95

C.—H

gum-buyers' licenses issued. The total number of men at present (4th June, 1914) digging on the field is about twenty-eight Most of them have come from Mangawai, where the ground is now too wet to dig on. There are now four men on the field who belong to the locality. Two of these men are solely depending on the gum: they are old and indigent, and pay nothing for their licenses, which are just renewed from year to year; rJre other two men wdio belong to the district dig part of their time and do other work when they can get it. All the other men on the field just come during the winter months; some only stay a few days. I believe the late strike in Auckland is responsible for the large number at present here. During the winter of 1913 the largest number on the field at one time was eight. J. Horan, Constable 1125, Wellsford. Sir,— Kairara, 15th June, 1914. Yours of the 14th instant just to hand re Gum Commission, which I did not receive till the 12th. I have only taken over my present business since the Ist October, 1913; previous to that it belonged to Mr. T. C. Hawkins, of Tangowahine, but 1 had charge of it. Mr. Hawkins did not begin to buy gum till about October, 1912; from that date to 30th September, 1913, he bought about 21 j tons, for which the value would be £2,177 10s. : there was besides an Austrian gum-buyer, who has bought gum to the value of about £f,OOO. This gum was taken from the gum reserve, and a small quantity from the forest reserve—not more than about £200, as the bush was being worked at that time. f bought gum from the Ist October, 1913, to the 13th June, 1914, 7 tons 16 cwt. 1 qr. 71b., to the value of £565 Bs. Id. As far as I can estimate, about £100 came from the forest reserve, and £60 from private property, and the balance of £405 Bs. Id. from the gum reserve. There will be a greater number of white gum-diggers here this winter than last; about ten or twelve have arrived since the Gum Commission inspected the reserves. I am, &c, Mr. R. P. Greville, Auckland. A. C. Selby. Sir, — Waimate, near Dargaville, 16th June, 1914. I am very sorry not to have been able to send the enclosed by the 12th instant as requested: the fact is, owing to my not going to Dargaville for over a week, I did not get your letter till last Saturday, the 13th. I trust, however, it will still be of service. For several years there have not been so many diggers on Kairara, owing to our being ordered out by the Department. It is only since the timber has been cut out that there has been any number of diggers on the field. Of course, my purchases are but a small portion of the gum dug for 1913, as there were five of us buying —Love Urlich taking about half the gum dug for the year; Mr. Charles Selby, who has a store on the field, bought a good deal; likewise did Mati Franick, Thomas Ellis, and myself. Trusting this is not too late to be of service, Yours respectfully, Mr. Greville. Peter Brown. Gum bought by me on Kairara Reserve and Waimata (privately) for the last Five Tears. T. cwt. qr. lb. £ s. d. 1909—Kairara ... ... ... ... 2 18 2 9 228 1 4 Waimata ... ... ... ... 2 0 2 27 128 11 1 1910 —Kairara ... ... ... ... 8 7 1 17 576 19 10 Waimata ... ... ... ... I 5 3 1 81 19 1 1911—Kairara ... ... ... ... 5 5 2 22 323 17 7 Waimata ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 13 94 5 2 1912—Kairara ... ... ... ... 0 12 2 13 47 9 3 Waimata ... ... ... ... 0 9 3 15 39 6 6 1913—Kairara ... ... ... ... 9 7 3 10 1,064 4 2 Waimata ... ... ... ... 0 9 0 27 43 5 2 This is what was paid for the gum on the field, and of course does not include working expenses.—P. Brow t n. Sirs, Pukenui. In _ response to your request, I beg to hand you herewith my statement of matters in connection with lands included in kauri-gum reserves, &c. There is a vast area of land extending from Waipapakauri as far north as Te Kau that is at present locked up in the kauri-gum reserves that could be thrown open for settlement, as such land is well known to be for the most part non-gum-bearing, and while in some parts a little gum has certainly been found, but not in anything like payable quantities, and these areas if surveyed and thrown open for selection would be readily taken up. There are two sections, Nos. 7 and 8, in this, the Houhora East Survey District, that were surveyed some years ago, before the first operation of the Kauri-gum Industry Act, and which at the time of the creation of kauri-guni reserves in this district were included in the gum reserve. Now, these sections have never contained gum in anything like payable quantities—in fact, on one section gum has never been