GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). Mr. McGOWAN, CHAIRMAN.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, I-04

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1894. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). Mr. McGOWAN, CHAIRMAN.

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

INDEX.

No. Petitions, &c. Page. j A. 372 j Alexander, Samuel 726 [ Ardagh, J. J., and others 3 3 c. 247 j Oooney, Thomas, and others 2 247 E. 1 13 Ellis, J. 13 636 F. 636 | Federated Gold-miners' Association of the West Coast of the South Island 458 | Eraser, S. 3 458 2 H. 2 3 1 2 157 616 571 331 157 I Hall, Thomas 616 Hargreaves, James, and others 571 Harris, L., and others 331 | Hornibrook, P., and others J. 10 Jutland Gold-mining Company .. 1 10 K. 2 361 Kelly, James 361

No. Petitions, &o. Page. M. 92 683 567 114 Mackay, Alexander Marriner, M. .. Marsden, H., and others McDonald, Alexander Mining Act 1891 Amendment Bill Mount Ida Miners' Association and others Murphy, J. J. .. 2 a 3 2 4 4 3 748 558 739 740 218 309 o. O'Brien, Patrick, and others O'Brien, James O'Kourke, Thomas O'Shannessy, F., and others 3 3 3 2 39 R. 1 Resta, Lorenzo.. 475 s. Samuel, Thomas, and others 3 126 T. Taipari, W. H., and others 2 160 w. Waipori (Upper) Alluvial Gold-dredging Company Walsh, J. G., and others White, J., and others 2 204 744 2 3

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1894. NEW ZEALAND.

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

ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 3rd Day of July, 1894. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 178 be suspended, and that a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of thirteen members, be appointed, to which shall be referred all matters relating to mining, a,nd all Bills relating to mines: three to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Allen, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Mills, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. J. McKenzie, Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. O'Regan, Hon. Mr. Seddon, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Oadman.)

Wednesday, the 29th Day of August, 1894. Ordered, " That the name of the Hon. Mr. Larnach be added to the Goldfields and Mines Committee." —(Hon. Mr. Seddon.)

No. 571. —Petition of Lewis Haeeis and Others, of Hindon District. Petitionees pray for a subsidy of £150 to enable them to complete the construction of a tail-race. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th July, 1894.

No. 13.—Petition of John Ellis, of Collingwood. Petitionee prays for a reward for the discovery of the Midoura Coalfields. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th July, 1894.

No. 39.—Petition of Loeenza Eesta. Petitionee prays for a reward as the discoverer of the Macetown quartz reefs. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make thereon. 27th July, 1894.

No. 10.—Petition of the Jutland Flat Waipobi Gold-mining Company (Limited). Petitionees pray for compensation and other relief through an action brought against them for dredging in the Waipori River. I am directed to report that, as to the question of costs, the Committee recommends the Government to pay the sum of £298 2s. Id. to the plaintiffs. That the larger question of proclaiming the Waipori and other rivers of that class a watercourse for mining purposes is a policy question, and the Committee is of opinion it should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. That this Committee does not recognise that the company has any claim upon the colony for having been stopped from mining operations, but, as regards the claim for rent, the Committee is of opinion that, during the time the operations have ceased, rent should be remitted, and refers it to the favourable consideration of the Government. 3rd August, 1894.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). Me. JAMES McGOWAN, CHAIRMAN.

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No. 160.—Petition of the Uppeb Waipori Alluvial Gold-dredging Company (Limited). Petitioners pray that the company may be allowed to resume dredging operations on the Waipori Eiver, and compensation or other relief granted to them for loss incurred. I am directed to report that the question of proclaiming the Waipori and other rivers of that class a water course for mining purposes is a policy question, and the Committee is of opinion it should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. That this Committee does not recognise that the company has any real claim upon the colony for having been stopped from mining operations, but, as regards the claim for rent, the Committee is of opinion that, during the time the operations have ceased, rent should be remitted, and refers it to the favourable consideration of the Government. 3rd August, 1894.

No. 309. —Petition of Francis O'Shannassey and 6 Others. Petitioners pray that a reward may be granted to Mr. Harry Bedford, as the discoverer of the goldfield at Shotover. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make thereon. 9th August, 1894.

No. 114.—Petition of Alexander McDonald, of Westport. Petitioner states that he performed services to the colony by prospecting for gold, and forming roads thereto, and by being employed as overseer in the Public Works Department. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17th August, 1894.

No. 331.—Petition of Henry P. Hornibrook and Others, of Coromandel. Petitioners pray that the Government will afford facilities for opening up Kuaotunu No. 3 Block for settlement and gold-mining purposes. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17th August, 1894.

Nos. 204, 247, and 361.—Petitions of J. G. Walsh and Others, Thomas Cooney and Others, and James Kelly. Petitioners pray that a reward may be granted to them as the first discoverers of payable gold quartz reefs near Reefton. I am directed to report that, as the evidence is not sufficient to prove who first discovered a payable quartz reef in the Inangahua district, the Committee has no recommendation to make thereon. 24th August, 1894.

