I—3

46

Mackaytown for the Karangahake Spur. I know the document produced (A)j it is a certificate for lost miner's right's. It was my miners' right that was lost. The miner's right was numbered 749, dated 3rd March, for the Ohinemuri Gold Field. I did not take the miner's right with me when I went up to the claim. I called at Lipsey's and Mr. Swiney's on my way. I had not my miners' rights when I left Lipsey's, nor when I got to Mr. Swiney's, nor when I left there. We went up to the claim from there. The Cattran's, ftwo of them,) Martin Cattran was one of them ; Freirhela was there; Patrick Dillon was not in our company. We went up to the piece of ground we intended to mark out. I had my miner's right before I got to the claim. I do not know whether any one else of the party had their miners' rights. I did not get my miner's right from any of those in my company. We overtook several going up to the claim. It was from some person that was on the spur that I received the miner's right. I must decline to say who that person was. I have thoroughly made up my mind not to tell who gave me my miner's right. I know the person; he was on the spur. Ido uot know whether he gave any other person a miner's right. The answering of the question as to who gave me my miner's right might tend to criminate me and perhaps him on a charge of conspiracy to obtain miners' rights. He was not a Government official of any kind. I expected to have got my miner's right in the way I did. I arranged the night before to have this miner's right given to me as I have stated. I was outside the big tent when I made the arrangement. The person from whom I got the miner's right was not the one arranged to obtain them from the office. I decline to say with whom I made the arrangement outside the tent, on the same grounds as before—l mean a charge of stealing miner's rights. Robebt Cashel. Taken and sworn before me at Mackaytown, Ohinemuri, this 17th June, 1875— Jackson Keddell, Commissioner, Miners' Rights Inquiry. By Authority: Oboeos Didsbuky, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7s. [Price 3s. 3d.]