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144. Is that the same character of land?— Some parts of it is flat bush-land; some parts of it hills and terraces. 145. This is an old field, is it not—the field between Nelson Creek and Callaghan's Creek?— Yes. 146. Give us some general evidence about those workings ? —All the main workings of Nelson Creek and Callaghan's Creek are in that unhatched portion. It has been a very good field indeed. A lot of gold came from it, and all the little creeks contained gold. They have been worked, and are being worked at present. 147. Can you say how many men are on that ground between Callaghan's Creek and Nelson Creek ? —I think there are about sixty men in Block 74. 148. But the two blocks together ? —I could not speak from my own knowledge of the number of men at the head of Callaghan's. I think there are about ten in the upper part of Block 75. 149. Have you any knowledge of the time when that was worked as a goldfield? Can you say how many men were there in the palmy days? —I could not say, but from the appearance of the ground, and the amount of ground worked and turned over, there must have been a large number of men there at one time, but it seems like every other alluvial field on the coast, gradually getting less men. 150. Then, you think that is the portion that should have been reserved of those two blocks?— Yes. 151. There is a portion along that road that is hatched. What do you say to that ?—I think that portion is not required. There is land here sold all round it. 152. The land below it has been sold in freehold sections, and the land above it ?—There are no gold-workings of any kind upon it. 153. Can you speak of that portion bounded by Lake Hochstetter ? —No ; I cannot speak as to that portion. 154. Can you speak of that portion—the 1,090 acres?— Yes; I have been through that portion. There are no gold-workings on that portion. 155. Are there ever likely to be, do you think?— No. 156. Is Ahaura a township ? —Yes. 157. Then, you think that the portion in between the 1,090 acres and the 3,300 acres at Biverview should be reserved ?—There was some gold deposit at Biverview, I think, up the Ahaura Eiver, and there were some men working there a few years ago, but it is abandoned at present. 158. Can you tell us anything about the Government water-race that comes through 74 and 75 — the Nelson Creek Water-race ?—Yes ; I was along the Nelson Creek Water-race in different places. All the fluming along that had fallen down, and the tunnels had fallen in, and the race has not been in working-order for years to my knowledge. 159. That race cost a very large sum of money did it not ? —I have been informed it cost nearly £100,000. 160. There is the other water-race (McGee's) at a peppercorn rent? —Yes. 161. Do you think any water-race can be brought in which would be able to sluice the hills on each side of the land between Callaghan's and Ahaura?—No; I do not think the Nelson Creek Water-race could be brought in. 162. If as suggested, by sluicing the ground there, could any water-race be brought in for that purpose ? —Not unless it could be brought from the Ahaura. The Nelson Creek water-races would not command that country at all. 163. Would the Ahaura be an expensive process?—lt would be a greater failure than the Nelson Creek Water-race. 164. Hon. B. Blake.] That is to say, there is no gold to wash away?—lf you spent an enormous sum of money you could bring a water-race from the Ahaura, but there is nothing to pay to sluice. 165. Mr. Cooper.] Now, I understand it will be suggested that there is gold in that portion of the reserve, because gold has been found at Eiverview. Can you say anything about that ?—I do not hold with that at all. 166. Can you give me a reason? —I think the Ahaura at one time deposited some alluvial wash at Eiverview and Sullivan's, and lower down the valley there is a bluff, and the river evidently took a turn and went out at the opposite side. There is no payable alluvial wash, therefore, lower down. 167. In your opinion, that was a deposit at Eiverview caused by the wash down from the Ahaura ? —Yes. 168. Do you think that the Nelson Creek Water-race, if it was put in repair, could be used to sluice another portion of the lower country in the other blocks ? —No. 169. What kind of land was that piece of land of over 3,000 acres?— The surveyed allotments are very fair flat bush land from Ahaura to Callighan's. 170. Are the freehold sections cultivated?— Yes; they are in grass. [Plan of Blocks 70 and others put in. Exhibit No. 92.] 171. What do you think of the hatched portion on the plan, going in a northerly direction— Blocks 69 and 70 ?—They are not required for mining. 172. Can you give us any reason why you have cut the hatched portion off from Hatter's Creek in that way —I mean the upper line of the lower portion of Hatter's Creek?— Because we could see no traces of any payable gold being in it, and there was no one working in it. 173. Do you think there is any payable gold in that portion?—No; I do not think there is. 174. It adjoins the freehold, I think, does it not ? —Yes ; and the leasehold. 175. Now, if you will look at Block 69, you will find a triangular portion—2,lBo acres—in that: do you think there is any necessity to include that in the reservation ?—No; there was no goldworking of any kind in it. No mining rights and no payable gold had been discovered upon it.