GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885 Session I, I-03

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1885. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

(MR. VINCENT PYKE, CHAIRMAN.)

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

INDEX.

No. Petitions, etc. Page. No. Petitions, etc. Page. A. Aid to Prospecting, Regulations for Aroha Goldfields, Residents on the 4 1 126 o. Orepuki, Miners and Settlers of .. 1 102 P. 187 165 126 c. Cooper, Matthew N. Croninville, Miners of .. Currie, John L., and Others 2 3 1 243 163* Peters, Edward Porter Adam and Werahiko Hone Prospecting, Regulations for aid to 3 3 4 47 P. Fraser, Simon .. 1 ■p Regulations for Aid to Prospecting Regulations for rewards for discovery of new goldfields Rewards for discovery of new goldfields, Regulations for 4 4 G. Gold Export Duty Abolition Bill Goldfields (New), Eegulations for rewards for discovery of Gold-mining Districts Act 1873 Amendment Bill Grant, Lachlan Kerr, and Others 5 4 s. Shine, Thomas, and Others 4 3 3,4 5 165 346 47 T. Taieri West Goldfields, Alleged discoverer of the Tuapeka Goldfields, Alleged discoverer of the 1 3 40 I. Inangahua District, Inhabitants of 1 243 — 102 M. Macandrow, Mr., Memorandum by, on exploration of West Coast, Middle Island .. Mills, James, and Others Miners' Bights Pees Reduction Bill Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill .. Mining Companies Acts, Consolidation of the Mokihinui, Miners and Others of.. Mount Ida Water-race, Owner of a 5 1 5 2,ib. 356 146 356 w. Waihi Goldfields, Holder of an agricultural lease on the Waite, Reuben Walmsley, Horatio Wardens, Removal of Watson, Mr. W., Letter from, on Exploration of West Coast of Otago Werahiko, Hone, and Porter, Adam West Coast Middle Island, Memorandum by Mr. Macandrew on exploration of 4 2 4 3 346 187 3 3 5 2 163* 6 3 5 * Session II., 1884.

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1885. NEW ZEALAND.

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

SPECIAL ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 14th Day of July, 1885. Ordered, " That the Goldfields and Mines Committee have power to report to the House generally their opinion upon all matters in connection witli goldfields legislation, special taxation, and the principles upon which State aid should be extended to mining enterprise."— (Mr. Pyke.)

No. 40.—Petition of 378 Inhabitants of the Inangahua Disteict. The petitioners pray that a reward may be granted to Joseph George Walsh and Joseph Potter for the discovery of certain reefs in the Inangahua District. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to which was submitted the petition for their consideration, have the honour to report that they cannot recommend any rewards for prospecting in goldfields except such as have been provided for by law, and consequently have no recommendation to make in this case. Ist July, 1885.

No. 102. —Petition of James Mills and 171 Others. The petitioners, residents of the Aroha Goldfields, pray that the Government will allow the owners of the new battery at Waiorongomai to construct the connecting tramway to the battery on the same terms as recently offered by the Minister of Mines to the Piako County Council. I have the honour to report that, the Piako County Council having delayed to make the tramway connection with the new Waiorongomai battery, the Committee, from the great importance of the work referred to, strongly urges on the Government the desirability of complying with the prayer of the petitioners, subject to sufficient provision for the proper expenditure of the money in the construction of the tramway referred to, and on condition that the battery-owners hand the tramway over to the county on being refunded the money spent by them on this work. 3rd July, 1885.

No. 47. —Petition of Simon Feasee. The petitioner claims to be the discoverer of the West Taieri Goldfields, and prays for a reward. The Committee have the honour to report that they have only to repeat the decision of the Committee in 1884—viz., That the petitioner has already received all the reward to which he was entitled, from the Provincial Council of Otago in 1865. 3rd July, 1885.

No. 126.—Petition of John L. Cueeie and Others. The petitioners, miners and settlers of Orepuki, pray that complaints may be heard at Orepuki, as it involves great inconvenience and loss in taking witnesses to Eiverton. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that this petition be referred to the favourable consideration of the Government. 10th July, 1885. I—l. 3.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OP THE). (MR. VINCENT PYKE, CHAIRMAN.)

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The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have instructed me to report a Bill intituled "An Act to amend 'The Mines Act, 1877,' and 'The Gold-mining Districts Act, 1873 ' " (Hon. Mr. Larnach), with amendments and additions as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 10th July, 1885.

The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have instructed me to report a Bill intituled "An Act to amend ' The Mines Act, 1877 ' " (Mr. Seddon), with amendments, and recommend that clause 7 be added to a similar Bill introduced by the Hon. Mr. Larnach. Copy hereto attached. 10th July, 1885.

