to.—4

64

apply to the hatched portion of 66. The portion left Ido not think should be reserved, but the slate country comes in, and some people thought it advisable to allow it; but there are no rights or privileges there of any kind. 721. You say that, with the exception of these pieces, there are no mining rights existing or mining going on ?—There is no mining going on. The little patch at Mossy Creek has been worked out, and at Snowy Creek it has been worked out. There is no continuous lead of gold running across Blackwater, across the Grey, and through Napoleon Hill, Nelson Creek, and No Town to the Arnold, and then across the Arnold. 722. Have you found any evidence of a lead of any kind running in that country?— None whatever. If it existed it must have been found out, because it would cross the creek at right-angles. The run of that lead would be at right-angles to the watershed of the country. In the spurs dividing the creeks there is certainly no evidence of such a lead existing. There is not a creek there that has not been thoroughly prospected. The Court rose at 5-45 p.m.

Tuesday, 3ed December, 1895. The Court sat at 10 a.m. Mr. Daniell's examination by Mr. Jones resumed. 1. Mr. Jones.] Last night you admitted that you allow one portion of 65 ?—Yes ; the Carriboo Creek is a very small creek running into Big River. It runs in about the north-western point of the block. It is a very small creek. There are three men working there and one woman. I think a small reservation should be made there. The Carriboo Creek is a small creek running at the northwestern corner of Block 65, into what is called the Blackwater on the map, but which is really Big Eiver. Three men are working on that creek, and at the mouth of the creek a woman is working, known as Mrs. Sailor Bill. I think a small reservation should be made there of 2 chains on either side of the creek, for about three-quarters of a mile in length. 2. With reference to Block 62 [Exhibit No. 93] on the south-east corner of it: what do you say to that ?—On the south-east corner there is an area of 2,560 acres hatched here. It is the southerly portion of the block, to the south of Adamstown Creek. There are no gold-workings of any kind on that block, and the ground is not required for mining purposes. There is no indication of any lead going through it, and it is not intersected by any creeks carrying gold. 3. What class of ground is it ?—lt is terraced ground, well timbered, sloping towards the railway-line. 4. Is there any of it cultivated?— Yes; there are two or three freehold sections fronting the railway-line—between the railway-line and the western boundary of the reserve. It was originally birch land. 5. You say that that birch land has been cleared by settlers?— The whole of the eastern frontage of the block has been cleared. 6. Go up to Adamstown Creek : what do you say to that ? —ln Adamstown Creek the western portion of the ground for about a mile and a half should not be reserved. There are no workings there. The land is flat. It is the lower part of Adamstown Creek. The greater portion of it should not be reserved. There are no workings there nearer than a mile and a half from the railway-line, and there all the work is confined to about a mile of country. 7. Are you speaking now of a mile and a half from the railway-line, or from the boundary of the private property crossing Adamstown Creek ? —I am not certain to a few chains. It is about two miles from the railway line. 8. Then, with reference to other portions of the creek—the eastern portion—you say that is properly reserved ?—Yes. 9. We will travel north between the northern boundary until you come to Antonio's Creek : what do you say to that ?—There is a block of 2,900 acres in extent there. That land is not required for mining purposes. It is high, terraced land, well timbered. The flat on the top is suitable for cultivation. 10. Are there any mining privileges in that block ?—No ; all the mining privileges are in the portion admitted by the general body of witnesses. 11. Hon. E. Blake.] You might ask whether they have hatched any portion in which there already existed a mining privilege. I understand that in no place where you find miners have you hatched it. Your plan was always to make some sort of allowance wherever you found actual mining going on? —That was the plan adopted. 12. Mr. Jones.] In Block 62 you have adopted that course ? —Yes ; that was the system upon which we acted, and intentionally we did not hatch any part in which they found any mining going on. 13. And that will apply to all the maps?— Yes. There are only two or three exceptions— Carriboo Creek is one of them. 14. Hon. E. Blake.] But that was done in error? —Yes. 15. Mr. Jones.] Then, as to north of Antonio's Cresk ?—There is a block of 3,600 acres. As a matter of fact another 700 acres should be taken in. There are no miners there- It is the same class of ground. 16. We will take the northern portion of 62 ? —The same remarks apply to that. 17. Now 63, crossing the Big Eiver ?—South of the Big Eiver there are no miners on the ground, or mining-rights or privileges. 18. Crossing Antonio's Creek ?—There is another block there of 940 acres on it. There are no mining rights or privileges there. 19. Which you say is properly hatched?— Yes.