GOLD FIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1884 Session II, I-03

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Sess. 11.—1884. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLD FIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

(MR. VINCENT PYKE, CHAIRMAN.)

Presented to the House of Bepresentatives, and ordered to be printed.

INDEX.

Sess. No. Petition. Page Sess. No. Petition. Page II. II. 40 451 B. Begg, James, and Others Byrne, Smith, and Party 3 4 II. 151 Miliken, William, and Others Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill Morris, William, and Others 2 1 2 3 c. Chairman, Acknowledgment for the Services of the (vide I.-3b). Creber, Ambrose, and Others II. 18 II. 17 II. 398 N. Newman, Patrick .. 3 II. II. 120 293 D. Docherty, William Donnelly, Patrick K. Drainage of Mines Bill ■2 4 1 II. I. 113 100" o. O'Brien, John, and Others Ord, W. C, and Others 1 1 II. 255 E. Eriokson, George, and Others 4 II. II. II. II. 400 163 399 436 P. Parker and Others Porter, Adam, and Werahiko, Honi .. Powell, J., and Others Prescott, j. P., and Others .. 3 3 3 4 II. II. 254 224 F. Fox, William Fraser, Simon 2 2 I. 32 R. Rollerson, Elijah, and Others, of the Thames Gold Fields Q. General Eeport (vide I.-8a). Gold Duties Abolition Bill 2 " H. 1 II. II. 62 451 s. Shine, Thomas, and Others Smith, Byrne, and Party .. 3 4 II. II. 188 394 Hunt, Patrick Hunt, William Alexander .. 2 3 Thames Gold Fields, Eesidents of Block XXVII. on I. 32 I. 92 K. Kumara, Mayor and Burgesses of 3 2 II. II. n. 292 499 118 M. McFarlane, R. S., and Another McLean, John, and Others .. McNeight, William, and Others 2 4 1 II. II. I. II. 163 187 35 253 w. Werahiko, Honi, and Porter, Adam .. Wessels, Richard Henry White, John, and Others Wright, J. W., and Others 3 4 3 2

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Shss. 11,-1884. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. Th6 Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report thai, after careful consideration, they recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 10th September, 1884.

No. 100, Sess. I.—Petition of W. C. Ord and 512 Others. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the charge of £1 per annum imposed on the working-men engaged or employed in mining operations on the Thames Gold Field appears to be unjust and impolitic, and the Committee recommend that " The Gold-Mining Districts Act, 1873," be amended, with a view to the abolition of such charge. 12th September, 1884.

No. 118, Sess. ll.—Petition of William McNeight and 35 Others. The petitioners ask that a sum of money may be placed on the Estimates for continuing the Ophir Drainage Channel. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the continuance of the channel mentioned appears to be a desirable and necessary work, and the Committee recommend the prayer of the petitioners to the favourable consideration of the Government. 12th September, 1884.

Gold Duties Abolition Bill, 1884. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that' after careful consideration, they recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with amendments) as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 16th September, 1884.

Drainage of Mines Bill, 1884. The Gold Fields Committee have instructed me to report the above Bill, with amendments, as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached; and, further, that the Government be requested to take charge of the same. 16th September, 1884.

No. 113, Sess. IL—Petition of John O'Brien and Others. The petitioners pray for a refund of expenses incurred in prospecting at Nelson Creek, and law expenses through certain action of the Warden. I am directed to report that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view of granting relief to the petitioners. 19th September, 1884.

Ho. 17, Sess. IL—Petition of Ambrose Creber and Others. The petitioners pray for the abolition of duty on gold. * I am directed to report that this petition be referred to the Government for their favourable consideration. 19th September, 1884.

(MR. VINCENT PYKE, CHAIRMAN.)

GOLD FIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OP THE).

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No. 151, Sess. ll.—Petition of William Milliken and Others. The petitioners pray for the abolition of duty on gold. I am directed to report that this petition be referred for the favourable consideration of the House and Government. 19th September, 1884.

The Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill, 1884. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that, after careful consideration, the Committee recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 23rd September, 1884.

No. 120, Sess. ll.—Petition of William Docherty. It appears that the petitioner has for many years been engaged in prospecting for metalliferous lodes on the west coast of the Middle Island at his own charge and expense, and his labours are highly esteemed by scientific and practical men as being of considerable public value. The petitioner now asks for some assistance to enable him to open up tracks to the lodes discovered by him, so as to reduce the cost of conveying mining materials and provisions. The Committee, after hearing the evidence, and having given full consideration to the case, recommend that such assistance should be granted. 25th September, 1884.

No. 224, Sess. ll.—Petition of Simon Fraser. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom the petition was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee are of opinion that petitioner received all the reward to which he is entitled from the Provincial Council of Otago in 1865. 30th September, 1884.

