37

D.—4a

Mr. Hutchison: Is objection taken to this being admitted as evidence? Sir B. Stout: I do not see how the evidence can be of any value, as no one knows about Dr. Hoehstetter. Mr. Hutchison: He was a scientist, but a geologist primarily. Sir B. Stout: I should say, a traveller. Mr. Hutchison: The work is entitled " New Zealand: Its Physical Geography, Geology, and Natural History." Dr. Hoehstetter says, on page 37, "The most striking and important feature of New Zealand is an extensive longitudinal mountain-range, which, interrupted by Cook Strait, runs through the whole length of the two larger Islands in the direction of south-west to north-east, from the South Cape to the East Cape. This range, consisting of upheaved zones of stratified and massive rocks of different ages, constitutes the powerful backbone of the Islands. At its foot—on the South Island at the eastern foot, on the North Island at the western (perhaps also partly at the eastern) —it is accompanied by a volcanic zone," and so on. And again, on page 463, dealing with the Nelson District, he says, " From a central point, forming the watershed between the east and west coasts, and containing the sources of the boundary-rivers of the two provinces, Nelson and Canterbury, the Hurunui running eastward and the Teremakau running westward, the Southern Alps send forth towards north two branches through the Province of Nelson, the extremities of which are washed by the waters of Cook Strait." These, probably, are the two branches I have mentioned as making a fork at the Tophouse. He says also, " These two branches present very different geological features. The w 7 estern ranges, terminating in Separation Point and near Cape Farewell, have an almost northerly strike . . . The eastern ranges"—that is, the other range not striking to the west coast—" stretching from south-west to north-east, consist of stratified sedimentary rocks of sandstones, red, green, and grey clay-slates, with a few limestone banks intervening. The strata are highly inclined, all more or less vertical, and the parallelism of their strike from north-east to south-west continues with remarkable regularity. They are accompanied by an immense dyke of intrusive rocks, striking in the same direction, from the northern extremity of D'Urville Island, across the French Pass, through the Croixelles, by the Dun Mountain, Upper Wairau, and traceable as far as the Cannibals Gorge, in the south of the province, a distance of a hundred and fifty miles ; thus constituting one of the most prominent features of the country . . . On Cook Strait those ranges terminate in numerous islands and peninsulas, enclosing those fiord-like inlets and sounds (Pelorus Sound, Queen Charlotte Sound, &c), which already in Cook's time were noted as most excellent harbours." A similar description of the main range of mountains is given by another scientist, Yon Haast, in the " Geology of the Province of Canterbury and Westland," where at page 172 he describes " A large longitudinal mountain-chain, running from south-west to northeast. . . . Beginning at the south-western end of the South Island, running to the East Cape of the North Island, separated by a broad gap formed by Cook Strait." Sir B. Stout: You know that Yon Haast was Hoehstetter's assistant. Mr. Hutchison: No doubt. They were both scientific men, and one followed the other. In Yon Haast's " Beport of the Topographical and Geographical Exploration of the Western Province " (that is Nelson), he refers to the western range as a distinct branch, running out at Cape Farewell —a sandy point. He refers to " three rugged, serrated peaks of an isolated range." Perhaps it might satisfy my learned friend, on a subject of this importance, to have the opinion of Sir James Hector, the present Director of Geological Surveys of the colony, who will be called. In the fork made by these ranges—the main range and the offshoot—is the district called Tadmor, in which the company claimed that the Government should exercise the powers under section 33, but was denied. Sir B. Stout: Tadmor proper is outside of the B 1 boundary. Mr. Hutchison: Part of Tadmor is within the authorised area. I have not referred to any lands not within the authorised area. lam referring to that part of Tadmor which is within the authorised area. Of course, if the selections were outside the authorised area, there is nothing more to be said on that subject. The applications I refer to for land in the Tadmor district were peremptorily ruled out. Sir C. Lilley : You said you asked the Crown ? Mr. Hutchison: Yes; and the Crown replied that the applications were on the eastern side and not on the western side, and consequently not within the purview of clause 33 of the contract. Sir B. Stout: What date? Mr. Hutchison : The date will appear in the correspondence which I am about to read. The first communication was on the 27th September, 1888, from the manager of the company (Mr. H. Alan Scott) to the Minister of Lands: — " Sib, —With a view of meeting the demand for small blocks of land for settlement, which has been unable to be satisfied during the time the lands have been reserved for the Midland Bailway purpose, I have now the honour to forward a list of the names of some of those persons who have, under authority from the company, made choice of some lands in Westland which they wish to acquire, with particulars of the lands applied for. I have the honour to request that you will cause the value of those pieces of land to be assessed as compared with the valuation price of the remainder of B 1 Block in which they are situated, as provided for in clause 33, subsection (2), of the contract. An officer of the company will be ready to accompany any one whom you may appoint to assess the value of these lands and point out their exact position, if you will inform me with whom I should communicate on the subject. "I have, &c, H. Alan Scott, General Manager." Sir B. Burnside : Then, I understand that these blocks that are opposed are mostly in B 1 ? Mr. Hutchison : Yes, they are all in Bl—that is, within the authorised area—and were intended to be taken up in smaller areas than the blocks themselves. The reply is as follows ;— B—D. 4a.