8.—4

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33. What have you to say to this other portion of the block on the western side of the Kumara borough endowment ? —A great portion of that block is taken up with sawmill leases. 34. We do not want timber : what about mining?—We found no mining. 35. Do you think it is required for bond fide mining or for any purpose incidental or conducive thereto? —Not so far as mining development has gone. There is a good deal of prospecting done, but no one seems to be profitably employed at mining. 36. Is that area required for timber purposes for the Kumara diggings ?—lt is convenient to Kumara, but there are plenty of other blocks to supply the timber that would only be within a short distance of Kumara. 37. We go now into Block 1. I think you were mining m Kumara?—Yes ; for about twelve or thirteen years. 38. What do you say is required for mining in Block 1 ?—I should say, for half a mile beyond the boundary of the present workings. I know that various attempts have been tried to extend the workings up to the head of Larrikins. There are a great many shafts and tunnels. 39. On the eastern side of Larrikins ?—Yes ; half a mile beyond the present workings would include the probable country suitable for gold-mining. 40. And it has been thoroughly prospected ? —Yes. I would extend the line about a mile from the Township of Dillmanstown along the Christchurch road to the eastward. 41. As to the rest of the block?— From the eastward several attempts have been made to get payable gold in that block, but, so far as I know, there has been nothing got. Ido not know of any workings in other parts of the block. 42. Do you think the portion of the block you are now talking on is required for timber purposes for the Kumara mines ? —Some of it might be required, because Kumara consumes a good deal of timber, and seeing that it is situated near it might be useful; I should think that it would be half a mile from the workings. A great deal of timber is cut and exported. 43. How much would you allow of that block for timbering purposes for the goldfields ?—I should think half a mile from McConnell's mill. 44. That is the mill along the road ?—Yes. 45. That would take you more than half a mile away from the block?— Yes. I would not include the whole width of that block; I would include the points easy of access to the road. 46. How many acres of the western portion of that block would you allow for timber for mining purposes ?—A square mile. 47. Outside of Larrikin's diggings ?—Yes. 48. And the rest of the block you say is not wanted for mining ? —Not wanted. 49. Now we come to Block 5, Greenstone district. Just commence at the south-western corner, traverse the creek up to the northern corner, and come down the other side. What have you to say about that ? —There are individual miners working at Big Fuschia, Little Fuschia, and one man at Paddy's Gully, until you get within the Three-mile. There is a large corner behind Duke's Terrace running up along the road to Lake Brunner. I should say that going from the Greenstone Creek half a mile on each side includes all the known workings. 50. Do you see this portion which is hatched ? —I agree that that is not required for gold-mining. 51. What do you say to the other side of this block, containing 1,850 acres, part of the block we are speaking of ?—I agree with the hatchings. 52. You told us you have been at Kumara ten or twelve years. Are those goldfields extending, or are they practically reducing the area of the known auriferous country every year ?—I should say that the place, as a whole, is being rapidly worked out. 53. Do you know of your own knowledge whether there is any probability of that run of gold extending in any particular direction ? —I do not know. 54. On the other hand do you know it has been prospected in all directions all round ?—-Yes. I took part in some prospecting myself. 55. Going up in a north-westerly direction, approaching the Township of Kumara —has it been prospected there ?—Yes. 56. Any gold discovered?—l do not know of any. 57. Were you in Block 9, Mr. Barrowman ? —I was not in the Grey district. I was in the portion south of the New Eiver. 58. We do not want that. What have you to say about Block Ba, up the Arnold—the Kaimata Block ? —There were two parties of two men each near the Midland Eailway. We could not exactly ascertain whether they were on the block or not. We found no others on the block. 59. Where did you find them sluicing ? —About ]50 yards from the Midland Eailway. 60. Whereabouts? —Near the Kaimata Station. 61. Is there not a tunnel there ?—There is a railway-tunnel at this point [indicating on map]. 62. Hon. E. Blake.] Is the tunnel inside or outside of the block?—l should say, if this tunnel is correctly marked on the map, that those men were outside the block altogether. 63. Mr. Jones.] What do you say about the block itself?—We could find no other miners on the block. 64. Is it required for gold-mining or purposes incidental thereto?—l should say not. I agree with the hatchings. 65. Were you at Block 11?— Up at Jackson's? 66. Yes ? —Yes. I examined the portion between the range and the Christchurch Eoad. I have been on the other portion of the block, but not for the purpose of examination. 67. Have you been there recently?— Within the last two years. 68. Hon. E. Blake : What block? 69. Mr. Jones.] Block 11, called Jackson's Block. (To witness): What do you say to that block ?—A party is sluicing up at Seven-mile Creek, I believe the results are very poor. There is another party fossicking.