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133. You have been off the Coast, but came back at the time of the Kumara rush?— Yes. 134. Have you been prospecting much during your life?— Yes. 135. Have you ever opened any land ?—Yes ; I opened Larrikin Terrace. 136. Have you opened any other ground about the West Coast ? —I opened what is now known as Cape Terrace ; it was called Liverpool Terrace when I opened it. 137. I think for the last two or three years you have been engaged as a mining agent ? —Yes. 138. Registered under " The Mining Act, 1891 ?"— Yes. 139. In company with Mr. Haussman and Mr. Barrowman I think you made an inspection of certain reserves ?—Yes. 140. Take Block 2b. You see the hatching across it in several places. Where it is hatched it is supposed that the land is not required for mining purposes or purposes incidental or conducive thereto. If you agree with the hatching you can say so, and we will know what you mean ?—There is no mining whatever in that block, with the exception of a portion at the north-west corner near Chesterfield—one man. 141. With reference to Block 2a : What do you say about that block ?—I agree with that. 142. Do you recollect the Waimea district ?—Yes. 143. In prosperous times ?—Yes. 144. And do you recollect that there was anything like a large population there then ?—Yes, . there was. 145. Taking those two blocks, do you think if there was any gold there the population would have found it ?—Yes. The whole of this country had been prospected previous to the reserves being made. 146. Is there any difficulty in prospecting 2b ? —None whatever. 147. Is there any material alteration in the number of people in and about 2, 2a, and 2b, 91 to 95 ?—There are not so many people on the block now. 148. In other respects, is the land very much in the same condition as it was in 1891 ?—lt is in the same condition. 149. ■ Block 6 : what do you say to that ?—There is no mining on that block, with the exception of one corner. 150. Hon. E. Blake.] Is this Kumara again? Mr. Jones: Yes. Hon. E. Blake : We have heard enough about that. 151. Mr. Jones (to witness).] Do you agree with the other witnesses, that about six more acres would be about enough to reserve ?—Yes. 152. Coming to the western portion, all west of the Kumara Borough endowment, what do you say of that block ?—Wrongly reserved. 153. Any prospecting on it ? —Yes. 153 a. Much?— Yes. 154. Do you think it has been tested pretty well to see if there is any gold in it?— Yes, and rushed several times. 155. Hon. E. Blake.] But, you think, for the last time?— Yes, I think so. 156. Mr. Jones.} You agree with the hatching, and therefore think it is not wanted for mining purposes ?—Yes. 157. What do you say about Block 1, Kumara Block ?—The only portion of the block where there is mining is a portion of about 700 or 800 acres, including the Kumara, Dillmans, and Larrikins Block workings, and Mignonette Flat. 158. You say that the strip of that block which is on the western side of Kapitea Creek has been prospected ?—Yes. 159. And what about the ground on the eastern side of Kapitea Creek, and Larrikins ?—lt has been prospected. 160. When you say ground has been prospected, do you mean fairly tested, or just merely a prospecting shaft put down? —Prospecting areas have been granted, and the ground has been tested. 161. You think it has been fairly well tested, as a practical miner?— Yes ; shafts have been sunk, and they have driven a certain distance in different directions from the shaft. 162. There has been, I think, a shaft or so sunk with the purpose of going down through the blue reef?— Yes. 163. Where were those shafts sunk?—On the Mignonette Flat. 164. At whose suggestion were those shafts put down?—l think Mr. Gordon's, but lam not sure of it. 165. Did they sink through the blue reef ?—They sank on to it. 166. Did they get any gold ? —No payable gold. 167. How many of those deep prospecting shafts were sunk ? —Only one. 168. When was that ? —About two years ago. Mr. Gully : At the very time when the reservations were being considered. Mr. Jones : No ; this was proclaimed before that. 169. Mr. Jones.] (To witness) :Do you agree with the hatching on Block 1 ?—Yes. 170. If you say the whole of the area should not be reserved, where are the people on Larrikins, Dillman's, and all about there to get their timber for mining and household purposes ?—There is a large quantity of timber on the Crown land to the south. 171. Do you think there is sufficient timber on that Crown land to supply the requirements of the miners at Larrikins? —No. 172. Where are they to get their timber ?—From the mining reserve. 173. Have you made any provision for that in your hatching ?—I think there should be a thousand acres of that block. 13*—D. 4.