A. F. o'dONOGHUE.]

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1.—12.

Thursday, 13th March, 1919. A. F. O'Donoghue, Estate Agent, examined. J am interested more or less directly in advocating a geological survey of Marlborough with the hope of testing our mineral wealth. The splendid indications we have at the present time, we consider, warrant a geological survey. In various parts of Marlborough we have indications of asbestos, coal, agricultural lime, and building-lime. There is a splendid outcrop of buildinglime in the Taylor Pass :it is recognized by builders to be the finest material procurable. We believe that if sufficient prospecting were done, or the geological survey completed of the whole of Marlborough, we might locate something extensive in this direction. We also have an oil seepage in the Ure Valley. In 1915 I went into that valley with Dr. Allan Thomson and Mr. B. C. Aston. [Witness read a report by Dr. Thomson on " Oil Indications in the Benmore District, East Marlborough," contained in the Ninth Annual Report, 1915, of the Geological Survey Branch, page 100.] I produce, a sample of the oil taken from the top of the pool. We collected a pint of the oil. In the bed of the creek there was a distinct spring of oil. The indications were so distinct that when we camped at night we could plainly taste the petrol, or benzine, or whatever it was, when we made the tea. I think there must be a very fine oil spring in the bottom of the Ure River. To Mr. Hornsby: Dr. Thomson wants a geological survey prior to boring operations. He says that although the seepage of oil is there the reservoir may not be within miles of it. Dr. Thomson has informed me that the Geological Survey Department have borrowed him for two months to come into this district to make a geological survey and test this particular locality, but- it will not be a comprehensive geological survey of Marlborough. Coal has been prospected fairly extensively in Marlborough. If we hail a complete geological survey of Marlborough on the lilies of Dr. Bell's report on Parapara and other parts I consider there would be such splendid indications of wealth that something would come out of it. To Mr. Sidey: Dr. Bell was not in Marlborough. Mr. Morgan has been here and has written an article on coal. He did not report favourably on it. I think we have indications of coal here which are sufficient to warrant boring: the coal is around Picton. Referring to coal prospects near Blenheim Mr. Morgan says, " After a geological survey of the Wairau Valley and the adjoining areas has been made it will be possible to state in a rough kind of way what the probabilities are." He also says, "At the present time, with very few geological data as a guide, I am not able to recommend boring the plain at any point. In any case, drilling in advance of geological survey must be deprecated." Witness: I might also mention the beet-sugar industry. I suggest that if the Government were to import an expert the matter might be furthered. There is a splendid opening for it in New Zeland.

KAIKOURA. Thursday, 13th March, 1919. J. A, Johnston, Fisherman, examined. The whaling industry has been going on in Kaikoura for the past fifty years or more. I have put up a shed and installed digesters, with steam-power, and use oil-launches. There is uo protection or registration for the business, and considering the money that men spend on works as I have done, it is only right that some protection should be given. I lease a piece of ground from the Government, and I am told by the Marine Department that I have no right to work in front of my shed on that ground. The money and work I have put out on the boats would run well into £1,000. It is not fair that I should spend that money and that any one may come in and set up in front of my works. The Secretary of Marine says that if I like to go to the trouble of building an expensive slip to the water's edge I would have the right to that part—to the depth of the slip, or 18 ft. This is useless to me, To the Acting-Chairman (Mr. Forbes): The whaling reserve is under half an acre. A whaling-station should be registered, and I would be willing to have it registered so that, I would piossess some right. To Mr. Graigie: The plant I have in the building is 2 chains above high-water mark. If I bring a, whale ashore 1 have steam-winches to haul the blubber up, and I have two vats to deal with it. I favour the suggestion that whaling-stations should be a hundred miles apart. Under the Fisheries Act, 1908, there is a regulation on those lines; it is taken from the Canadian whaling laws. I think that as many whales passed last year as the year before. They seem to be much about the same in number from year to year. The industry wants some regulation, because there is a tremendous waste at present. It is a rush for about two months at the outset, and. after that it is practically done. You must get a, whale out of the way inside forty-eight hours. Under the Canadian whaling laws a plant must be capable of handling an ordinarysized whale in twenty-four hours, and that is a fairly big order. To Mr. Sidey: No one should be allowed to whale without a license, provided he has the works. I have plant for making a whale into manure and for grinding the bones, and I should have protection against the man who goes out under the old system to get whales. The necessary works might cost about £5,000. As far as I know, no Japanese oil comes to New Zealand, and I do not think a Customs tariff is required for whale-oil.