No. 253, Sess. ll. —Petition of J. W. Wright and Others. The petitioners pray to be relieved of the charge of £1 per annum for miners' rights, while working in companies' mines, who already contribute. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the sum of £1 per annum charged on the working-men engaged or employed in mining operations on the Thames Gold Field appears to be unjust and impolitic. The Committee recommend that " The Gold Mining Districts Act, 1873," be amended, with a view of abolition of such charges. 30th September, 1884.

No. 254, Sess. ll.—Petition of William Fox. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that, in consideration of the many and valuable public services rendered by the petitioner in the discovery of rich gold fields during the last twenty-two years, the Committee recommend that some suitable employment be found for him in the Government service. 30th September, 1884.

No. 292, Sess. ll.—Petition of E. S. McFarlane and Another. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that they recommend the petition be forwarded for the information and consideration of Government. 30th September, 1884.

No. 188, Sess. ll.—Petition of Patrick Hunt. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom the petition was referred, have the honour to report that, in connection with this and similar cases, the Committee desire to direct the attention of the Government to the necessity of making some provision for giving suitable employment to those pioneer gold-miners who through early exposure are worn out and are in needy circumstances. 30th September, 1884.

No. 32, Sess. I.—Petition of Elijah Eollerson and Others, Eesidents of Block XXVIL, Thames Gold Fields. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour qo report that the Committee find they are unable to take all the evidence they would wish without entailing considerable expense in bringing necessary witnesses from the Thames, and that the petition be referred to. the Government, with the recommendation that the Warden be instructed to take evidence and inquire into the merits of the case, and report thereon to the Government. The Committee, would also urge upon the Government the advisability of obtaining the freehold of the land. Ist October, 1884.

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No. 62, Sees. ll.—Petition of Thomas Shine and Others, re Costello v. certain Miners of Croninville. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioners have acted somewhat injudiciously, but as they appear to have been pioneers of a new gold field, and could not have suspected the negligence of the Provincial Government of Nelson in not having caused the banks of the Totara Eiver and its branches to be reserved prior to the granting of Costello's lease, in accordance with its expressed intention in the agricultural lease regulation, section 18, of the 11th August, 1873, the Committee recommend that half the amount of the taxed costs of the suit which the petitioners were compelled to pay should be refunded by the Government. Ist October, 1884.

No. 163, Sess. ll.—Petition of Honi Werahiko and Adam Porter. The petitioners pray for a reward for the discovery of the Aroha Gold Field. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee are of opinion that a good claim for a reward has been established for the discovery of the Aroha Gold Field by the late Honi Werahiko, and that such reward should be paid to his legal representative. 9th October, 1884.

No. 40, Sess. ll.—Petition of James Begg and Others. The petitioners are residents at Kumara, Westbrook, Greenstone and the Teramakau Settlements, and that they pray that a certain track may be widened to give them access to market, and allow their children to attend school. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee recommend that provision for widening the track be made out of the vote for opening up Crown lands for settlement. 9th October, 1884.

No. 92, Sess. I.; and No. 18, Sess. ll.—Petitions of Mayor and Burgesses of Kumara ; and William Morris and Others. The petitioners complain of the excessive charge made for water for sluicing purposes at the Government water-race, and pray that the price may be reduced. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom these-petitions wero referred, have the honour to report that these petitions be referred to the Government in connection with the report adopted in the case of Petition No. 35, Sess. 1., John White and Others, and recommend that the price charged for water should be reduced. 10th October, 1884.

No. 35, Sess. I.—Petition of John White and Others. This is a petition from the miners using the Kumara Sludge-Channel. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee, having heard evidence at great length, and taken the matter fully into consideration are of opinion that it is not desirable nor practicable to continue the manangement of the Kumara Sludge-channel and Water-race under Government authority as at present, and that the matters referred to in the petition before the Committee are of such a nature that they can only be dealt with by local administration. The Committee, therefore, recommend that the sludgechannel and race be vested in the Westland County Council and the Kumara Borough Council, and that, failing the acceptance of such trust by either or both of such local bodies, a trust similar to that of the Mount Ida Water-race and other public works of the same general character be substituted for the purpose of regulating the use, working, and management of the Kumara Sludgechannel Eace, and that the disputes on which the petition is" based should be referred to the local body or trust for settlement; that the sludge-channel and water-race should be put in thorough repair before being handed over to the local bodies or to a local trust; that, pending the handing over of the sludge-channel and water-race, your Committee are of opinion that those clauses of the new regulations which are objected to as unworkable should be suspended. 10th October, 1884.

