I.—lo.

95. You reported on that to Mr. Gow. State what it says ?—lt is not my report at all. It is a telegram I have received from Mr. Gow, and likewise a minute I sent to Mr. Eliott. H. A. Gordon, Esq., Inspecting Engineer, Wellington. The estimate equal to £4,450 is for 37 chains of main tail-race only. If two branches are to be included in this work, tho right hand one, equal to 8, and the left-hand one, equal to 7 chains, will reach present workings, and work Rothwell's and Mansfield's claims. Kumara, 24th October, 1884. J. Gow. H. J. H. Eliott, Esq. , You will observe that Mr. Gow's. estimate is only for 37 chains of main tail-race, and does not include any of the branches shown on plan. I calculated for the entire length of branches, 26 chains ; but according to this telegram 15 chains would be all that is required. This would reduce my estimate to about £7,051, and it would increase Mr. Gow's estimate to £6,203 Bs., to which ought to be added 10 per cent, for contingencies and supervision, which would make it £0,890. I made the same allowance when making up mine. 25th October, 1884. Henry A. Gordon. 96. Will you turn to the contract and Mr. Gow's letter of dimensions, and say wriether trie two correspond ?—I may say this tunnel on plan B corresponds with Mr. Gow's letter, and the contract, as far as I can judge, with the exception of the curve at the upper end. 97. Now, turn to plan C: what is the upper line shown there?—lt is a grade of 8 inches in 12 feet. 98. Bead those telegrams from Eliott to Griffiths, and Griffiths to Eliott ?—Mr. Eliott's telegram is dated the Ist September, 1885. H. Griffiths, No. 2 Channel, Kumara. At request of Mr. Seddon, Minister of Mines desires me to ask following questions : First, was a tunnel commenced above No. 2at nearly the same point in the gully ? Ask Watson and party by whom it was commenced, and at what height approximately above the present No. 2. Second, ascertain from Watson and party what grade they intend giving tail-race No. 37073 when applied for. Third, ask them to show you on the claim where the notice was posted for that race, and describe the nearest boundary after you have seen the place, if at boundary or at centre of claim. State position from boundary. Reply to-day if possible. Ist September, 1885. H. J. H. Eliott. Under-Secretary for Goldfields, Wellington. In reply to Minister of Mines' questions of this date : Question first, Yes. Question second, 37073 was commenced by Watson and party 11 or 9 feet higher than No. 2 Channel; tho intended grade was 8 inches in 12 feet. Question third, the notice was posted in the middle of tho claim, about 2 chains from southern and nearest boundary, on tho line of No. 2 Channel. H. Griffiths, Ist September, 1885. Manager, No. 2 Channel. 99. Would this line marked 8 inches to 12 feet, and shown in plan C, correspond with No. 2 ? —I cannot tell what No. 2 is. It will not correspond with what is shown on the plan as No. 2 Sludge-channel. 100. Have you shown in C what would correspond with the answer from Mr. Griffiths ?—Yes ; these two lines would correspond with the answer from Mr. Griffiths, commencing at 10 feet above the starting point. 101. You have had some experience as goldminer and mining manager? —Yes. 102. For many years?—About thirty years. 103. In applying for registration, would it require two rigrits for those two lines shown upon plan C ?—You might want two if there were two separate channels. 104. If they were botri constructed?—Then, you would want two rights; but the two could scarcely be constructed, as one would interfere with the other. You could not well have two sludge-channels on the same line. 105. Will you look at the proposed rules and regulations for the Kumara Sludge-channel No. 1 ?— Proposed Rules and Conditions for Kumara Sludge-channel. 1. All former regulations and conditions are hereby repealed, but this repeal shall not affect any rights acquired tinder the regulations and conditions so repealed. 2. In tho interpretation of these regulations the following words shall have the meanings herein assigned to them :— " Sludge-channel" shall mean the main tail-race commonly known as the Kumara Sludge-channel, and held under certificate of registration No. , and every part thereof : "Tail-race" shall mean a registered tail-race opening into the sludge-channel, for the purpose of discharging tailings and debris into tho same : " Certificate " shall mean the certificate of register for a tail-race : " Permit" shall mean a form of license to use the sludge-channel granted to any person under former regulations. 3. No person except the holder of a permit shall use the sludge-channel unless subject to these regulations. 4. All owners of tail-races whose permits have expired, or shall hereafter expire, must, before they again obtain the right to use the sludge-channel, obtain a renewal of their certificates. Such renewal shall be for not more than one year at a time, and the renewed certificate shall be indorsed subject to these regulations: Provided that no renewal shall prevent tho Government from at any time closing the sludge-channel if it shall be deemed necessary to do so, or entitle any person to compensation on that account. 5. No application for or registration of any new tail-race, and no renewal of any tail-race, shall give any right to use the sludge-channel unless the written consent of the manager shall be filed in the Warden's Office. 6. No person using the sludge-channel shall bo entitled to discharge any water therein other than natural drainage, except water supplied from the Government water-race, known as the Kumara Water-race. 7. For a length of 60 feet at either the upper or the lower end of every tail-race the fall shall not be greater than 4 feet in the chain, or 8 inches in every 11 feet; and the manager may at any time require the grade to be adjusted accordingly at whichever end he may think necessary. 8. Any share or interest in a tail-race may be transferred ; but no transfer shall be recognized unless registered in the Warden's Office, and no transfer shall be registered without tho written consent of the manager : Provided that such consent shall only be withheld so long as either the transferor or transferee shall be indebted to tho Government either for water or the use of tho sludge-channel. 9. The manager shall have power to arrange the order of working amongst tho parties using the sludge-channel and to assign to each such hours for sluicing as he may deem to be necessary for the avoidance of blocking in the sludge-channel, and for the safe working of tho sludge-channel, water-races, and flumes. A day's use of the sludge-

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