I.—4a.

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115. Mr. Mills.] What quantity of the land that your company own is now in a proclaimed goldfields district ? —I should say about eight or ten thousand acres; perhaps more, say, fifteen thousand. 116. Have the Crown any reserve rights to the minerals over it? —No. 117. Can you suggest any plan by which the mining industry could be carried on satisfactorily without any injury to your timber industry ?—That is a very large question ; each block of our land would have to be separately treated. 118. What timber do the company consider they own ?—ln that place from about three hundred and fifty to four hundred and fifty million superficial feet. 119. Do I understand your company have only parted with their mining rights to the syndicate at Home ?—We have parted with the title of the land for straight-out sale, but reserve all rights and privileges to get our timber out. 120. You still, however, hold and reserve the timber? —Yes. 121. Does the present company—that is, the Timber Company—hold large interest in the syndicate ?—As large as I could possibly get from them. 122. Hon. Mr. Larnach.] How long is it since your company was first floated ?—Between seven and eight years. 123. Have you a copy of the original prospectus ? —No. 124. Have you seen it?—l saw it in the Melbourne papers. 125. Can you carry your memory back as to whether, although floated as a timber company, it did not specially refer to having considerable mineral possessions ?—lt did refer to it in the prospectus. 126. You have no connection with the goldmining now going on?— No. 127. Are all your freehold lands under the same title ? and do you think you have the absolute right to all that is in the ground? —Yes, so far as I know. 128. Then, those 36,000 acres you sold, they were freehold?— Yes, under the Land Transfer. 129. Then you have sold your title under the Land Transfer Act? —Yes. 130. You know something of land?— Yes. 131. With reference to the kauri-land, what is your opinion in respect to that land for agricultural purposes, absolutely worthless I suppose ?—You get a few hollows where it is good, but a thousand places where it is not. 132. Your objection to this Bill in the first place, I take it, is in the interests of the company you represent ?—Primarily. 133. You have had some experience in connection with the floating of companies, and also in financing for companies; you have read this Bill, and understand its different provisions; now, to put your company out of consideration altogether, what, in your opinion, would be the effect upon the progress of mining in this colony so far as influencing or discouraging the introduction of capital to the colony if this Bill becomes law ?—No more capital would come into the colony of New Zealand, or very little. 134. Mr. W. Kelly.] You say each block would have to be separately treated ?—Yes. 135. How many blocks are there ?—About thirty or forty. 136. On the East Coast ?—Yes, some are up to 5,000 acres in extent. 137. Numerous arrangements would have to be made?— Yes. 138. You say you have sold the freehold and reserve the right to " take off " the timber of the 36,000 acres?— Yes. 139. Was that registered ? —I think they had to pay £800 bill-stamp. 140. Hon. Mr. Gadman.] You say, Mr. Trapp, you have sold 36,000 acres. I presume that refers mostly to Whangapoua ? —Yes. 141. Have you any objection to tell the Committee how much cash and paid-up shares ?—The deed will show that. 142. With respect to Whangapoua, I suppose 30,000 acres would be in Whangapoua?—l think there are about 32,000 out of the 36,000. 143. Can you tell us how many millions of feet are left in Whangapoua now ?—Eoughly, about thirty-two millions. 144. Does that include Punga-Punga?—Not sold. 145. Can you give us some of the names? —Otongaru, Hikutawatawa, Waitekauri, and Owera. 146. You stated, also, one of the objections you had to the Bill was the tailings would go in and block up the creeks. Do you consider yourself an authority on mining matters?—l do not. 147. Suppose tailings did block up a creek, the first drive of logs would sweep those tailings away, without a doubt. Mr. Trapp : Then where would those tailings go ? Hon. Mr. Gadman : Into the sea, I should say. Mr. Trapp : If they have to go down a creek they may stick to the side. You know, if you send a drive of logs, some go to the sides, and naturally some of those tailings would go to the sides. Hon. Mr. Gadman : The tailings from stamper-batteries are as fine as sand, and, even if the creek was blocked up, the first drive of logs that came along would simply clear the whole creek out. I have seen a stone nearly half the size of this room rolled for a hundred yards. As far as the debris going into the creek is concerned, the first drive of logs will simply clear the whole creek out. Mr. Trapp : Where would the earth go ? 148. Hon. Mr. Gadman.'] The earth on the banks ? —Yes. If you start on a new creek, it may not be sft. wide, but before you are done it may be 50ft. wide. The earth would all go away into the sea. 149. You come from Victoria, I understand ?—Yes.