D.—4

118

187. And possibly abandoned claims?— Yes; possibly abandoned. We looked for races and dams, but did not look for claims, because there was no necessity. 188. You were not instructed to make prospects, and did not do so ? —No, we had no occasion to do so. We did not prospect anywhere. 189. I understood you to say that in places which had been deserted it was not necessary to make reservations ?—Yes. 190. In your experience, have not miners gone back to deserted diggings and worked them ?— Oh, yes ; it is quite a common thing. On this very ground we have been speaking of men have been there from time to time. 191. And may go again from time to time ?—Yes, from time to time to eternity. 192. You think, I suppose, that the mining prospects are so bad there that they ought not to have an opportunity of going back'?—l do not think that at all. 193. Then, why should it not be put on the mining reserve?— For the simple fact I have stated —because the ground is worked out. 194. But you have told us that men go back from time to time ?—1 do not want to prevent them going back. I was instructed by the company to give the miners all the ground they wanted, as all the company wanted was traffic for their line. 195. Why, then, object to these reserves if the men go back to work there?— Simply because these are deserted places, and the money spent on them has been thrown away and the ground thrown up. 196. You think the ground is so bad that the men should not have an opportunity of spending any more time there?— Yes ; they would be better off if they did not go there. 197. And that has governed you all through in these places ?—No, not at all. It is in a place that has been totally deserted that I think would be better inhabited, no matter who inhabits it. 198. Let me ask you, with reference to Block 85, would you admit that hatching of Spenser's ? —Yes. 199. Do you agree with that triangular piece there 7 —Yes; there has been nothing got, and there is no water to command the place even if it was full of gold. 200. Even if it was full of gold you would consider it was rightly hatched because there is no water to command it ? —I would not say anything of the sort. If gold was there I should be as anxious to get it as anybody else. 201. When you found no people on a piece of ground, did you accept that as an intimation that it was not required for mining purposes ? —Oh, no. 202. On what principle did you go?— Where nothing has been done on the ground to come to a successful issue. Where work has been done, and nothing has been got. There has really been nothing done on this place to pay. 203. Is it because nothing has been done on a place that you hold it is not required for mining purposes ? 204. Hon. B. Blake.] It has been tried, with negative results; not because it was worked, but because they found nothing to pay ? —Yes; that is so. 205. Then, on the other part, do you say here along this part that there have been no trials ? —Oh, yes; the London Terrace has been tried. 206. On this ground that is hatched ?—No, just on the edge of it. 207. I am asking you about that ?—Nothing has been got there to pay. 208. I ask if it has been tried ? —Yes ; all these gullies and creeks have been tried. Every one all along there. 209. You say this hatched portion has been tried ?—lt has been tried. Hon. E. Blake : Would you try to attend to the answer, and not answer something else. 210. Mr. Stringer.] Block 85 ?—ln the first of Darkey's Terrace, I think. 211. I mean the hatched part?— No. 212. You have never tried the hatched part yourself ?—No. 213. Now, has any person tried it ? —No. 214. How do you know ?—Have known persons working there. 215. How do you know ? —They have told me. 216. Have you seen them working? —No, I have not. 217. You only know from what you have been told ?—Yes. 218. You spoke of having lost some money in one of those places ?— Mr. Jones : Langdon's Block. 219. Mr. Stringer.] Was that on the hatched portion that you tried?— No. 220. Not on the hatched portion ?—No: Chaeles Schweeer sworn and examined. 221. Mr. Jones.) You are a miner, residing at Addison's Flat, I think? —Yes. 222. How long have you been in the Westport district ?—Since 1867. 223. Have you been engaged in mining about that district all the time ? —Ever since. 224. You have a pretty accurate knowledge of the country then ?—Yes. 224 a. Do you know this block [Exhibit No. 96] ? I know you are not acquainted with all of it, but generally. You see that block called No. 1, Deadman's Creek? —I have been there frequently. 225. There are the old workings and the tunnel going through, do you know that ? —Yes. 226. You say you have been there frequently ?—Yes, but not lately, not this last three or four weeks. 227. Never mind that. You have been there frequently up to three or four weeks ago?—Yes.fl 228. Do you think that block, in the interest of the miners, should be included as required for bond fide gold-mining purposes and purposes incidental thereto?—l do not.