GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (Mr. JACKSON PALMER, Chairman.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1902 Session I, I-04

1.—4.

1902. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (Mr. JACKSON PALMER, Chairman.

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

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the Bth Day op July, 1902. Ordered, " That a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of seventeen members, be appointed, to whom 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. Bennet, Mr. Oarncross, Mr. Colvin, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Gilfedder, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Herries, Mr. Lang, Mr R McKenzie' Mr. Millar, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Palmer, Mr. E. M. Smith, Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr'. McGowan.)

INDEX.

EEPOETS.

No. 40.—Petition of James Beattie, Farmer, Gore. Petitioner represents that he has been subjected to great injustice through having the water necessary to his farm, of which he holds the Crown grant, cut off and given to an outsider; that he has had no right of appeal from such a decision ; and that, through the unsatisfactory state of the law in this respect, to defend his rights in the District and Supreme Courts has involved him in a loss of £100. He prays that he may be compensated for such loss. Petitioner further prays that a clause be inserted in the Mining Act providing for the cancellation of licenses issued by Commissioners of Crown Lands, so that in future such injustice may be obviated. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given consideration to the petition of James Beattie, have the honour to report that they recommend an amendment of the law to provide for the forfeiture of licenses issued by Commissioners of Crown Lands. The Committee further recommend that the petition of James Beattie be referred to the Government, with a view to his being compensated for the losses he has sustained. 18th July, 1902. '

State Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the State Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that, having duly considered the same, they recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed as printed. 15th August, 1902.

No. Petitioners. Page. No. Petitioners. Page. 40 Beattie, James 397 Brown, James 1 3 242 Hosie, James 2 453 Cornes, Clement A. Coal-mines Act Amenament Bill (three reports) 301 j Conway, Eawara, ana others 3 2 377 Kelly, James (two reports) 2 2 Mining Act Amenament Bill (Hon. Mr. MoGowan) 334 Moriarty, Timothy 2 398 Dougherty, Charles, ana others 3 3 2,3 State Coal-mines Act Amenament Bill .. 1 67 Eraser, Simon (two reports)

1.—4.

Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill (First Beport). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the abovementioned 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 Bill attached hereto. 26th August, 1902.

Mining Act Amendment Bill (Mb. Guinness). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the abovementioned Bill, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same. The Committee have made certain amendments, which are shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 26th August, 1902.

Mining Act Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the abovementioned 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 copv of the Bill attached hereto. 27th August, 1902.

Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill (Second Beport). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred back the Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that, having further considered the said Bill, they recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. (Vide also Appendix 1.-4a.) 28th August, 1902.

Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill (Third BeportJ. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report to your honourable House that they have agreed to the following resolution, namely : — Resolved, " That this Committee recommend that the Government take up the Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill as a Government measure, and use their utmost endeavours to have the said Bill passed into law this session." 29th August, 1902.

No. 67. —Petition of Simon Feasee (First Beport). Petitionee claims to have been the discoverer of goldfields at Taieri and other places, and seeks a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, upon the petition of Simon Fraser, that they have no recommendation to make. 4th September, 1902.

No. 242. —Petition of James Hosie. Petitionee claims to have been the discoverer of gold at Waihi and Karangahake, and seeks to obtain a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of James Hosie, that they have no recommendation to make. 4th September, 1902.

No. 377. —Petition of James Kelly, a Miner (First Beport). Petitionee claims to have been the first to discover and prove the existence of payable quartz reefs in Beefton, and seeks to obtain a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the facts set forth in the petition of James Kelly, have the honour to recommend that a sum be annually placed on the estimates sufficient to allow to him an annuity equal to what he would be entitled to receive as an old-age pensioner. 4th September, 1902.

No. 377. —Petition 6f James Kelly, a Miner (Second Beport). Petitionee claims that he was the first to discover and prove the existence of payable quartz goldbearing reefs at Beefton, and he seeks to obtain a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having again carefully considered the circumstances as set forth in the petition of James Kelly, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 18th September, 1902.

No. 301. —Petition of Edwakd Conway and Others. Petitionees represent that they are the owners of freehold property on the banks of the Inangahua Biver ; that they did not receive any notice of the intention to proclaim the Inangahua Eiver a sludge-channel under the Mining Act; and that their lands will be damaged and injuriously affected by such proclamation. They seek compensation. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the petition of Edward Conway and others, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. . 19th September, 1902.

2

1.—4.

No. 453. —Petition of Clement A. Coenes.

Petitionee represents that he entered into possession of a leasehold property and held the same under the provisions of " The Mining Act, 1877 " ; that he erected buildings, fenced the land, cultivated the soil, and became, entitled to acquire the freehold under his tenure; and that his leasehold deed and other documents were destroyed by the fire in the Post-office, Wellington, so that the time having expired and he having no records, he was unable to obtain the freehold, which was his right. He prays the favourable consideration of your honourable House. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the circumstances set forth in the petition of Clement A. Cornes, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government in order that, if possible, he be granted the freehold of the land he has so long occupied, or, if it be not possible to grant him the freehold, he to be given a long lease with right of renewal and compensation for improvements. 19th September, 1902. '

No. 67. —Petition of Simon Feasee, Miner (Second Beport). Petitionee claims to have been the discoverer of gold at the Taieri and other places, and seeks a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given further consideration to the petition of Simon Fraser, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1902.

No. 334.—Petition of Timothy Moeiaety, of Stillwater. Petitionee prays that he may be granted the renewal of a lease which three years ago expired by effluxion of time, the land, it is alleged, being part of the Grey Coal Beserve, and the refusal of the lease being based upon sundry reasons. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the statements embodied in the petition of Timothy Moriarty, have now the honour to report upon the same that they have no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1902.

No. 397.—Petition of James Beown, Miner, Naseby. Petitionee represents that he is the owner of a water-race, mining claim, and mining privileges at Gimmerburn Creek; that his mining property at that place cost him £1,050, besides other expenditure on plant; that the only outlet for the tailings from his claim is down the Gimmerburn Creek, and that has been denied to him. He seeks compensation for the neglect of the Mining Department in not proclaiming the creek a sludge-channel. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the facts set forth in the petition of James Brown, now have the honour to report that they recommend that the lessees of the mining reserve at Gimmerburn Creek be restrained from cutting any channel which would prevent the 'tailings from the petitioner's claim being deposited on the reserve, and that the petition be referred to the Government. 26th September, 1902.

No. 398. —Petition of Chaeles Dougheety and Others. Petitionees represent that they are farmers and settlers in the Gimmerburn District; that mining operations at Gimmerburn Creek could not have been carried on in any other way than by the process that has been followed ; that it is in the interest of the general community that the faces of the hills should not be sluiced away; and they pray that the mining rights of James Brown, another petitioner to your honourable House, may be resumed by the Crown at a fair and reasonable price. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having, in connection with the petition of James Brown, given due consideration to the petition of Charles Dougherty and others, have now the honour to report that they recommend it be referred to the Government. 26th September, 1902.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,200 copies), £1 17s. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o2.

Price, 3d.]

3