No. 398, Sess. II.; No. 399, Sess. II.; and No. 400, Sess. IL—Petitions of Patrick Newman ; J. Powell and Others; and Parker and Others. Patrick Newman claims to be the pioneer of the West Coast Gold Fields, and begs for some consideration to be shown to him in his old age. The other petitioners are in support of his claim. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that Patrick Newman is one of the pioneers of the West Coast Gold Fields and has undoubted claims on the colony, and his petition is therefore referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 16th October, 1884.

No. 394, Sess^ ll.—Petition of William Alexander Hunt. The petitioner prays for reward for tire discovery of the Thames Gold Field. The Committee, having taken evidence in this case, indorse the report of the Gold Fields Committee of 1882, on the following grounds :—' (1.) That a thorough investigation was made into the claim of the petitioner by a special Commission of the Auckland Provincial Council (entitled tho Gold Fields Beward Inquiry Commission) in 1870, which Commission reported.unfavourably of petitioner's claim;

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(2.) And also that the Thames Gold Field had already been proclaimed before Mr. Hunt's alleged discovery was made. The Committee are therefore unable to recommend that any reward be paid to the petitioner. 16th October, 1884.

No. 255, Sess. ll.—Petition of George Erickson and Others. The petitioners pray that the lands occupied by them as business sites in the Orwell Creek Township may be sold to them. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee have the honour to report the Committee are of opinion that the section of land outside the mining lease which is partially within the Orwell Creek Township should be sold to the occupants. With regards to those sections which are within the boundaries which are within the lease, the Committee are of opinion that the Government should (if the terms of the lease have not been complied with) cancel the said lease and enter thereupon, and thereafter the sections should be sold to the occupants : Provided (1) that if the lease cannot be cancelled, then in that case the Government be advised to come to some arrangements with the lessees, so as to enable those persons occupying business sections to acquire the freehold of said sections; (2) that if, after inquiry, the Government find it inadvisable to sell the lands at Orwell Creek, then in that case the Government be advised to make provision to have the sections leased on the same terms as are provided for leasing the lands in the Township of Eoss under clause 9 of Appendix L of " The Land Act, 1877." 16th October, 1884.

No. 187, Sess. ll.—Petition of Eichard Henry Wessels. The Committee have the honour to report the claim of the petitioner for a further reward for the alleged discovery by him of a gold field at Seventeen-Mile Beach, on the west coast of the Middle Island, having been duly considered, and evidence taken thereupon, the Committee are of opinion that this case, having been dealt with by the Government, and a settlement of the petitioner's claim accepted by himself and his authorized agent in 1881, which settlement was regarded by the Gold Fields Committee, when referred to them in 1882, as final, should not be reopened. 16th October, 1884.

No. 436, Sess. ll.—Petition of J. P. Prescott and 134 Others. The petitioners, miners of Coromandel, pray for assistance from Government to develop the district by boring operations or otherwise. The Committee recommend the purchase of boring machines by the Government as prayed for in the petition. 22nd October, 1884.

No. 451, Sess. ll.—Petition of Smith, Byrne, and Party. The petitioners state they hold a prospecting claim at Mount Arthur, Collingwood. They complain that a lease has been granted to another party (Arkell and party) over a portion of the ground occupied by petitioners. They pray for relief. The Committee find that the petitioners' case was inquired into by the Gold Fields Committee in 1881, which reported thereon as follows : "After careful consideration of the matter the Committee are of opinion that the petitioners have established their claim, and recommend that the Government should take the necessary steps to uphold the petitioners' claim." Under the circumstances the Committee do not consider it necessary or desirable to reopen the case, and urge upon the Government the necessity of taking definite action in the matter. 22nd October, 1884.

No. 499, Sess. ll.—Petition of John McLean and 75 Others. Petitioners state they are put to much annoyance and expense through a block of land of about ninety acres being held by the Matakanui stationowner. Having no outlet for tailings, they pray the Government to repurchase this piece of land, which would give employment to many miners for years. The Gold Fields and Mines Committee have the honour to report as follows : Whilst fully recognizing the desirability of obtaining the said pre-emptive section as an outlet for the discharge of tailings, the Committee are of opinion that the terms demanded are extravagant and such as they cannot advise the Government to accept. The Committee, however, recommend the Government during the recess to enter into negotiations for this land with the view of obtaining the section by exchange or purchase on more reasonable terms. 31st October, 1884.

No. 293, Sess. ll.—Petition of Patrick K. Donnelly, Thames. Petitionee, a miner at the Thames, alleges he bought the Crown Princess Mine, but afterwards it was found the Warden had no right to authorize the sale. He says-he has lost £12 10s., the sum paid for the mine, and £300 he has .spent upon it, besides his own time. The Committee .have the honour to report that the statements of the Warden and the petitioner are so much at variance that the Committee are unable to make any recommendation. 31st October, 1884.

Authority; Geoege Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB4.