E.—No. 6.

INTERIM REPORT OE THE SELECT

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136. Were there any officers of the Survey Department with you, as it was to be a joint survey ?— No, they did not carry it out. It was conducted by myself. 137. At whose instance was this survey undertaken ?—At the Chief Surveyor's originally. Of course, I was glad to join in any scheme of that nature. 138. Chairman.] You think eight months was too long to devote to that survey, having regard to the period of three years over which your agreement extended. Were you engaged in any topographical work ?—I desired that my time should be fully occupied in doing something. Ido not think I occupied any time unduly in topographical work. 139. It is not whether there was more time occupied in topographical work, but whether the results, as to the topographical information of the country, were of material service to the Province ? — Very ; but I think they have been somewhat overlooked. 140. Then there was a valuable residue of work, beyond what was otherwise chargeable to the Province in connection with any expedition ? —I may state that an expedition was recently sent out to the same place by the Province, but they were unable to overtake the work. The Superintendent was accompanied by a special reporter, and the reporter said it was unnecessary to go into any report, as the particulars of the country were correctly contained in my report. I think that expedition was thrown away, except as a means of again attracting attention to the district. 141. Mr. Sail.] You were engaged in another work, were you not, in connection with the New Zealand Exhibition in Dunedin ? Had you anything to do with that ?—I had a great deal. 142. How ? —I found that I was appointed one of the Commissioners. The Superintendent was President, and the members of the Provincial G-overnment members of the Board, and I think they were in the best position to judge of my work, although I did not approve of having an Exhibition on that scale at that period of the existence of Otago. I was glad of it personally, as it gave mo an opportunity of seeing my collections, made during the period I was in Otago, and which were never unpacked until November, 1864. I had previously made application for a Museum, or place in which might be arranged the various specimens. I felt that any statement I made in this Colony would be taken only upon my own word if I did not leave certain data behind me. I was desirous to have some substantial proof of my services, but, owing to some opposition, that Museum was not built. It was not until the Exhibition that I had an opportunity of seeing the specimens from the time they were collected. I arranged them, described and catalogued them, and handed over a complete catalogue to the Provincial Government. I have not examined them since until eighteen months ago. I understand they were completely lost sight of, having been allowed to remain stored in some store, the Government having to pay about £90 on them. 143. Chairman.] Are there duplicates of all the specimens in the Museum here ? —Certainly not. I think there were 550 duplicates, all of which were obtained by correspondence with the Provincial Government long after I left Otago. I took nothing with me that was the property of the Province., These were obvious duplicates that I wanted for further research. 144. What was the number of specimens in the Museum? —About 5,000, including sjiecimens in every branch of natural history. There were only 550 duplicates. Those which were sent to Wellington by the trustees of the Otago Museum would not constitute a Museum. 145. Was it the tenth or the fifth part? —It was not the fiftieth part, in value. The museum that I left behind gave a complete exposition of every branch of natural history in the Province, and even far beyond what was in the Province alone, accompanied by a catalogue. Along with these were maps, a complete geological map, full details and analyses, with special examinations of the minerals, ores, rocks, and fibrous materials, all of which I left in Dunedin. Such a thing as a special detailed report would be impossible, without constant reference to such a collection during its preparation. After the experience I had when I sent in my first report 1 did nothing more than put the work into shape. Within three months after my arrival I went all over the gold fields, to which, together with the various coal fields, my special attention was drawn. I took the trouble of preparing a report in the clearest form —that of a section and explanatory notes. That was ordered by the Superintendent, Major Richardson, to be printed and published for public information. It was sent to the Survey Department, but has never been published to this day. 146. Mr. Hall.~\ Did you send in any others ?—I sent in many more afterwards. I sent in a long special report of the expedition to the West Coast. I sent in full departmental reports, giving the results. These have been published, and a great many scientific documents from that work have also been made public. My printed reports occupy over 100 pages of the Provincial Government Gazettes. 147. Of what nature was the report which you made out three months after your arrival? — It was a section, showing the relations of the different rock formation in the Tuapeka District, and pointing out how a proper search for gold should be conducted. It showed the source of the gold, though more by inference than by observation ; but my views have been borne out by extended workings. 148. What is your answer to tne statement of the Superintendent, that you have not furnished a general report according to the terms of your agreement ? —I do not see anything about a general report in the agreement ? 149. Chairman.'] You consider that you have complied with the agreement ?—lt would have been more satisfactory to me if, after leaving the Province, I had gone to England and furnished a full and particular report. A great portion of my work is embodied in the English translation of Hochstetter's work on New Zealand, and to have commenced my. work here I should have had to work at great disadvantage. I had no books of reference, nor any scientific friends to consult. I had every drawback to contend with to prevent my publishing a work in a creditable style. I should also have had to extend my knowledge, as some of the conclusions I arrived at in Otago did not hold good in respect to the rest of the Colony. Such a work as I contemplated would have been for the benefit of the whole Colony; whereas, if I had furnished it at that time, it would have been comparatively useless after the lapse of some years.