GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (W.C.F. CARNCROSS, ESQ., CHAIRMAN.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1898 Session I, I-04

1.-4

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (W.C.F. CARNCROSS, ESQ., CHAIRMAN.)

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

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the sth Day ov July, 1898. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 211 be suspended, and that a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting seventeen members, be appointed, to which shall be referred all matters relating to mining, and all Bills relating to mines, with power to call for persons and papers; five to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Eraser, Mr. Gilfedder, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hemes, Hon. W. J. M. La,rnaeh, Mr. Lang, Mr. McGowau, Mr. M. J. S. Mackenzie, Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. Massey, Mr. Mills, Mr. O'Regan, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and the mover." —(Hon. A. J. Gadman.)

INDEX.

No. 27. —Petition of Simon Feaseb, of Maungatapere, Whangarei. Petitioner prays for a reward for the discovery of the Taieri Goldfields in 1863. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that, in regard to the petition of Simon Fraser, they have no recommendation to make. 28th July, 1898.

No. 75.—Petition of John Bibch and Others, Kuaotunu. Petitioners pray that the assistance of the Government, in the shape of a grant of £3,000, or a subsidy of pound for pound up to the amount expended in the sinking of the shaft, may be extended to theMariposa Gold-mining Company (Limited), of Kuaotunu, to enable that company to carry out a scheme of deep-sinking in their mine. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of John Birch and others, that they recommend that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 29th July, 1898. No. 147.—Petition of James Hosie, of Kuaotunu. Petitioneb seeks the grant of a reward for the discovery of gold, alleged to have been made by him at Karangahake and Puru. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, upon the petition of James Hosie, that they have no recommendation to make. 22nd September, 1898.

No. Petitioners. Page. No. Petitioners. Page. 263 75 14 27 147 127 118 Baume, Frederick Ehrenfried .. Birch, John, and Others Craig, William and Thomas Fraser, Simon Hosie, James Hornibrooke, Henry Pierce Hargreaves, J., aud Others 2 1 3 1 1 2 2 296 337 216 261 157 349 Mining Bill Mackley, Samuel Megget MoBae, Roderick Norbury, Peter O'Neill, E. P. J. Powel), B. J., and Others Walmsley, Horatio Agars 2 2 8 2 a 3 3

2

1.—4

No. 216. —Petition of Peteb Nobbuby, Thames. Petitioneb represents that a license to mine for gold was granted to him for the Guiding Star Claim, at the rate of 10s. per acre, on the 22nd of September, 1896; that "The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896," by which mining rents were reduced to ss. per acre, came into operation on the 17th October following; and that through the said Act not being retrospective in order to cover his case he thereby suffered an injustice. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the circumstances set forth in the case of Peter Norbury, are of opinion that petitioner is equitably entitled to relief, and they have the honour to report that the Government be recommended to place the sum of £21 on the supplementary estimates in order that such relief may be afforded. 22nd September, 1898.

No. 296. —Petition of Samuel Megget Maokley, Farmer and Dairyman, Grey Eiver. Petitioneb prays that compensation may be granted to him for damage likely to be caused to his property through dredging operations on the Grey Eiver above and opposite his farm. At the time the Proclamation was issued he did not send in a claim, because it was not anticipated that there would be any mining operations so high up the river as it was now proposed to dredge. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the circumstances set forth in the petition of Samuel Megget Mackley, have the honour to report that it be referred to the favourable consideration of the Government, with a view to the introduction of the legislation necessary to meet this and all similar cases. 22nd September, 1898.

The Mining Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that, having bestowed the most careful consideration on the Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to mines and mining referred to them by your honourable House, they recommend that the said Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the same attached. 20th October, 1898.

No. 127. —Petition of Henby Piebce Hobnibkooke, of Goromandel. Petitioneb prays that relief may be granted from the payment of judgments obtained against him by the Eeceiver of Goldfields Eevenue for rents due by the Queen of Beauty and Port Charles Special Claims, he having unwittingly become liable for such rents as a matter of convenience for others. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having duly considered the matter of the petition of Henry Pierce Hornibrook, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th October, 1898.

No. 263. —Petition of Feedebick Ehbenfbied Baume, of Auckland. Petitioneb prays that relief may be granted him from the payment of judgments obtained by the Eeceiver of Goldfields Eevenue for rents due by the Mount Margaret, the Carbine, the Opito, and the Opito Surplus Special Claims, in which he never had nor has any interest, his position having be.en merely that of trustee, as a matter of convenience for others. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having duly considered the matter of the petition of Frederick Ehrenfried Baume, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th October, 1898.

No. 118. —Petition of J. Habgbeaves and 47 Others, Miners, at Eocky Eiver, Collingwood. Petitioneks pray that a track, at present so narrow as to be almost impassable, may be widened and extended, so as to enable managers of mines in the locality to get their plant transhipped to Eocky Eiver. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the petition of J. Hargreaves and others, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th October, 1898.

No. 261. —Petition of E. P. J. O'Neill and 74 Others, Lessees of Licensed Holdings and Special Claims, Mangahua. Petitionebs pray that certain amendments and alterations in the mining-laws of the colony maybe effected, particularly so that no personal liability shall attach to individual licensees in respect of rent accruing on land held for gold-mining purposes. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that, as there is now a Bill before your honourable House dealing with the matters embodied in the petition of E. P. J. O'Neill and others, they have no recommendation to make. 25th October, 1898.

1.-4

3

No. 157.—Petition of E. J. Powell and 205 Others, Miners, Charleston Eiding, Buller County. Petitionebs complain of the burden cast upon them in having to manage and maintain the Argyle Water-race, and seek relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having duly considered the statements contained in the petition of E. J. Powell and others, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government. 27th October, 1898.

No. 349.—Petition of Hokatio Agaes Walmsley, Waihi, Ohinemuri. Petitioneb seeks to obtain the fee-simple of or a lease in perpetuity for certain sections of land which he has held under leases for twenty-one years at Ohinemuri, but which leases have lapsed. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Horatio Agars Walmsley, that having duly considered the same they cannot, in the interests of the mining industry, recommend the granting of the fee-simple of the sections referred to by petitioner. They recommend that a surface title under section 121 of "The Lands Act, 1892," be allowed to petitioner, in order to insure to him his improvements, and that the petition be referred to the Government. 27th October, 1898.

No. 337. —Petition of Eodbkick Mcßae, of Wangapeka District. Petitionek represents that he paid £250 and became liable in addition for £750 to satisfy the claims for compensation in order to the proclaiming of the Wangapeka Eiver as a watercourse into which tailings and mining debris might be deposited, such payments and such Proclamation being for the public benefit. He seeks relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the petition of Eoderick McEae, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government. 27th October, 1898.

No. 14. —Petition of William Cbaig and Thomas Ckaig-, Settlers, Grey Valley. Petitioners pray that compensation may be granted to them for damages to their property at O'Callaghan's Creek through mining operations in their locality. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of William Craig and Thomas Craig, that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1897.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,325 copies), £2 Bs. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9B.

Price 3d.]