No. 92. —Petition of Alexander Mackay, of Ohinemuri, Auckland. Petitioner prays for a reward as the discoverer of a payable goldfield in the Ohinemuri district in 1866. I am directed to report that this Committee has no recommendation to make thereon. 31st August, 1894.

No. 126.—Petition of W. H. Taipari and Others. Petitioners pray that certain Native lands having been set apart as mining reserves, they ask that some monetary consideration be paid to them for losses caused thereby. I am directed to report that your Committee, after careful consideration of the documentary and other evidence at their disposal, have come to the conclusion that the petitioners have sustained loss through breach of the agreement under which the Natives consented to throw open this portion of the goldfield for gold-mining purposes, and recommend the Government to take steps to ascertain the extent of the loss and recoup the petitioners. 31st August, 1894.

No. 157.—Petition of Thomas Hall. Petitioner prays for a reward as being the first and original discoverer of the gold-mining fields in the Lake country. I am directed to report that the evidence shows that the petitioner was not the original discoverer of the goldfield, and the Committee therefore reports that the petitioner has no claim on the colony. 31st August, 1894.

No. 458.—Petition of Simon Fbaser. Petitioner prays that he may bo rewarded for being the discoverer of the Bast and West Taieri Goldfields in 1863. I am directed to report that this Committee having taken further evidence on the matter, are of opinion that Mr. Fraser was not the first discoverer of the Hindon Goldfield, and therefore have no recommendation to make. They also see no reason why Mr. Fraser should be exceptionally treated from other old miners who have helped to develop the goldfields of the colony. 31st August, 1894.

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No. 372.—Petition of Samuel Alexander, of the Thames. Petitioner prays for a reward for the discovery of the Thames Goldfield and introducing the first quartz-crushing machinery there. I am directed to report that this Committee is of opinion the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 14th September, 1894.

No. 636.—Petition of The Federated Gold-Miners' Association of the West Coast, South Island. Petitioners pray that a substantial reward may be granted to John Donnelly as the first discoverer of payable gold at Donnelly's Creek and Waimea Creek, on the West Coast, South Island. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st September, 1894.

No. 475.—Petition of Thomas Samuel and 201 Others, of Mokihinui. Petitioners state that one John Hussey has suffered considerable loss through the Westport Coal Company using Granity Creek in which to deposit coal and debris. They pray that the allegations contained in the petition should be inquired into, and relief granted to the said John Hussey. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the petition should be referred to the Government for inquiry. 26th September, 1894.

No. 558. —Petition of J. J. Murphy. Petitioner prays for a reward for prospecting for and discovering gold at Gordon Gully. I am directed to report that the Committee, having duly considered the above petition, have no recommendation to make. 2nd .October, 1894.

No. 726.—Petition of J. J. Ardagh and 65 Others, of Maerewhenua. Petitioner prays for aid for the completion of the Mountain-Hut Water-race. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that this petition should be referred to Government for favourable consideration. sth October, 1894.

Nos. 218 and 567.—Petitions of Thomas O'Bourke, and H. Marsden and 186 Others. Petitioners pray for assistance towards construction of water-races to promote mining industry. I am directed to report that this being a question of policy the Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1894.

No. 739. —Petition of Patrick O'Brien and 5 Others. Petitioners pray for opening a track to the Wilberforce Eeefs, and refunding to the petitioners moneys expended by them on mining leases at Wilberforce. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 16th October, 1894.

No. 683.—Petition of Michael Marriner. Petitioner prays for compensation for the discovery of the Waitekauri and Waihi goldfields. I am directed to report that the Committee have no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1894.

No. 744.—Petition of Joseph White and 56 Others. Petitioners pray that the Mining Districts Land Occupation Bill may not become law. I am directed to report that the petition be referred to the Waste Lands Committee, by whom the Bill is being considered. 17th October, 1894.

No. 616. —Petition of James Habgeeaves and 3,000 Others, on behalf of the West Coast Mining Eeform Association. Petitioners pray for aid in the development of the gold-mining industry. I am directed to report that, being a question of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1894.

No. 740. —Petition of Jambs O'Beien. Petitioner prays that he be allowed to claim compensation for injury to his land at Nelson Creek. I am directed to report that the Committee considers that the petitioner is entitled to compensation, and that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 16th October, 1894.

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No. 748.—Petition of the Mount Ida Minces' Association and 113 Others. Petitionebs pray that the regulation providing for weekly payments for water in advance be rescinded, and in lieu thereof a regulation providing for payments at intervals of three months be adopted. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the Naseby miners should be placed on the same footing as the miners on the West Coast, so far as the terms under which the water is supplied, and that, in order to initiate this system of payment in advance, they receive one month's free water, after which they be required to pay monthly in advance. 16th October, 1894.

The Mining Act 1891 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the Mining Act 1891 Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that they have carefully considered the same, and recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments which are shown upon a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 18th October, 1894. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation not given; printing (1,200 copies), £3 9g.

Authority: Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB94.

Price 6d.J