to.—4

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140. Mr. Jones.] We do not object to 88. Now, we come to 89: what do you say to that block. You had better commence at the southern portion of it, and go right through'?— The southern portion of that block is nearly all sold. It is all freehold cleared land. There are several settlers there. They have got farms varying from 100 to 400 acres in extent. All appear to be doing well. The whole frontage to the Big Biver and to the Grey Valley consists of that class of land. On the ground that is hatched there are certainly no workings of any kind. Granity Creek: I think there was one man prospecting there, but he had no claim or rights. The other witnesses have made a better examination of the creek. 141. Hon. E. Blake.] Do you say there was one man working in Granity Creek on the part hatched ?—No. The creek should be allowed. One man was prospecting there when I was there, but he had no claim. 142. Is that in the part hatched ? —Yes. In Slatey Creek there is a big reserve made here, which I do not think is necessary. 143. Mr. Jones.] At all events, in the part hatched there is no mining going on?— No. 144. Do you know Mr. Lee ?—Yes. 145. Do you know whether he is actually clearing any of that land or not ?—Yes, he is—one section. 146. You do not know the number of the section ? —No; but I think it is either 6 or 7. 147. You have reserved a portion of Caledonia Creek ?—That is not necessary ; there are no ■workings there, but it has been allowed in the hatching. 148. I think that covers all the Grey Valley. Now, we come to the Buller. [Exhibit 89 referred to.] Will you kindly commence at Block 25, and describe the land at the mouth of the Maruia, where it joins with the Buller Eiver, and describe the country up that line? —The whole of this Maruia reserve is of the same class, and I think it would simplify matters to take the whole lot together. 149. You are taking 25, 26, 27, and 28 now ? —ln 25 and 26 there is a total of fourteen men ■working. A number of them combine farming with gold-mining; but there are no workings which extend more, than 40ft. or 50ft. from the bank of the river. The gold gives out there. There is really no necessity for half a mile reserve on either side. The land is really excellent agricultural land. There are a number of clearings there. Every miner has got more or less of a large garden and orchard attached to his place. Some of this birch land is good in places there, and seems to grow really excellent grass where it has been cleared. I have been thoroughly over this block. I spent pretty well a week in making a thorough examination of it. 150. Hon. E. Blake.] You say the half-mile is quite unnecessary. What have you allowed ? —Personally 100 ft. on each side. 151. Perhaps your judgment would be less than the collective judgment ?—The collective judgment would not exceed 2 chains. 152. Would that allow space for gardens and orchards which the miners have there?— They are some distance back. There is one man who has 400 acres. 153. He is a man who farms, but who also does some mining?— Yes. 154. But I was dealing with the question of residence-areas. I was attracted by your own observation that many of the miners have large orchards and gardens. I was wondering whether there was room for them in the reservation made. I do not mean these particular men. It has been stated at the table that it is possible, under the law, to make a residence-area larger than 50 acres ?—I am not a judge of the law. Mr. Jones : The Acts of 1876, 1886, and 1891, and all the amendments, make it clear that no residence-area can exceed 1 acre in extent. Hon. E. Blake : That is your contention. We will not fight that out just now. It is enough for me to know that it is a disputed point. Witness : You would probably have to allow an acre or two to each man. A few of the miners do not require more than, I suppose, a quarter or an eighth of an acre. Ido not know under what title the men hold the land. There are two or three freeholds. There are large areas there on which they grow fruit and raise cattle—up to Block 27, for instance, and above there. Mr. Walker has a station there, and he has one thousand head of cattle and four thousand sheep running on the land. In Blocks 27 and 28 there has never been an ounce of gold taken from them, and there is not a man working on the ground. There is no necessity whatever for the reservation of half a mile on either side. 156. Mr. Jones.] Is there any gold-digging beyond that bend in the river [indicating on map] —just above the junction of the Warwick Eiver? Hon. E. Blake : That was the line of demarcation which the last witness stated. Mr. Jones : Yes. Witness : I think where the men were working was near where section 5 is marked on the map. 157. Do you not recollect that immediately you found the men working here [indicating on map] you crossed the Warwick Eiver ?—Yes; there is a mistake in that bend. From there up there are no men working. 158. Do you recollect the man who was working there ? —Yes. 159. He has a 50-acre farm cleared there ?—He has got the land cleared. He has several magnificent horses. There is magnificent grass on the land. I noticed the five or six horses which he had were rolling in fat. 160. Is there any clearing here by Mr. Sullivan ?—Yes. 161. Birch land ?—Yes. 162. We will now come to the the top of Block 30. What have you to say to that reserve?— On this 2,560 acres I think no reserve should be made at all. None of the ground is required for mining purposes.