3. J. LAUGHLIN.]

15

I.— 4a.

they are employing a number of men taking out this low-grade ore, and if they were put to a certain amount of expense to get away the tailings they might take out the richer ores and leave the lowgrade?—Yes, but I would not stress the mines by putting anything on them. What I pointed out about the gold duty would be no stress on the mines. They have a right to put the tailings into the river, or to be assisted to take them somewhere else, or to be recompensed. 77. Who do you suggest should recompense them? —The Waihi gold duty. 78. How long had you taken up your land before the river was proclaimed a sludge-channel?— Eight months. 79. How many other settlers were there at the time the river was proclaimed?—l have not got a list with me, but I could mention a good few that I know. 80. With regard to this list of damages and losses sustained, had all these people been on the land there prior to the river being proclaimed a sludge-channel 2—No. Many have purchased land there since. 81. And yet they claim for damages that have been done since the river was proclaimed?— Yes. I owned my farm before it was proclaimed, but I did not put in for any damages. I would sooner see a remedy provided than get damages. 82. How far does the river overflow its banks?— Over the whole block, because it comes in from the back through the big bend of the river. The water from the. Waihou comes in from the back, and what overflows from the river comes in from the front. The front water carries the tailings. 83. The river floods very easily now —far more easily than it did formerly?— Yes. Even since Mr. Reed and Mr. Wilson visited the river we have had two floods, both carrying tailings. 84. Is it not a notorious fact that there has been more rain in the Auckland District this last nine or twelve months than there was previously for a number of years—that is, there have been more constant-rains?—l am aware of that, but we were complaining long before the last flood. 85. You made a statement that your cattle are d}-ing owing to the silt. Is it not a well-known fact that on the Waikato cattle have died owing to the floods of nine or twelve months ago?— Yes, but what we think is the cause of the death of the cattle is that they have been eating the hard grass that is full of dust. Of course the loss of grass through the floods has been a cause as well. 86. Mr. Macpherson.] What number of stock did you lose prior to twelve months ago? Was the loss of stock more over twelve months ago than during the twelve months since the heavy floods occurred 2—The losses of stock have been more severe this year. 87. Considerably more?— Yes. We lost stock at several smaller floods before the great flood came. It seems to affect the animals' feet and the hair comes off their legs, and they go about in a lame condition, even with the blood oozing out of the cracks, through their standing too many days in the water. I lost several head and I attributed it not altogether to starvation, but to cramp. 88. Do you consider that 6d, of the royalty collected on gold would be sufficient to compensate the mines for the extra labour attached to stacking up the tailings?—l think it would with the Waihi Mine, because that is a very rich mine and could easily fix up the failings, but the mines that are not paying quite so well ought, I think, to get some assistance. 89. What amount would they require—the poorer mines? —Of course I am not prepared to say what it would cost. 90. What is your individual opinion of the cost? —The way I would do it would be to put in an aqueduct and convey the tailings some three miles and a half to a waste piece of land at Karangahake. I see no difficult problem in conveying the tailings in that way 91. It is all a question of cost? —Yes. 92. Hon. Mr. McGowan.] How long is it since you left off mining?— Nine years. 93. How long is it then since you purchased the land? What have you been doing from the time you purchased the land to the time you went on to it ?—I was working in several mines and managing several mines and working in the batteries. 94. I suppose you know there is a great deal of difference between the methods of saving gold now and the methods in use when you were at it?— Yes. 95. Have you ever seen a tube mill?—I have. 96. Were there any tube mills at the Thames when you were working at mining?— Not exactly the same as the tube mills now, but very near it. 97. Can you give us the name of the one that was very near it?— Out on what_ they call Tookey's Flat was a large drum something like a small boiler, and it was revolving. _ One Thomas had it, and he had several pieces of iron and stone in it and had the water revolving to try to grind the tailings up finer than the ordinary tailings going through a mill. 98. But they had no tube mills at that time as we have now 2—No. 99. You are aware of the fact that the tube mills produce tailings that go under the designation of " slimes " ?—Yes. 100. Do you know how they would remove these slimes to the place that you say any mine could easily remove their tailings to? How would they be removed 2 —Down a shoot where the water would flow. The slimes would travel with it. 101. You would carry them by water? —Yes. 102. And where wouid the water go after it had carried the slimes? —I consider that the water would soak away and leave the tailings dry on the ground. 103. Do you consider the water would soak through the slimes?—No, it would work away through the slimes. 104. How would it work away through the slimes?— Slimes are tailings. When they get a certain hardness the water runs over the top. 105. But you said it would soak away?—A great amount would soak away through the ground. 106. If you are carrying tailings by water you must have a considerable quantity of water to carry them? —Yes.