41

I.—7a,

97. You are acquainted with the district from Jackson's Bay to Hokitika and from Hokitika to Westport ? —Yes. 98. Mr. Wilson's examination has simply confined you to the Grey Valley. I wish to ask you about each block. We will start from Hokitika first. Near Block 12 there is a reserve marked in green in this plan. Are you aware of that block ?—Yes. 99. Is the land in that block in your opinion required for bond fide mining purposes and the several purposes connected therewith, &c. ? —That block at Eangitoto is all in a hill-country, and could not be used for settlement. 100. Before this reserve was made did the Government take every precaution to obtain every reliable evidence ? —They did. 101. Can you personally speak of that country?— Yes. 102. Suppose your opinion had been asked as an expert whether it was advisable to sell that land, what would you have said ?—I would have advised the Government not to sell it. 103. Why not ? —Because the sale would interfere with the interests of mining. 104. Now we come to Block 14—Donoghue's and Boss's. There is a reserve made there. Do you know that country ?—Yes, well. 105. Is there any of that land that would have been advisable to sell ?•—Not a bit of it. 106. Is that land in your opinion required for mining or any of the purposes incidental thereto ? —Yes, it is required. 107. Is the land auriferous and payable ?—Yes, great portions of it have been wrought as payable and auriferous, and rich gold obtained. 108. Mr. Wilson.] Worked out ?—No, they have not got to the bottom of it. They may get ,gold in any layer beyond what they have got. 109. Hon. Mr. Seddon.] Does the same answer apply to this block as regards inquiries made by the Government ? —Yes. 110. Block 4 (Eemu) : would you advise the sale ?—No, certainly not. I think the block taken there is too little. 111.-Is it required for bond fide mining purposes, &c. ?—Yes. 112. Eeferring to Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 5, and 6, are these blocks which have been reserved required for bond fide mining purposes, &c?— Yes, they are all required; every acre of it. It is .all wanted for mining and conducive to mining. 113. There has been a question raised about some land near Kumara: is that required for mining?—lt is certainly wanted for mining purposes. If that block was taken away you would take away, not only auriferous land, but deprive the miners of the opportunity of getting timber for mining purposes. 114. Is the timber there conducive for mining ? —Yes. 115. Could they work at Kumara without boxes, &c. ?—No. 116. Now, there was some application received from the company to purchase land applied for by a person named Morris ?—Yes, it was objected to by all miners there. 117. That stretch of country between Callaghan's and Kumara : are there some shafts on this ground which prove it to be auriferous ? —Yes. 118. Did the Government subsidise prospecting on that land ?—Yes. 119. Take from Kumara to Fox's : has this land gone right between the two auriferous drifts'? —Yes. 120. A few years ago the land between Kumara and Callaghan's was considered valueless : has that not since been proved to contain payable gold ?—Yes. 121. In your opinion, do you think it a reasonable contention to refuse the sale of this land to the company on the ground of its being auriferous ?—Yes. 122. Now we will cross the river. I will call your attention to Block 11, at Jackson's: are there any quartz reefs there ?—Yes; and a large sum of money was spent there by some Christchurch people. 123. There are a good number of mining claims taken up? —Yes. 124. I come now to the Grey Eiver, and I will take Block 7 : is the whole of that land required for mining purposes, &c. ?—Yes. 125. Now look at this map: there has been a block left there for settlement—Block 9? — There is some freehold land there, and the miners are working right up into it. 126. Block 8 : has that land been taken in such a way as to take the land for mining purposes ? —Yes. 127. In reference to this particular block, on representations made by the company, there was a portion excluded, was there not ? —Yes; that is so. 128. In reference to the blocks from Greymouth to the Waitaha Eiver, have the company had notice, and how long—first, before the blocks were made, and secondly, as soon as the blocks were made ?—The company got notice of the intentions in the first instance. 129.' Was there the slightest protest from them ?—I do not remember it. 130. Mr. Wilson.] Tell us, would it apply in this case, and is there a mining centre, and are these reserves made round mining centres ?—Yes, they are. 131. Hon. Mr. Seddon.] We will now refer to the Grey Eiver, Blocks 51 to 81. Is the whole of that land required for mining ? —lf you were to give away this land you would shut up mining altogether in this locality. 132. If for years past application was made by private individuals, would it have been granted or refused? —I should advise to refuse; and, in fact, I have done so in several cases years ago, before the company was ever thought of. 133. Would that account for the land not having been selected ?—Yes. 134. Why would they not be allowed to purchase it ?—lt would have stopped mining, and 6—l. 7a.