H.—No. 11,

REPORT OF GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE.

9

The Chairman was requested to present to the House an Interim Report (No. 6) embodying the above resolutions. The Committee then adjourned.

Thursday, 17th October, 1871. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Mervyn, Mr. Collins, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Gillies, Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Tribe. Mr. Haughton in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman reported that, in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting, he had presented Interim Report No. 6 to the House. The Committee proceeded to consider the Gold Mines Drainage Bill, and passed it without any alteration. The Gold Mining Districts Bill was then considered. Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to. Clause 3 postponed. In clause 4, insert after " Proclamation " in the second line, "in the General Government Gazette." Clause 5 agreed to. In clause 6, substitute for side note " Governor may abolish Gold Mining Districts." Clauses 7 to 9 agreed to. With a view to enable members of Committee to peruse carefully the whole Bill, it was resolved, on motion of Mr. Macandrew, that its further consideration be postponed until to-morrow. The Chairman was requested to report to the House that this Committee has carefully considered the Gold Mines Drainage Bill referred to them, and recommend that it be passed without amendment. The Committee was adjourned until to-morrow at 10.30 o'clock.

Wednesday, 18th October, 1871. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present : Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Mervyn, Mr. Creighton, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Collins, Mr. T. L. Shepherd, Mr. Gillies, Mr. Tribe. Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Haughton in the Chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman reported that he had presented Interim Report No. 7 to the House. The Committee then proceeded with the consideration of the Gold Mining Districts Bill. Clause 10 agreed to. Tn clause 11, strike out the word "shall" and substitute " may " in the first line, and strike out " only " in same line. Clause 12 agreed to. In clause 13 substitute " Receiver of Revenue " for "Warden " in the first line. In clause 14, strike out "newspaper" in the second line and insert "in one or more newspapers published in the district " after " advertisement." Clauses 15 to 19 agreed to. On motion of Mr. Bradshaw, Resolved, That a new clause be inserted between 19 and 20, providing that no claim or licensed holding granted under this Act shall exceed thirty acres. Clauses 20 to 22 agreed to. Clause 23. Proposed by Mr. Creighton, That clause 23 be amended with the view of preventing mining on private lands within Gold Fields without the consent of the owner or lessee, and compensation first paid. A division ensued. Ayes, 2. Noes, 5. Mr. Creighton, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Collins. Mr. Gillies, Mr. Mervyn, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Tribe. 3