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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1900 Session I, I-04

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1900. NEW ZEALAND,

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

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

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the Souse of Representatives. Tuesday, the 3rd Day of July, 1900. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 211 be suspended, and that a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of seventeen members, be appointed, to whom Bhall 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. Bennet, Mr. Garnoross, Mr. Colvin, Mr. Duncan, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr.'Gilfedder, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Herries, Mr. Lang, Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. Millar, Mr. Mills, Mr. Palmer, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Mr. E. M. Smith, and the mover."—(Hon. J. McGowan.)

INDEX.

EEPOETS.

Miners' Eights Feb Beduction Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the Miners' Bights Fee Beduction Bill, have the honour to report that, having duly considered the same, they recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the same attached. sth July, 1900.

No. 11.—Petition of Simon Fkasee, of Whangarei. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted for the discovery, which he alleges was made by him, of the Bast and West Taire Goldfields, and goldfields on the West Coast. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Simon Fraser, that they have no recommendation to make. 10th July, 1900.

No. Petitioners. Page. No. Petitioners. Page. 608 Brown, James, and 12 Others 8 446 521 Maogregor, Alexander Millar, James, and 132 Others .. Miners' Right Fee Reduotion Bill Mining Act Amendment Bill Mining Regulations 3 2 1 3 3 294 Corby, Timothy, and Others {vide I.-ii.) .. 529 Detert, Henry .. .. , 8 124 Evans, Thomas, and Others 2 367 Norbury, Peter 2 11 Fraser, Simon 1 523 Read, John 2 400 Graham, J. M., and Another 2 401 524 Stewart, H. D., and Others Sutherland, Donald 2 3 135 Hosie, James 2 214 Wallis, R. F., and Others 2 54 Mackay, Alexander 2

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No. 135.—Petition of James Hosie, of Kuaotunu. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery, which he alleges was made by him, of gold at Waihi, Karangahake, and Puru. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of James Hosie, that, having duly considered the same, they have no recommendation to make. 31st July, 1900.

No. 54.—Petition of Alexander Mackay (No. 1), of Paeroa, Auckland. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him for the discovery of gold at Karangahake, Waitekauri, Owharoa, and Te Aroha. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Alexander Mackay, that they have no recommendation to make. 31st July, 1900.

No. 124.—Petition of Thomas Evans and Others. Petitioners pray that the Motueka Biver shall not be proclaimed a sludge-channel under the Mining Act. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having ascertained that there is no present intention to proclaim the Motueka Biver, now have the honour to report, on the petition of Thomas Evans and others, that they have no recommendation to make. 17th August, 1900.

No. 214.—Petition of Bichard Frederick Wallis, Ernest Edward Wallis, and Arthur Sydney Wallis, Woolscourers and Fellmongers, Gore. Petitioners represent that their woolscouring and fellmongering works employ a large number of men, and are in the nature of a public benefit to the district; that the proclamation of the Waikaka Biver threatens to prove destructive to their business, and that the sum of £750 offered by the Government as compensation is quite inadequate. They pray that the compensation may be increased. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the facts set forth in the petition of Messrs. Wallis, have the honour to report that they recommend that the petition be referred to the Government, with a recommendation that the sum of £750 be paid to petitioners in full satisfaction of their claim for compensation, as recommended in the report of the Bivers Commission. 28th August, 1900.

No. 367.—Petition of Peter Norbury, Storekeeper, Thames. Petitioner prays that he may be reimbursed the expenses incurred in ineffectually contesting the payment of the rent of a special-license claim. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Peter Norbury, that they have no recommendation to make. 13th September, 1900.

No. 400.—Petition of J. M. Graham and Another, Miners, Gore. Petitioners claim a reward for having demonstrated that dredge-mining on the Mataura Biver can be made to pay. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of J. M. Graham and another, that they have no recommendation to make. 13th September, 1900.

No. 401.—Petition of H. D. Stewart and Others. Petitioners seek compensation for losses sustained through breaches of the agreement under which the aboriginal natives consented to throw open the lands of the Hauraki Goldfields for mining purposes. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of H. D. Stewart and others, that they recommend it be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th September, 1900.

No. 521.—Petition of James Millar and 132 Other Besidents of Hedgehope and Winton Districts, Southland. Petitioners allege that through the closing-down of the Hokonui Coal-mine they are unable to obtain fuel for engine-driving, domestic, and other purposes. They seek relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of James Millar and others, that they have no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1900.

No. 523.—Petition of John Bead, Timber Merchant, Thames. Petitioner alleges that he has had to pay the sum of £88 3s. 3d. costs in the Supreme Court through an action he was constrained to take in order to prevent his freehold property from being mined under. He seeks reimbursement. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of John Bead, that they have no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1900.

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No. 529. —Petition of Henry Detert, Miner, Gore. Petitioner claims that he was the first to discover payable wash on the Mataura Biver. He seeks a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Henry Detert, that they have no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1900.

No. 446.—Petition of Alexander Macgregor, Farmer, of Waikaia Flat, Southland County. Petitioner seeks to obtain compensation for injury to his property through the proclamation of the Waikaia Eiver. Petitioner purchased the property under the belief that the previous owner had made a claim, but subsequently discovered such was not the case. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Alexander Macgregor, that they recommend it be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th October, 1900.

No. 294.—Petition of Timothy Corby and Others. (Vide 1.-4 a.)

No. 524. —Petition of Donald Sutherland. Petitioner alleges he has rendered great services to the colony by prospecting and exploring; also by the discovery of valuable scenery. He seeks a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Donald Sutherland, that they have no recommendation to make. 11th October, 1900.

No. 608. —Petition of James Brown and 12 Others, Storekeepers and Farmers, Gimmerburn, Otago. Petitioners pray that a competent Government official may be sent to report upon the advantages of a channel being cut through certain farms in order to the carrying-off of silt, &c, from the mining workings of James Brown, at Garibaldi. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of James Brown and others, that they have no recommendation to make. 11th October, 1900.

Mining Act Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the Mining Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the same, they recommend the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on a copy thereof attached hereto. 11th October, 1900. _

Mining Begulations. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the regulations in force under " The Mining Act, 1898," have the honour to report that, having duly considered the same, they have no recommendation to make. 11th October, 1900.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,200 copies), £1 17s. M.

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