No. 146. —Petition of Eeuben Waite. The petitioner prays that the recommendation of the Goldfields and Mines Committee of last year, who reported favourably on his petition, be given effect to. •ABffCA I am directed to report that the Committee do not see their way to take further action in the matter, and refer the former report to the consideration of the Government. 10th July, 1885.

No. 187.—Petition of Matthew N. Coopee. Petitionee, who is the owner of a water-race at Mount Ida, considers he is entitled to compensation on account of the Government having constructed the Mount Ida Water-race, thereby reducing his receipts. He now prays the Government to purchase his race. I am directed to report that in the opinion of this Committee the petitioner has no claim upon the Government for compensation, and the Committee cannot recommend compliance with khe petitioner's request to purchase his race. 22nd July, 1885.

The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. lam directed by the Goldfields and Mines Committee to report: The Committee recommend that additional clauses be inserted in " The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1885," now before the House, as follows : — Whenever in any case it is not expedient that the provisions of "The Public Works Act, 1882," relating to the proclamation and construction of water-races should be put in force, or whenever any rights to the use of water held under Acts relating to goldfields or mining districts, or for the construction of works connected therewith, have heretofore been, or may hereafter be, acquired by or on behalf of the Council of any county under " The Public Works Act, 1882," or " The Mines Act, 1877," and have by Order in Council been vested, or which may hereafter be vested, in the County Council of any county situated within a gold-mining district, or partly within and without any gold-mining district, the following provisions shall have effect: — (1.) The County Council may in any mining district apply for, receive, and hold any license or other authority to cut, construct, and use any water-race, sludge-channel, tail-race, dam, reservoir, or for any other purpose and in any manner authorized under "The Gold-Mining Districts Act, 1873," or "The Mines Act, 1877" (which Acts and any regulations for the time being in force thereunder respectively are hereinafter included in the expression " the said Acts "). (2.) Every such license or other authority shall confer upon the County Council all rights, powers, remedies, and authorities, and it shall be subject to the same liabilities in respect thereof as if such license or authority had been issued to it as a private person, except that the same shall not be liable to forfeiture for any cause whatever. (3.) (a.) The County Council may from time to time appoint some person or persons in any mining district under the said Acts or either of them, on behalf of the County Council, to apply for and obtain the issue of any license or other authority as aforesaid under the said Acts or either of them, or for the issue of any renewal of any such license or authority ; (b.) And the County Council may in like manner appoint such person or persons or some other person or persons to exercise on behalf of the County Council all such rights, remedies, and authorities, execute all instruments or documents, and to perform all such conditions in respect of any such license or other authority in the name and on behalf of the County Council, as it might have or exercise, or could be called upon to perform, if it were a private person holding such license or authority. (c.) Every such appointment may be limited to some particular power or purpose hereinbefore mentioned, to be specified in the appointment, or may include all such powers or purposes. (4.) A notification in the Gazette signed or purporting to be signed by the Chairman and Clerk of any County Council shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence that such person has been duly appointed with all the powers and for all the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, unless in such notification there shall be expressed some limitation of the authority conferred upon him. (5.) Every Warden, registrar, clerk, or other officer whose duty it may be to issue any license or other authority under the said Acts or either of them shall, upon application made to him for that purpose, either upon an Order in Council or by the County Council, transfer or renew any license, right, or easement to and for the County Council.

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(6.) It shall not be necessary for the County Council or any person on its behalf to take out and hold any miner's right or business license under the said Acts or either of them in order to enable it to hold any such license or authority as aforesaid; nor shall it be necessary that any such license or authority be renewed in any way, or that any annual or other fee in respect thereof be paid by or on behalf of the County Council; but such license or authority shall, during the term for which it was granted, subsist until relinquished by the County Council, or the original term for which it was granted has expired. (7.) Expressions and terms used in this section of this Act shall have the like meanings as expressions and terms used in the said Acts or either of them, or in any regulations made under the said Acts or either of them. Clause seventeen of " The Mines Act, 1877," is hereby repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:— If any person being the holder of a miner's right shall hire himself for wages to an employer, the right to hold and occupy any claim by virtue of such miner's right, and to any gold therein, shall be vested in such employer : Provided always that, in the event of non-payment of such wages, any person so employed shall have a lien upon the claim whereon he has been employed to the extent of the amount of wages due to him, such sum not exceeding three months' wages; and, until the said lien bo satisfied, the person so working as wages-man shall be deemed to be in possession of the said claim until the wages are paid and the said lien fully satisfied : And the wagesman shall, within seven days after ceasing to work in the claim, register such lien in the Warden's Court in the district in which the claim is situated. 22nd July, 1885.

