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405. There seems to be some above the lead at Seventeen-mile Bluff? —Yes; there is a little beach going along it. 406. Mr. Cooper.'] Were you with the party when they went by the inland track ?—I went by the inland track round to the Seventeen-mile Bluff. 407. Did you yourself follow the course of Baker's Creek?—No, I did not go up. 408. You say it was the joint determination of the party, in which you concurred, although you made no personal examination ? —Yes. 409. Between Baker's Creek and Fagin's Creek, did you see any indications of old workings— you, personally ?—There are several men beachcombing along there. 410. Hon. E. Blake.] So that you would see what would be the exit to Fagin's Creek and Baker's Creek? —Yes. 411. Mr. Cooper.] Do you know anything about the Barrytown Mining Company there?—l was aware that they made a cutting through the flat, which had been abandoned. 412. Did you see any beachcombers at work except at the Seventeen-mile Bluff?—l saw two or three of them. 413. In order to conserve the interests of those who were beachcombing, is it necessary to reserve any land along the beach?— They were working on the sea-beach below the land—on the black sand thrown up at every tide. 414. All that is necessary is to reserve the creeks for the water?— Yes. 415. What is the nature of the country in 94 ?—That is fine flat land along from Fagin's Creek to Barrytown. 416. What examination did you make of 95 ? —I saw what is called the back leads —what is properly reserved; and I saw the lower portion to the sea. I did not see the back portion—what we considered not properly reserved. 417. You saw the whole of what is included in the reserve which is marked gold leads ?—Yes ; I saw the whole of that portion, and between that and the sea. 418. You have allowed a portion along the beach there. Is that what you consider should be reserved'?— Yes ; that would give plenty of rights to the beachcombers. 419. Hon. E. Blake.] I suppose the beachcombing workings are of a more extensive character, because they are worked entirely on the beach outside on the foreshore ?—The beachcombers work on the foreshore all along. 420. You say they do not want anything in Block 94, but they do want something in Block 95?— Yes. I think a little should be allowed them along the beach for residences and that. 421. Do they not want it for the same thing in 94?— Yes ; just in the same way. 422. Practically, you say that where you find beachcombers there should be some slight portion for residences required along the beach ?—Yes. 423. And therefore there should be a little for them in 94 ?—Yes. 424. Mr. Cooper.] You can tell us something about that lead which runs along 97 and partly into 94 ? —lt is evidently an old beach thrown up above the level of the sea, and I think there are perhaps seventy men working along there. 425. What is that portion which is hatched between that lead and the sea ?—That is a fine alluvial flat. 426. Is it, in your opinion, gold-bearing ?—lt might be gold-bearing, but not to a payable degree. 427. Do you think it is at all likely to be required for bond fide gold-mining purposes?—No; Ido not think it is required for gold-mining purposes. I do not think there is any payable gold in it. The lead runs inland. The old sea-beach is at the back of that flat. 428. Can you speak personally as to the back portion of 97? You say you did not examine that ?—No ; I did not examine it. 429. And the remarks about the lead on the sea on 95 : do they apply to Block 97 as well ?— Yes. 430. All your evidence applies to that portion as well ?—Yes. 431. In examining that lead, can you say whether there was anything which would enable you to form an opinion whether there was gold on Blocks 95 and 97 ?—At the back of the lead the hills were higher, and I do not think there was any payable alluvial wash. 432. Did you notice at all the water coming down these creeks ?—Yes. 433. W T as there any indication that there was gold there ?—There was no gravel or alluvial wash coming down behind the lead. There were no workings. 434. Can you say anything about that corner piece—Okareki Point, or Eazorback?—l cannot say anything about that. I did not go there. [Exhibit 99 put in, western side of the Grey.] 435. What do you say about Block 86 ?—I say we allowed the eastern portion of it to be rightly reserved, as the lower portion contains gold in the creeks and quartz-mines. I went up Langdon's Creek and Battery Creek, and I consider they were rightly reserved. At present there is a battery being erected there. 436. Hon. E. Blake.] Did you go over the whole, or only part of it? —I went over a good portion of it. 437. Enough to enable you to judge ?—Yes; I went over all those creeks—Langdon's Creek and Big Creek. 438. Mr. Cooper : Now, as to the hatched portion, did you go over that ? —Yes, I went over it— every portion of it. 439. Sufficiently to enable you to form a judgment ?—Yes.