything, ours is superior, I think, Ours is enclosed in a better formation—a rocky roof and floor as well.