COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

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F.^No, -.ft

112. That is your impression?'—lt is more than an impression. I may state it as a positive fact that that was the intention. 113. Mr. Macffarlane.~\ Can that report be made from Dr. Hector's surveys ? —There are great portions of the Province which Dr. Hector has not examined. 114. Chairman.'] Supposing that such a survey could be done for £2,000, could it be done at such cost unless there were the materials for a geological map in existence ? —Certainly. 115. That is, putting aside Dr. Hector's work, so far as it has gone, this could be done at the same expense? —Yes ; he would find the miners at work in the different localities. 116. Mr. Hall.] It is a general report upon the gold fields that you want ?—Of course ; when Dr. Hector visited our gold fields there were very few miners who knew anything of the system of waterraces. We have got money so invested to the extent of £100,000 in water-races. 117. Mr. Stevens.] Might I ask if you are sufficiently familiar with the terms of the arrangement with Mr. Ulrich to know how he is to be remunerated ?—I am not acquainted with the arrangement in the slightest degree ;it was done after I was Superintendent. I know nothing about the arrangement. ILB. Mr. Hall. | When is he expected ? —I do not know. We are bound to expend money, and, of course, it must be done under guidance." 119. I understand you to say that it is in consequence of an intention to expend money in developing the gold fields that Mr. Ulrich has been sent for ? —That is my impression. 120. Mr. Macffarlane.] You have spoken of a map which cost the Province £13,000? — Yes; the map and the Museum. It is an accurate Geological Survey of the Province, but there are numerous deposits and auriferous reefs discovered since then. It is an excellent map, but would require now to be gone over and filled up. 121. Was it perfect at the time it was made? — Certainly. The gentleman who made it had made what was considered the best geological survey in the world, to the north of Lake Superior, and he could not give anything but a good map. It was in consequence of that he was recommended by Sir Roderick Murchison. 122. Do you know whether ho was required to make this report?—No; I only know, from the general reports in Otago, that he had not made it. Dr. Hector in attendance, and examined. 123. Chairman.] A claim has been made by the Superintendent of Otago for a refund of £13,000, amount alleged to have been expended upon a Geological Survey of the Province of Otago, conducted by you under a certain agreement ? He has preferred his claim to the Colonial Treasurer, and the matter has been referred to this Committee for investigation. 124. Mr. Hall.] How long were you in Otago ? —-I arrived in Otago on the 13th April, 1862, and remained there, under the Provincial Government, until the Ist April, 1865. I was there a few months longer, but working for the General Government. 125. Chairman.] You came from England ?—Yes; the date of the agreement is the date of my embarkation. 126. What was the date of jour embarkation ?—The Ist January. That would make the period I was with the Provincial Government of Otago three years and three months. 127. Mr. Hall.] What were the circumstances under which you left the service of the Provincial Government and entered the service of the General Government. Was it resignation or transfer ?— The term of my agreement expired on the Ist January, but, by arrangement with the Provincial Government, I continued until April. 128. Chairman.] Was it with the assent of the Provincial Government that you left the service of the Province; were the authorities consenting parties ; did they put the same interpretation upon the contract, and were they willing that you should leave ? —I do not think I ever asked them. Ido not remember. 129. Did they protest against your leaving ?—Certainly not. I received no protest. The arrangement relative to my services being transferred to the General Government had been contemplated, intimated to the Provincial Government, and agreed upon, many months previous to the expiration of my agreement. 130. Without any objection ?—There was no objection; quite the reverse, as it was understood that the Province would still have my services in common with the rest of the Colony. 131. With regard to the cost, Mr. Macandrew stated that the expense of the survey was £13,000. Is that accurate ?—Certainly not. Ido not know the sums expended, but I believe the actual sum expended on the survey was £6,500. An extra sum of about £1,200 was on account of expenses I had to incur in my department at the New Zealand Exhibition and on the West Coast, making a total of £8,700. I have had no access to any accounts but those which passed through my own hands. 132. What is your opinion about the Martin's Bay expedition ? 133. Mr. Hall.] Before putting that question, I should wish to ask if you have been put on to any other work than the Geological Survey during the time you were in the service of the Provincial Government? —-Well, the Chief Surveyor suggested that there,should be a joint survey, conducted by him and myself, on the West Coast of the country, and that occupied mo a very long time. Of course, I gave my attention to every kind of observation that would be useful to the Province, but the Chief Surveyor did not accompany me. I was without any assistance from the Survey Department, and away for eight months under circumstances of great privation. I dare say I did a good deal of work not strictly necessary for a geological survey, but I brought back large collections from that expedition, which were useful in establishing the geological character of the country. That might have been giving to that part of the country a greater amount of attention out of three years than it was, perhaps,, entitled to. 134. Was the main object of it a geological or topographical survey ? —Geological survey ; but there were large additions made to the topographical knowledge of the country. 135. Were you in charge ?—Yes. 3