REPORT OF THE GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6163, 18 August 1881, Page 5

REPORT OF THE GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECfiVL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. TnE Goldfields' Committee to-day presented an important report on the subject of riparian rights on goldhelds. The report is very lengthy. The committee are of opinion that the Goldfields Act, 1575, does not provide a remedy for miners against arbitrary enforcement of riparian rights by landowners because :—l. It takes eighty days to enforce the Act. 2. It provides that any person injured by such action shall receive compensation on arbitration.- 3. The Act does not define what constitutes "injury," and leaves the widest scope for claims. The committee do not see why unconditional compensation should be paid to landowners in cases where the public interest demands the resumption of water rights in order to develope goldfields. Lands are increased iu value Toy public works and development of goldfields, and if the mining population is large, landowners cannot hope to claim freedom to exercise riparian rights. The cases of Taierie and Clutha are instanced. The committee therefore recommend all riparian rights affecting rivers in proclaimed goldfields to be resumed wherever required for public purposes, and if compensation is allowed, it should be only on the conditions: 1. That the damage be computed., on the actual injury to the land by being deprived of water in its natural state, and to the owner by the homestead being deprived of pure water. 2. That the increased value of the property through public works or goldfields be assessed as a set off in awarding compensation for damage sustained. The committee advise outlets for tailings to be preserved from sale where possible. The committee further express regret thai successive Ministries have devoted so little attention to the many reports that have been referred to them —a neglect that can hardly encourage the committee to persevere in endeavours to ameliorate the condition of the mining industry under difficuties unexampled in a country whicli owes its prosperity so largely to the development of milling resources.