GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. SCOTT, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1915 Session I, I-04

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1915. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. SCOTT, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journal* of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the Ist Day of Juj/y, 1915. Ordered, " That Standing Older i\'o. 219 bo suspended, and that a Goldiields and Alines Committee be appointed, consisting of twelve members, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining and all Bills relating to mines; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : tho Committee to consist of Mr. Bollard, Mr. •Colvin, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Lee, Mr. Poland, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Scott, Mr. Seddon, Mr. W. Stewart, Mr. Walker, Mr. Webb, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Fbaskr.) Friday, thb 20tii Day of August, 1915. Ordered, " That the name of tho lion. Mr. Mao Donald be added to the list of members of the Goldflelds and Mines Committee."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massisy.)

T N D E X. Page Coal-mines Amendment Bill .. . . . . 2 Final report .. .. .. .. . . . . 2 No. 387.—Gabriel, Louis .. . . . . .. 2 No. 302.—Johnson, Robert . . .. . . . . 2 No. 77.—Mackay, Alexander . . . . . . .. I Mining Amendment Bill . . 2 No. 150. —Paterson Bros. .. . . .. .. 1 Regulations under tho Mining Act, 1908 .. ..2 No. 576/14.—Smith, Walter .. .. .. .. ' 2 Speoial Report {re Chairman) .. .. .. ..2

BEPOBTS. No. 77.—Petition of Alexander Maokay, of Paeroa. Praying for compensation for the discovery of gold in the Thames district. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 26th August, 1915.

No. 150. —Petition of Paterson Hkoss., of Queenstown. Praying for relief in connection with Customs duties paid and to be paid on mining-machinery imported into the Dominion. T am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration, with a view of having the Customs laws amended in the direction of allowing mining machinery intended exclusively for mining purposes to be imported free of duty, under proper safeguards. 26th August, 1915.

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Regulations onder the Mixing Act, L9OB. —Parliamentary Paper 166. The Goldiields and Mines Committee, to which was referred Parliamentary Paper 166, Regulations under the Mining Act, 1908, lias the honour to report thai it lias carefully considered the same, and made amendment therein, and recommends the amendments to the consideration of the Government. 21st September, 1915.

No. 576 (1914).— Petition of Wai.tkh Smith, of Auckland. Praying for compensation for being the first discoverer of gold at the junction of the Greenstone and Taramakau Rivers. I am directed to report the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 28th September, 1915.

Coal-mines Amendment Bill. The Goldflelds and Mines Committee, to which was referred the Coal-mines Amendment Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 28th September, 1915.

Mining Amendment Bill. The Goldflelds and Mines Committee, to which was referred the Mining Amendment Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on copy attached hereto. 28th September, 1915.

No. 302.—Petition of I!. Johnson. Praying for remission of rents and rates on special mining claims. I am directed to report that as the remission, which is revenue of local authorities, can only be made by the Minister at the request of the local authorities, this Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th October, 1915.

No. -'187.—Petition of L, Gabriel, of Reefton. Praying for a compassionate allowance for being the first discoverer of gold on the west coast of the South Island of this Dominion. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee, owing to the valuable services rendered by petitioner to the Dominion and his advanced years, this petition should be referred to the Government for immediate and favourable consideration, 7th October, 1915.

Special Report. 1 am directed to report that the Goldflelds and Mines Committee desires to place on record its high appreciation of the valuable services of the Chairman (R. Scott, Esq.) rendered to the Committee during the session. 7th October, 1915.

Final Report, I am directed to report that the Committee held seven meetings during the session, and dealt with the following business: Paper 166, Regulations under the Mining Act, 1908, the Mining Amendment Bill, and the Coal-mines Amendment Bill; also three petitions on which the Committee had no recommendation to make, one -which was referred to the Government for consideration, and one which was referred to the Government for immediate and favourable consideration. 7th October, 1915.

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