Beport under Oedee of Eefeeence dated the 14th July, 1885 (vide p. 1). The Goldfields and Mines Committee draw attention to the recommendation made by the Committee last session relative to the periodical removal of Wardens, and again repeat their recommendation ; and that all expenses incidental to such removals be defrayed by the Government. 24th July, 1885.

Eepoet under Oeder of Eefeeence dated the 14th July, 1885 (vide p. 1). The Goldfields and Mines Committee desire to represent to the Government the desirability of consolidating the Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Acts of 1878 and 1883 and the Act now before the House. 24th July, 1885.

The Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines 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 the amendments as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 24th July, 1885.

No. 165. —Petition of Thomas Shine and Others, Miners, of Croninville. The petitioners pray that the Government may refund to them the money expended in what they believe to be defending their rights, when prosecuted by James Costello, householder, for polluting his stream, and alleged injury to property. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that the recommendation of the Committee of last year may be given effect to —viz., " That half the amount of the taxed costs of the suit, which the petitioners were compelled to pay, should be refunded by the Government " — when satisfied that the persons claiming such refund of taxed costs are duly entitled thereto. 31st July, 1885.

The Gold-mining Disteicts Act 1873 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom the above Bill was referred, after careful consideration, beg to recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 11th August, 1885.

No. 243.—Petition of Edwaed Petees. The petitioner, who claims to be the discoverer of the Tuapeka Goldfields, prays that some consideration may be shown him in his old age, as he is unable to obtain a livelihood. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom this was referred, have the honour to report that this Committee are of opinion that, owing to lapse of time and other causes, the petitioner has not established his claim to a reward for the discovery of gold in Otago. The Committee, however, recommend the case of the petitioner to the favourable consideration of the Government, as one to be dealt with under the head of Charitable Aid to the extent of £50, on condition that an equal sum of £50 be raised by public subscription. 12th August, 1885.

No. 163, Sess. 11., 1884.—Petition of Adam Poeter and Hone Weeahiko. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that the sum recommended to be paid to the legal representatives of the late Hone Werahiko, as reported upon last session on Petition No. 163, be £350. £liw2lst August, 1885.

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No. 356. —Petition of Horatio Walmslet. The petitioner states that he is the holder of an agricultural lease on the Waihi Goldfields, and that at the time he took up the said lease he was promised he could purchase the freehold on the extinguishment of the Native title. The Warden has now declared that one chain wide shall be reserved on each side of the creek for mining purposes, which includes most of the land he has available for agriculture, also nearly all his improvements. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition has been dealt with by the House of Eepresentatives, the Committee do not see their way to make any recommendation thereupon ; but recommend the petition to be forwarded to the Legislative Council, in whose hands the matter now rests. ' 21st August, 1885.

The Gold-mining Disteicts Act 1873 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom the above Bill was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee, having carefully considered the additional clauses and amendments as shown on Supplementary Order Paper No. 42 (copy hereto attached), recommend their acceptance and adoption by the House, August, 1885.

Eepoet on Eegulations for Aid to Prospecting. (Under Order of Eeference dated the 14th July, 1885), (vide p. 1). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having carefully considered the matter, desire me to report to the House the attached regulations, which they recommend for adoption by the Government: — 1. Upon the Council of any county, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon any Eoad Board, adopting the following regulations for prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, or tin, the Government shall, subject to the following conditions, subsidize by pound for pound the amounts expended by each County Council or Eoad Board, as the case may be. 2. Previous to the Government binding itself to subsidize any local body as aforesaid, each local body shall submit its proposals to the Minister of Mines for approval. 8. On the application and proposals having been approved of, each payment shall be made on the certificate of the County Chairman in the case of a County Council, and in the case of a Eoad Board on the certificate of the Chairman of the said Board, or such other person as may be appointed by the Minister. 4. The amounts payable by way of subsidy to any County Council in any one year shall not ■exceed £500. 5. The amounts payable to any Eoad Board in any one year shall not exceed £200. 6. The Government shall subsidize by pound for pound any amounts expended by County Councils or Eoad Boards in the purchase of boring appliances to be used for prospecting purposes. Class I. —One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidized at the rate of 15s. per week per man for prospecting new and unprospected country, three miles from any main or district road, and from any known workings. Class II. —One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidized as under while prospecting partially-worked and prospected country within tolerably easy access of road communication: — Sinking. —Dry ground—ls. per foot from surface to 15ft., 2s. per foot from 15ft. to 60ft., 3s. per foot from 60ft. to any greater depth. Wet ground, requiring slabbing—Double the above rates. Tunnelling and Driving. —Through drift or blue reef—ls. 6d. per foot for first 500ft., 3s. 6d. per foot for next 500ft., 4s. 6d. per foot for next 500ft. or any portion of 500ft. Through hard rock or cement requiring blasting, or through pug—ss. per foot. All tunnels and drives to he at least 4ft. by 3ft. Gin. Prospectors under both Class I. and Class 11. are required, before commencing operations, to send in their names to the County Council or Eoad Board, who must approve of same. The locality of prospecting operations must also be stated, for the approval of the Council or Eoad Board. Each prospecting party must send in a report, once in every month, to the Council or Eoad Board, setting forth the nature, extent, and result of operations during the past month. All measurement of work done under Class 11. shall be made by the County Engineer, Eoad Overseer of the district, or other person appointed by the local body, who will be required to certify to the voucher for payment. The subsidy under Class I. and Class 11. may be discontinued, if the Council or Eoad Board think necessary, on one month's notice of discontinuance being given to the party or parties. Payments will be made monthly. Applications (giving the full names and residences of each man of the proposed party or parties, and specifying the locality in which it is proposed to prospect) must be sent to the Council Chambers or Eoad Board Oiiices, and the application must be indorsed on the envelope : " Application for Prospecting, Class I." (or Class 11., as the case may be). Ist September, 1885.

