to.—4

48

210. Do you think that the land in Block 65 is land that would find a market ?—Most decidedly it would find a market, for a man named Flynn had a section at Snowy, and he told me he tried hard to buy a section. j 211. You think it is land that could be sold? —If it were in the market it could be sold. 212. They are freehold sections ?—Yes ; all round. 213. Dealing with Block 66 —that portion of the block on the Blackwater Eiver : do you apply the same remarks to that portion as you did to the portion in 65 —that is, the continuation of the Blackwater Eiver ?—Yes. 214. That is, 40 chains on each side ought to be reserved for the benefit of present and future mining ?—lt does not require very much here, as the bed of the creek is not nearly so wide; but in order to prevent any dispute I allowed it. I say that much is not required at the head of 66. 215. In Snowy Creek? —There is no one working there at all. Parts of it were worked years ago, but it was abandoned when I was there. 216. There is a portion on each side of 66 —1,980 acres—above Brown's Creek : what do you say about that ?—There was a quartz reef discovered there some years ago on the upper boundary, near the Snowy Eiver. There has been nobody working there for over ten years ; but, in case of any gold being found there, we allowed a very large reserve. 217. You say nobody has been working there for ten years?— No. 218. Is there anybody working on Brown's Creek ? —I did not go to that portion of the creek. 219. You think that hatched portion of Block 66 has been improperly reserved ?—Yes. 220. Are those freehold sections along the banks of the Snowy Creek?— Freehold and leasehold. 221. What is the nature of the cultivation along there? —Very good grass-land; alluvial flats. 222. Orchards ?—Yes. 223. There is a hatched portion of Block 66. You have not spoken to the right of the blocks there —at Brown's Creek?—l went through that portion near Mackley's farm. 224. You think that has been improperly included in. the reserve ? —Yes. 225. Why ?-—On account of no gold having been discovered on it. It is of the same character as Mackley's farm. We have allowed the river for tailings or anything of that kind from above. There are no workings, but if in ages there might be it would be necessary. 226. Hon. E. Blake.] Just above Brown's farm?— Yes. 227. Mr. Cooper.] You allowed that ?—Yes. We allowed 16 chains wide. 228. Did you speak as to that portion of 71 hatched. Have you any particular observation to make in reference to that portion ?—The lower portion all along that road is fine timbered land. There are no workings at all. 229. [Exhibit 93 put in, including Blocks 59, 61, 62, and 63.] Dealing with Blocks 62 and 63— we might take these two together—the hatched portions of these blocks, Mr. Fenton, ought they to , have been included in the reserves in your opinion ? —No. 230. Can you give us the reason ?—No payable gold has ever been discovered on them. 231. Do you think payable gold is likely to be discovered there?—No, there is none likely to be discovered there. There are no mining rights on them and no miners at work—that is, on the hatched portion. 232. There is a creek called Adamstown Creek over on Block 62? —-Yes. 233. Has there been mining on that creek?— Yes; and mining is going on at present there. 234. Do you know how many men are working on that creek? —There are twenty-nine Europeans and eighteen Chinamen. 235. The same observations apply to that that you made before : that the alluvial gold is contained in the creeks and the banks of the creeks? —Yes, there is no payable gold on the sides of the hills. The gold-wash is 120 ft. wide in places, in patches. It gets poorer as it gets down towards the lower part. The lower part is not worked at all. 236. What width have you suggested there in Adamstown Creek?— Twenty chains wide. 237. You think that would be amply sufficient ?—Yes. 238. Hon. E. Blake.] You mean that for about 120 ft. there might be a payable run of gold? ■ —Yes. It might be 30ft. wide and it might be 120 ft. wide. 239. Mr. Cooper. .] There is a portion that you suggest should be cut out in Antonio's Creek ?— Yes, there are a few small gullies running up in Antonio's Creek, and on the south side of it. 240. Are there men working on Antonio's Creek ?—Yes. 241. Why do you suggest a reservation in that form ? —To allow for these small creeks, in which there are a few Chinamen working. 242. Instead of taking the banks of each of these small creeks, you suggest that it should be allowed on the block system ? —Yes. 243. And up above Slab-hut Creek ?—Slab-hut Creek is something like Antonio's, only there are fewer men, and it is worked out; but we allow them to take in all the old workings. There are nine Chinamen fossicking in the creek, going over the old workings again. 244. The land between these two creeks—between Antonio's and Slab-hut Creeks—what kind of land is it ?—lt is hilly country, 245. Bush ?—Yes ; and some on top of the hill is open country. 246. Do you think there is any possibility of gold being discovered between the creeks?—No ; I do not think so. 247. We will take Blocks 59 and 63 together ; there is a considerable portion of 63 you suggest should be cut out. I think you might take 59 in dealing with the balance of 63. There is a portion in Block 59 of 1,530 acres ?—Yes.