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92. You have allowed for all the mining going on, and think this block should not have been reserved ? —Yes. [Exhibit 98 referred to.] 93. We will take Block 93 by itself?— There are no miners' rights or privileges of any sort in that block. 93a. Are there any miners at all working in the block ? —No. 94. Now, Block 94 ? —On the southern portion of Block 94 there is a reservation made for Baker's Creek. Ido not consider it necessary. No one is working there, but still the reserve has been made. 95. Hon. E. Blake.] There is the Seventeen-mile Bluff. Your last witness expressly stated that there were miners there, and that it was necessary to make a reservation for them? —I may explain that I am under the impression that the Admiralty reserve goes right along the water-line. Of course, that reserve would not be included in the Government reserve. 96. You assume that that would be suitable for the beachcombers ?—Yes. 97. It would be suitable for residence-areas and everthing which, in ordinary cases, would be required for the beachcombers ? —Yes. 98. Mr. Jones.] You do not consider it necessary to make the reservation for Baker's Creek? — No. There is no one at the workings. 99. What is the nature of the country around Baker's Creek—Blocks 94 and 97?— There is the lead of gold known as the Barrytown Lead there. It is allowed for. It is probably 700 ft. or 800 ft. in width. It consists of a series of leads, but they are all contained in a strip of land about 600 ft. wide. Sixty-four men are working there, and I think a reservation should be made there. I agree that this made is ample. It runs through a portion of 94—from Fagin's Creek —and the whole of 95 and 97. 100. Hon. E. Blake.] There is a narrow reserve in the frontage ? —Yes ; that is for the beachcombers. If the Admiralty piece is reserved, this piece is not required, in my opinion. At the back of this [indicating the Barrytown lead] there are four different water-races, taking their rise in creeks, and these should be allowed for in the hatched portion. 101. Are you speaking of 95 or 97 ?—95 and 97 ; there are four water-races there. 102. Mr. Jones.] Can you give the names of the creeks with which they are connected? — Only by referring to my note-book. One of the races is at the head of Lawson's Creek, and one from Maher's Creek. 103. What about Devery's Creek?— This extends about a mile into the hatched portion. 104. Hon. E. Blake.] The Government allow how much?— About 20ft. in width. 105. Mr. Jones.] Now we have done with that strip of blue. There is a piece hatched on the western portion of the blue. What is the nature of that piece of country round there —Blocks 94, 97, and 95 ?—That piece of country is known as the Barrytown Plats. It is about ten miles in length, with an average width of a mile. It is really good agricultural or pastoral land, and, in my opinion, is not required for mining purposes. 106. Has it been tested in any way ?—Yes. Near Fagin's Creek—that is, about the north-western corner of 94 —extensive workings have been carried on in years past, but the workings have been abandoned as non-payable. But the flats must have been crossed for about half a mile and crosscuts taken. They were working for a considerable time there. 107. Will you describe that corner in Fagin's Creek? —Speaking from memory, the terrace or open cutting has been taken in about 11 chains in length. 108. Where does it start from?— From the sea-beach. 109. Going in what direction?—At right-angles to the sea-beach. 110. How far does it go in ?—Perhaps about 16 chains in all, and from that they have taken cross-cuts north and south into the country. 111. What is the length across? —About 15 chains —about 24 chains north, forming a T. 112. Now, what is the depth of the cutting?—lt is full of water, but as far as I could judge it is about 25ft. in depth. 113. They have been cutting on the bottom ?—I cannot of my own opinion say, because it isfull of water. 114. Could you not see whether they had been working?— Yes; there was lots of stuff taken out from the bottom. 115. Would you say that was a fair, or no test? —A thorough test. 116. Are you aware of there being any other prospecting on that mile-wide piece of country ?— Yes; our party tried a considerable amount of prospecting, the particulars of which I have here. 117. Hon. E. Blake.] You mean when you were with these prospectors? —Yes; we brought prospecting plant with us. 118. Did you want to find gold, or to find that there were no indications of gold ?—I would have been very glad to have found gold. 119. Mr. Jones.] First of all, describe the plant you used for the purpose of testing the ground ? —ln the wet ground we used a small tube, shod with steel at the bottom, pierced with holes, and drove it into the ground by means of a monkey. We pumped the sand by means of a Gould pump; and after testing that we drove the pipe down for another foot and took another prospect, and so on till we reached the bottom. 120. Mr. Jones.] Before we go on to the dry testing process, would it be a fair test or would it be a test in favour of the supposition that there was gold there ?—Well, generally it is used in testing beaches, and it is the only means that could be used without going to the expense of damming back the sea and pumping the water out to keep it down. 121. Hon. E. Blake.] Do I understand that was generally of your own knowledge or from the knowledge of others in the locality ?—Only by those in the locality.