75

D.—4

268. You say that an extension of the water-supply from the present Kumara workings towards the sea would not open up any auriferous ground on the hatched portion of the reservation ?—No ; it would not affecb the hatched portions of the reservations at all. 269. I understand that in your opinion, at all events it would be sufficient to reserve the creekbeds, and a reasonable margin on each side?— Yes; a few chains. 270. Does that apply to the whole of the reservations—the Grey Valley reservations ?—Yes; the Grey Valley and the other reservations generally. lam speaking as to alluvial mining. 271. You say it would be sufficient if the Government had reserved only such portions of creeks and their bank's as can be shown to be now payably auriferous?— You must take this into consideration, that wherever gold is known to exist, allowance has been made by us, and the ground is not hatched. Outside that, we admit that it should not be reserved, and that the creek-beds should be solely reserved. We have admitted that many thousands of acres in the Grey Valley have been rightly reserved. 272. Do you say you would propose the reservation of creek-beds within the hatched areas? — In cases where necessary. 273. What do you say is necessary ?—ln Jackson's, for instance, a reservation should be made there. 274. Do you say in all cases?—ln country likely to carry gold. Some of the creeks are rapid mountain torrents, and you can see the bed-rock all the way. 275. With regard to the hatched areas, you say you would only suggest a reservation of such creeks and creek-beds as are payably auriferous ?—As are likely to be auriferous. A creek may come from a coal-measure. It is not necessary to reserve that, because we know it does not carry gold. 276. You are not a geologist ? —I am, so far as relates to mining matters. 277. You are a mining geologist, then?— Yes. 278. Have you any diploma ?—No, except that I have attended the University classes, and my own experience of mining matters. .279. You say there are no leads of gold on the West Coast in any of those reservations which are not along the beds of creeks —no traverse leads or creeks not coinciding with other creeks?—l know of none that cannot be directly traced to existing creeks with the exception of Napoleon Hill. 280. That is the one exception ? —Yes. 281. The lead you speak of is running through ?—Yes ; I dare say it is connected with the present creek formation, and that country I had admitted to be rightly reserved. But, generally speaking, all the known leads of the Coast are connected with the present water-courses. 282. This strikes one in rather a peculiar way, that reservations are to be made merely along the beds of creeks. .For instance, how would you provide for water-races ? —The water-races, in nine cases out of ten, would follow the sidling of the creek. 283. What is the longest of the water-races you know of on the West Coast ?—I think the Nelson Creek race. 284. How many miles is that in length?— About seventeen miles. 285. Does that follow the course of the creek? —For a considerable distance it follows the course of the creek. It comes down on the right-hand branch from Lake Hochstetter here [map referred to]. It practically follows the course of the creek. 286. Are there not numbers of races on the West Coast which go, so to speak, across country ? —They may take the water from one creek to another. 287. Is it not as common as possible to do so? —Yes. 288. How are you going to provide for races unless you reserve the land in blocks ?—I think that the contract under which the company would get the land would be open to the consideration of mining rights. 289. I ask you, as a practical man, how can it be done ? Hon. E. Blake : His idea is that it is not necessary to make any reservation, because under the contract these rights would be protected. 290. Mr. Gully/] Supposing the land passes into the hands of a private person, how are you to provide for the tailings ? —lf you can point out any place where the water could be taken to command these hatched portions—if you could do that, because all the water obtainable is already brought in, except in one or two places, where the reservations have been made by us 291. lam speaking of the possibility of future races to be constructed: Is it not evident that you cannot tell where any future races might be wanted ?—Can you tell me where the future rivers are to come from ? All the present rivers are occupied. 292. Hon. E. Blake.] All these diggings in respect of which they are occupied may be exhausted?— But all these hatched portions are at a high elevation. 293. Mr. Gully.] Do you say you do not know a single locality on the West Coast where— probably in the future —a water-race would not be required ?—I would not say that. I know of one place. In the thousands of acres we have admitted to be properly reserved I sincerely hope there will be extensive mining operations. 293. Do you say you do not see any necessity for reserving any blocks with a view to providing for future water-races ? —No. 294. Hon. E. Blake.] I understand you to say in your statement that the hatched portions are at a higher elevation, and it would require an enormous expense of an unremunerative character to pump the water up? —Yes. 295. Of course you have always to go to a higher place to get your fall?— You will see all the watercourses shown here on the plan, and most of the hatched land is above the level of these watercourses, in some of which you could only get a dribble. 296. Mr Gully.] You say you see no necessity for making any provision for that contingency