D.—4,

45

113. Mr. Cooper.'] That portion of Kangaroo Creek on to Potts' and Nelson Creek —do you consider that there was any necessity for reserving that?— None at all. 114. You went through that portion hatched between Kangaroo Creek and Nelson Creek?—■ Yes. I found no trace of working, or of any gold having been discovered. 115. Prom the nature of the country, do you think there is any likelihood of gold being discovered there ?—No, Ido not think so. In fact, the terraces are above the levels of the creek. 116. You think that a portion could be cut off between Nelson Creek and Potts' Creek?— Yes. 117. Why?— Because there are gold-workings there, and payable gold has been found, and is being worked there at present, at Nelson Creek. 118. Hon. E. Blake.] I see some little holdings marked here?— Those are leasehold sections in grass. 119. Mr. Cooper.] Would there have been any difficulty whatever in the Government cutting out those portions for reserves ? —Not the slightest that I could see. 120. Can you suggest any reason why those reserves have been made like that ? Mr. Gully : 1 should not like him to suggest. 121. Mr. Cooper.] Well, we will not press that at the present time. What do you say to Block 79 ?—The same thing applies to it as to the other two blocks. As to the hatched portion, there is no mining going on on it. 122. No mining on the hatched portion?— No. 123. A very large portion of land there is hatched on the principal portion of that block ?— Yes. 124. You say there was no reason for including that in the reserves that you know of ?—No reason at all. 125. What is the nature of that land ?—Some of it flat and some of it hills and terraced timber-land. Hon. B. Blake : I see you have a reserve along the banks of the Kangaroo, and where it forks the reserve the whole interspace. 126. Mr,. Cooper.] Do you think even that reserve is necessary—the interspace between that and the forks here [indicating on the plan] ?—No ; Ido not think it is necessary; but it makes it more uniform. That portion was allowed to be reserved, but actually the creek is the only thing that requires to be reserved—a few chains on each side. 127. The same remark which you made in reference to that portion of Block 81 would apply to that portion of Block 79 ?—Yes. 128. Hon. E. Blake.] The creek itself, and a few chains of the banks on each side are all you think necessary ?—Yes. 129. Mr. Cooper.] There are two other hatched portions of that block—two corners: do you think any portion of those are required ? There are 800 acres in one portion and 500 acres in the other portion. Do you think that on either of those hatched portions there is any probability of mining being carried on?—On the western hatched portion I do not think there is any likelihood of mining being carried on. As to the eastern portion, Ido not know. Some others can speak about that. 130. Hon. E. Blake.] On the western portion of the creek?—lt was the western portion that I saw. 131. Mr. Cooper.] I believe there was at one time a very considerable output of gold from some portion of that block?— There were workings at Bed Jacks, and Blackwater, and Glasgow Creek, and all about there. 132. Therefore, you think that reserves should have been made on that portion covering those creeks?— Yes, there were a good many miners there at one period. There are very few at present compared with formerly. 133. Can you say how many men are working in that portion?—l think there are about sixtyone men altogether working in that portion. 134. Mr. Cooper.] Forty-five Europeans and fifteen Chinamen ? —Yes. 135. Hon. E. Blake.] What do you say about the hatched portion? Is any portion of that required for mining ? —I do not think so. 136. Mr. Cooper.] What is the character of that land—the hatched portion?— All timbered country. 137. I see there is a portion of that which you think should be reserved as a compliment of the portion of 81. What nature of workings did you find on that ?—A good many men were working on the branches of No Town Creek ; about fifty-two, I think, altogether on that portion of the block. 138. Can you give any reason why the gold-workings are confined to that portion ?—The No Town Creek runs down there, and evidently alluvial wash is deposited in No Town Creek, and the small creeks running into it. 139. Are they old workings, Mr. Fenton?—A great many of them are old workings. Evidently a great many men were there at one time ; and there are about fifty-two, I think, at present on the main creek and the branches. 140. There is Spring Creek Gully. There have been workings there at one time ? Can you say in what condition those workings are ? —There have been three prospecting shafts put down there. I found the shafts there. They were abandoned. 141. We will now come back to 74 and 75. There is a portion there that could be easily cut out for gold-mining purposes between Callaghan's Creek and Nelson Creek ?—Yes; that was rightly reserved. 142. That is, if the reserve had been made like that ? —Yes. 143. Any necessity whatever to reserve the hatched portions ?—No.