83

£>.—4

482. What about the north part of it ?—I have not visited that either. 483. Hon. E. Blake.] You cannot speak of either the north or easterly part?— No. 484. Mr. Jones.] In reducing the area of the Government reserves mentioned, have you taken into consideration land which would be required for the future development of mining and purposes incidental and conducive thereto ?—Yes. 485. In every case?— Yes. 486. Do you think there would have been any difficulty in the Government making the reserves smaller in size and shape, as you have shown to the Court ?—I do not think there would have been any difficulty. 487. Hon. E. Blake.] You think the Government could do all you could do?— Yes. [Exhibit 92 referred to.] 488. Mr. Jones.] Now, we will take Blocks 70, 69, and 71. Commence on the southern portion and work up ?—On the plan placed before me here, I may say, I entirely approve of the alterations, that the land as put there to be reserved for mining is correct. There is no mining on the southwest portion that is hatched, except at Cocoa Creek, but that I think is outside. It is in private hands with the exception of a little digging there. Up at the top of Cocoa Creek there are some old diggings, but they have been abandoned. 489. Now, we will go on to the northern corner?— Before I go there I would say there is a creek called Barry's Creek, and another one—Hatter's. There has been a bit of gold-mining there, although it has been abandoned. Both have been worked, and may be worked again ; and I consider that those two creeks, to a certain width, should be reserved. Although abandoned, it may be possible that miners may fossick there again. 490. Hon. E. Blake.] You think that all Barry's Creek and Hatter's Creek ought to have a chainage reserved ?—Yes. 491. Mr. Jones.] Now, coming to 69 ?—On the hatched part to the north part no gold has been worked or found there. 71 and 69, as marked here as not reservable, is quite correct. There is no need to reserve those portions. 492. Hon. E. Blake.] There are some creeks there?— There is Waipuna Creek. No gold has ever been got in the left-hand branch. 493. Mr. Jones.] And Mosquito Creek ? —There is Mosquito Creek too. That was worked; but in the Waipuna right branch gold was only worked in the lower portion. 494. And the rest of Blocks 71 and 69 should not have been reserved for mining purposes?— No. 495. Now, we will go across to Blocks 65 and 66 ?—Block 65 I would reserve all along Mossy Creek. It has been worked, but abandoned for some years; and I would take 5 chains on each side of that creek. Well, this Snowy Eiver is all outside of the reserve, except up to the top end, and there I would certainly make a reserve on the banks of the creek on each side —from 6 to 10 chains on each side of the river. 496. Hon. E. Blake.] Did you extend that right across to 66?—1 cannot say, Sir. I have not reached 66. Going, then, further up the Blackwater, I should say, at the very lowest, make a reserve of at least 30 chains all across the reserves. 497. That is, 15 chains on each side?— Yes, on each bank of the creek; that is all I would make for mining in that. 498. Mr. Jones.] Practically, then, that would reserve a chain in Blackwater; that would be about fin. in the Blackwater [Scale]. How far do you say you would make it ? —l5 chains to here, to the bed of the creek. 499. Fifteen chains on each side of the Blackwater; that would be less than 6Jin.? —Yes; there is ample reserve there. 500. The reserves in Snowy Eiver would be sufficient ?—I only speak of where I went. 501. What do you say about 66 ? —I spoke about that. 502. It is all rightly reserved?-—I did not go over it. Mr. Gully : I am quite content that any question to be applied to the block should be applied generally. [Exhibit 93.] 504. Mr. Jones.] This is Block 62; take 63 with it. What do you say, commencing at the southern portion of 62 ? —I should first of all make a reservation along the bank of the left-hand branch to the Blackwater, at the top, near the Big Eiver, for a length of about 80 chains, where I see the river runs right along this reservation. I think it is necessary to make a reserve alongside the river for mining. I pass then on. I consider the work; it has never been worked, nor any gold got in it, nor any sign of there being very good paying country. It is rough. Ido not know that there is much alluvial deposit there. I then reach Adamstown, and I certainly would put a reserve there, 20 chains wide, right throughout. Then, I pass on again northwards through 62, when I reach up to Antonio's Creek ; and at the upper portion of Antonio's, just after passing a mile and a half up the creek, the workings begin, and they are pretty extensive there, although the population is very small there now. I should certainly make a reservation embracing all the creek. I have been up the two branches, and up to the east boundary to the reserve. I never went further. I could not speak as to section 63. 505. Hon. E. Blake.] The reserve is narrowed where you get on the other side of Antonio's Creek? —Yes. Then, there is Slab Hut Creek. I would extend the reservation further south-west at the corner, right away down at the junction of the Grey with the creek to the Little Grey. It is only a little block, but I would certainly do it for the purpose of protecting mining work along the bed of the creek; it would be only 50 or 60 acres more, but I would certainly start on that point connected with the other land. Otherwise, the reserve at Slab Hut is quite enough. 506. Then we pass to 59, approaching Eeefton ?—This piece of ground here in the north-west corner I have gone through, and there is no doubt there is no need of reserving it. I must say I know this block well, and I may say that the balance ought to be reserved,