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EL—4.

440. The 4,700 acres in the upper portion ought not to be reserved : have you any reason for that opinion ?—Above Langdon's quartz reef the country changes from the slatey formation to the conglomerate, and then the coal measures come in. In the coal measures I could see no alluvial wash, and I never saw any payable quartz reefs in these coal measures, so I concluded that it was not required for gold-mining. I have allowed a large extent above the quartz reefs for timber or anything in that way which would be required for mining purposes. 441. But do you think the portion you have marked off there is sufficient for present and future gold-mining in that district ?—Yes, I consider that in all where it is likely there will be discovered payable gold, I have marked off and allowed the Government a sufficient reserve. 442. Is this timber land the balance ?—lt is timbered land ; near the top it gets out into open country. It is very high hills and timbered country, part of it. 443. There is a little portion of it there, 400 acres to the north-east, at Backwater : do you think that should not have been included in the reserve ?—lt is a piece of flat terrace, and there are no gold-workings on it, and none have ever been, and I do not think there is any gold in it. 444. Hon. E. Blake.] You seem to think it may be useful for something else. Does it appear it was worked on the other side of these gold prospects ?—There is very little gold-working there. There are a few men fossicking in the creeks. In fact, the whole lot of it should have been cut out to Blackwater Creek. There are no gold-workings. 445. But you have taken away Blackwater itself?— Because there are no gold-workings. 446. But, according to your instructions, you were to see as to the prospects of gold?— Well, I did not think there was any gold. 447. Mr. Cooper. .] Give your reasons for that ?—Because there are coal measures there, and I do not think there is any alluvial wash in it. 448. Now, there are 300 acres in Block 87 to which the same reason would apply ?—Yes. 449. Can you tell us whether there is any reason why that block—call it 700 acres—should not be included in that portion you say ought to be reserved ?—You admit reservations on the one side. 450. Hon. E. Blake.] I want to explain to you. It seems a little curious from the way you put it, as if you think this 700 acres you admit to be reserved was very fine land for other purposes—it would be better so than if it was kept for gold-mining. That is what it seems to me ?—■ Except at Blackwater Creek, which has been prospected, and there is no payable gold. It is fine country, which has been prospected and shafts put down and tried in different ways, and no payable gold has been discovered. 451. Mr. Cooper.] It has been abandoned ? —Yes. 452. Can you speak to the altitude of these 700 acres? —It is, perhaps, 150 ft. high above the river. 453. This is the watershed down the one side, and the 700 acres are down the other side?—The watershed is down here, going to Ford's Creek, and the watershed to Blackwater Creek and Big Creek. 454. Hon. E. Blake.] And to the Grey?— Yes. 455. Mr. Cooper.] You. say that there is indication that it has been prospected and abandoned? —Yes ;if there had been payable gold on it, it would most likely have been worked out years ago. 456. Now, as to the other hatched portion of 87 —1,680 acres —what do you say about that ? —I went to the head of Ford's Creek and along it, to see if there was any sign of payable workings. I could see no payable wash or any sign of payable wash there. It seems to be to the west of the gold-bearing country. It is in the east a gold country and in the west a coal country. 457. From between Ford's Creek and branch Ford's Creek were there any claims in 86 and 87 beyond the one on the map that you know ?—No. 458. You consider, then, that the gold would be found along the creeks ?— Mr. Cooper: I see the Blackball Company are working the coal measures in the gold-bearing area there. 459. Hon. E. Blake.] So it is not a sign that there is no gold if coal is there ?—No ; the alluvial deposits here were carried down over the coal formation. 460. Mr. Cooper.] According to this plan this portion to the east, you .contend, should be reserved ?—Yes. 461. Have you treated that on the block system as well?— Yes. 462. Cutting off what you think would be necessary for future gold-minings?— Yes. 463. Mr. Cooper.] West of Ford's Greek is it high ?—Yes ;it is high bush country in 87. 464. Mr. Gully.] Can you speak to the height ? —lt is a good many (?) thousand feet. I could not say exactly. 465. Mr. Cooper.] A mountain-range ? —Yes. 466. What about Block 89 ? First of all, what personal examination did you yourself make of that block ? —I went up reserve past Granity Creek, then through the surveyed sections and freehold sections outside, to Block 9, 10, 11, and 12, up to B.A. Creek on to Slatey Creek, parallel to the Big River. 467. Mr. Cooper.] So that you made a pretty complete examination of that block?— Yes. 468. And what do you say ?—I say that all that portion which is hatched from the Big Eiver over towards Shellback should not have been reserved for mining purposes. 469. Why ?—There are no gold-workings on it, it has been prospected and abandoned. 470. What is the nature of the country ?—Nice, flat, level country —bush-country. 471. Then, you allow a reservation to the west, on the hatched portion : can you say why? In the west of the hatched portion, and in Shellback Gully and Caledonian Creek, there are some Chinamen and Europeans there working; they are at the head of it; and I think it should be reserved.