Eepoet on Eewards for the Discovery of New Goldfields. (Under Order of Eeference dated the 14th July, 1885), (vide p. 1). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, after careful consideration of the matter, desire me to report to the House the attached regulations, which they recommend for adoption by the Government: — 1. Upon the Council of any county, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon'any Eoad Board, adopting the following regulations, the Government shall subsidize by pound for pound the .amounts paid by way of reward under the same.

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2. For the discovery of a new goldfiold, three miles from any workings, there shall be paid, at the expiration of six months from date of discovery, a reward of £100 per hundred miners, up to £500 for five hundred or more miners so employed. 3. For the recovery of a lead in proximity to the place where a lead has been lost, and has not been worked for a period of six months, a reward equal to one-half of the above rates; and for the discovery of a new lead, one mile from any lost lead, a reward equal to two-thirds of the above rates. 4. " Workings " shall be construed to mean an area of ground upon which alluvial or quartzmining operations are being carried on. 5. Distance shall be computed from any given point, measured in a direct line, from where gold-mining is being carried on to the site of the discovery. 6. Every application made by a County Council or Eoad Board within a mining district or gold-mining district shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Warden of the district in which the discovery has been made ; or, if the discovery be outside any mining district or gold-mining district, then the certificate shall be signed by the Chairman of the Land Board of the land district in which the discovery has been made. Such certificate shall state the amounts paid by the local body, and that such payment has been made in accordance with these regulations. 7. In the event of any person discovering a payable goldfield beyond the jurisdiction of any County Council or Eoad Board, the Government shall recognize the application, and deal therewith in the same manner as if it had been made by a County Council or Eoad Board. 8. For the discovery of a payable diamond field, lode of silver, or lode of tin, for every hundred miners profitably employed thereon at the expiration of six months from date of discovery there shall be paid a reward of £100 up to £500 for five hundred or more miners so employed. Ist September, 1885.

The Gold Expoet Duty Abolition Bill. The Goldfields and Mines 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 on attached copy. 4th September, 1885.

The Minees' Eights Eees Eeduction Bill. The Goldfields and Mines 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, subject to amendments as shown on annexed copy. 4th September, 1885. No. 346. —Petition of Lachlan Keer Grant and Others. The petitioners, miners and agriculturists of Mokihinui District, state that, although large areas of ground are granted for minerals other than gold, residence sites and agricultural leases are refused. They pray for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee, having fully inquired into the matter of the petition, report that there is no reasonable ground for the complaint contained therein; and, further, that the evidence given by one of the petitioners, Thomas Johnson Jones, before the Committee has been proved to be unreliable. 4th September, 1885.

Eepoet under Order of Eeference dated the 14th July, 1885 (vide p. 1), in re Mr. Macandeew's Memoeandum relating to prospecting the West Coast of the Middle Island. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that Mr. Macandrew's memorandum be referred to the Government, recommended for favourable consideration, and that, in the opinion of the Committee, explorations should also be conducted in other parts of the West Coast. 4th September, 1885.

