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1878. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF).

Presented to the House of Sepresentatives, Session 1878, and ordered to le printed. (MR. C. A. DE LAUTOUE, CHAIEMAN.) No. 13.—Petition of Residents in St. Bathan's Disteict, Otago. The Committee, having considered this petition, have instructed me to report that, being informed that the prayer of the petition has been favourably entertained by the Otago Waste Lands Board,, after inspection of the ground by two of its Commissioners, and that as the Board's action has been cordially approved by the Government, consider it unnecessary to make any special recommendation thereon. The Committee agree that the free-est facilities should be afforded to the miners of the colony to become permanent settlers upon the Crown lands, provided that the areas of ground containing undeveloped auriferous deposits should, in all cases, be carefully reserved. 21st August, 1878. The Regulation of Mines Bill. The Gold Fields Committee have the honor to report that they have gone through the Regulation of Mines Bill, referred to them by order of reference dated 22nd August, 1878, and have instructed me to report the same, with amendments, to the House. 27th August, 1878. No. 25.—Petition of Messrs. Chaeles and Feedeeick Ring. The Gold Fields Committee, having considered the claims of the petitioners, and taken the evidence of Mr. Swanson, and considered the documentary evidence submitted by him thereon, have directed me to report that the Committee see no reason to alter the decision arrived at last year in the consideration of the same claim, then submitted by order of the House for their consideration, and reported to the House on the 26th September, 1877. 12th September, 1878. No. 26.—Petition of Heney Keesing, the Younger, Auckland. The Gold Fields Committee have carefully considered the claim made by Mr. Keesing that he was equitably entitled to receive a reward for the alleged discovery of gold in the Kuranui Creek on 9th August, 18G7, £5,000 having been offered by the Provincial Government of Auckland on the 21th Aoril, 1867, for the discovery of a payable gold field. The Committee most carefully considered the same claim in 1877, and reported thereon 21st September of that year. The Committee have this year personally examined the petitioner, his evidence being attached to this report, but they are unable to see any reason to alter their decision of last year. Tour Committee, in justice to Mr. Keesing, wish to state that he has probably been misled by the action of the House last year in paying a reward to W. H. Taipari. The Gold Fields Commission, which sat in Auckland in 1870, recommended W. H. Taipari £300, which he received. A Committee