REPORT OE GOLD EIELDS COMMITTEE.

5

H.—No. 11

Mr. White was thanked for his attendance, and withdrew. A discussion ensued. Mr. Mervyn moved the following resolution : —That, in the opinion of the Committee, " The County of Westland Act, 1868," should be so amended as to prevent mining claims, machinery, and water races being rated for local purposes. Mr. Curtis moved, as an amendment, To leave out all the words after " That," with the view of inserting the following:—"in the opinion of this Committee, it is not desirable that rates for the repair of roads should be levied in gold mining districts, for the following reasons : —lst. That it is impossible, owing to the uncertainty attending all gold mining operations, to make a fair assessment of gold mining claims or gold mining plants. 2nd. That as in gold mining districts the roads are chiefly for the use and benefit of the occupiers of mining claims and leases, it would be unjust to levy the rates exclusively upon the owners and occupiers of other property, when they form a small minority of the residents." The amendment was negatived. Mr. Creighton then moved the following amendment:—To leave out all the words after " That," with the view of inserting the following:—" the Committee, having examined Mr. White, Member for Hokitika, and considered the allegation in the Petition from 658 Residents in the Kanieri Road Board District, are of opinion that the object of the petitioners would be gained were ' The County of Westland Act, 1868/ amended by withdrawing from the Chairman of the Westland Council the power to veto any local rate made in accordance with the aforesaid Act." The amendment was negatived. Mr. Macandrew then moved the following amendment, To leave out all the words after " That" with a view of inserting the following:—"the Committee having fully considered the whole question involved in the Petition from the Residents of the Kanieri District, is of opinion that it is inexpedient to interfere with the law as it stands." And this amendment having been put, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 4. Noes, 6. Mr. Collins, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Tribe. Mr. Mervyn, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. T. L. Shepherd. So it passed in the negative. The original resolution was then put, and a division having been called for, the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 4. Noes, 5. Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Mervyn, . Mr. Curtis, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Harrison, Mr. T. L. Shepherd. Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Tribe. So it passed in the negative. On the motion of Mr. Creighton, it was resolved, That the Chairman be requested to report the evidence to the House, and inform it that the Committee have no recommendation to make in the Petition from certain Settlers in the Kanieri Road Board District, in the County of Westland. The order of reference No. 7 (in re Petition of George M. Starkey and others relative to the Water Supply Vote), was read, and ordered to be considered at the next meeting. The Committee adjourned until Monday, 4th September. Monday, 4th September, 1871. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present : Mr. Creighton, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Gillies, Mr. Macandrew. Mr. Harrison, Mr. Haughton in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman informed the Committee that he had submitted an Interim Report (No. 1) to j.- ide Appendix, the House on the Petition of certain Residents in the Kanieri Road Board District, County of Interim Report Westland. No- *• 2