Memorandum above eefeeeed to. Last session I took upon myself the liberty of submitting a suggestion, which it was understood commended itself to the approval of the Committee, and, as such, was referred to the Government. Had it been given effect to, the result, in my opinion, would have been highly beneficial to the mining industry throughout the colony. Unfortunately, however, nothing has come of it. I would now venture, with all due deference, to solicit the attention of the Committee to the importance of some practical action being at once taken towards a scientific exploration of those portions of the west coast of the Middle Island which, up to the present time, may be regarded very much as a terra incognita in as far as any reliable knowledge of their geological formation and mineral indications are concerned. I might refer specially to the country contiguous to Martin's Bay and Big Bay, with respect to which many representations have been made to me, officially and otherwise, by explorers during the past eighteen years, and in regard to which I have had a strong intuition that it contains untold mineral wealth. This intuition has been revived by the receipt of an interesting communication from Mr. W. Watson, of Bannockburn, which I enclose herewith, in the hope that it may tend to influence the opinion of the Committee in the direction of the suggestion which I now most respectfully submit —to wit, that Government should be requested to take steps to obtain an official report from some recognized expert respecting the matter set forth in Mr. Watson's communication. There could not be a 2—l. 3.

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better man to employ in this matter than Professor Ulrich, whose services the Government are entitled to free of charge during six months in the year. The cost would be a mere bagatelle compared with even the mere fact of obtaining reliable information, let alone the probability of such information revealing the existence of a territory replete with mineral resources. Ido hope that vigorous steps may be taken in the direction indicated, and that we shall no longer rest satisfied with mere empty talk on the subject. 27th July, 1885. - J. Macandrew.

Enclosure to Memorandum. Sir, — Bannockburn, sth July, 1885. There is a subject that I have now taken the liberty to write to you about, and that is my trip to Martin's and Big Bays, in 1877. I went over there from here in that year in search of gold; and, having some knowledge of geology and mineralogy, I was struck with the resemblance of Big Bay to the west coast of Cumberland. T3iere, all along the shore, is the old sandstone formation which overlies the coal-beds. In one place there is a seam of fossil limestone, as hard as marble and about 150ft. wide, running into the spur between Martin's and Big Bays. I saw ironstone on the shore, and there is a range of red mountains inland about ten miles, which I took to be iron, and I was told it was iron. It is a most remarkable provision in nature that coal, limestone, and ironstone are always in close proximity to each other. Now, I have had a lot of experience in erecting quartz-batteries and working amongst reefs in my fifteen years on the diggings, and I beg to state, from what I saw, that there is a reef on the spur between Martin's and Big Bays; as one of our party was inland about a mile, and found the formation to be schist-rock, and as the shore is hard freestone at the junction of the different rocks, there the reef will occur. In evidence of this there is about a thousand tons of quartz on the south side of Big Bay, seemingly gold-bearing. There is a great and prosperous future before this place, from what I could see of nature's gifts. There is a forest of ironwood in Big Bay—l should say ten by five miles wide—and, I believe, in the Hollyford Valley there is abundance of tin, as the formation is granite of two kinds, one like Peterhead and the other of a cream colour. This is a fine valley for a railway as a short cut to Queenstown —abundance of timber, fine soil —no better in the world—and well -suited for hop-growing. The scenery is grand. Now, I am going to finish off by saying a few words about the Carrick Eange. If La Monte's smelting process could have been procured here twelve years ago, for one ounce of gold there could have been six obtained. I found a reef myself, called the Crown and Cross; and after trying every means to save the gold, and failing, I wanted to erect a furnace and smelt it, but was overruled by my mates. I may tell you lam an engineer and draughtsman, and have a knowledge of blast furnaces. In fact, the only genuine means of extracting gold from quartz is smelting. It will bring a new era of prosperity for Otago. One crushing of 300 tons from the Crown and Cross should have yielded 4,0000z. of gold by my tests, every day for three months; but, owing to sulphur, I only saved 200oz. out of it. I think it would be of service to the Government to have exploring reports sent in from all the intelligent men who have travelled over New Zealand. I hope this letter may be of service to you, and that it will not offend. I may add that if this place does not go ahead I must fall back upon my old occupation and try and get into the Union Steamship Company as engineer, or as a lighthouse-keeper, as I worked the first electric light in England for four years at a salary equal to £250 per year. I had the Nuggets light in my grasp one time, when I was in the employ of Mr. Balfour, C.E., just before he was drowned, and refused his offer to go to the Cromwell Quartz Company, Bendigo—a thing that I have regretted ever since. However, things may come all right in the end yet. If you can remember, I called upon you in the Provincial Buildings in 1868, looking for a billet, and gave you some drawings of locomotives of my own production at Home. I am a cousin of John Hislop, the watchmaker. I have, &c, W. Watson, . Engineer and Draughtsman The Hon. J. Macandrew, M.H.E.

By Authority : Geobge Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs.

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