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I am directed to report that the Committee request that the Government will subsidize the petitioners for the purpose of obtaining the required water-power, pound for pound, to the extent of £3,000. Bth July, 1880.

No. 188. —Petition of Henet Eowe and Others. The Gold Fields Committee, to which has been referred the petition of Henry Eowe and others, of the Hauraki Gold-mining District, making serious charges against Mr. Harry Kenrick, -Resident Magistrate and Warden of the district, and praying for his removal, have the honor to report that they do not consider it necessary to make any report upon the merits of the petition. They, however, desire to express a very strong opinion that the Petitions Classification Committee should be requested to consider and report to the House whether petitions alleging the most serious charges against any public officer should be referred by them for consideration unless they are satisfied that evidence in support of such charges will be tendered. In this case no such evidence has been tendered, while the officer complained of has been exposed to the serious evil of publicity having been given to unsupported charges of maladministration, quite possibly originating from feelings of cowardly maliciousness. sth August, 1880.

No. 92. —Petition of Stephen Camelatta and Party. The petitioners, gold-miners at Orwell Creek, Ahaura, state that part of the ground included in their gold-mining leasehold has been surveyed as a township, and actually built on. They pray that the buildings of the township overlapping their lease may be removed, or that compensation be made to them for the portion so built upon. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom the petition has been referred, have the honor to report that they have no recommendation to make. sth August, 1880.

No. 178. —Petition of Thomas Gibson. The petitioner, a hotel-keeper in the Shotover District, avers that he has suffered wrong at the hands of the Warden of the district, inasmuch as the latter has assigned to two other men certain lands which the petitioner had occupied for some time, and on which he had spent money in fencing and improving, and he prays that a lease of the lands may be granted to him. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom the petition has been referred, have the honor to report that they have no recommendation to make. ' sth August, 1880.

No. 225.—Petition of D. J. Moore and Others. The petitioners, goldminers at Deep Creek, Wakarnarina, state that, owing to the existing road only extending halfway from Canvastown to Deep Creek, they are compelled to pay famine prices for everything —flour, for instance, being £23 per ton. They state that the construction of three miles of road will reduce these exorbitant prices, and will cost from £600 to £700. The Gold Melds Committee, to whom the petition was referred, have the honor to report that they recommend the petition to the consideration of the Government. ' 6th August, 1880.

No. 216.—Petition of Bobeet Savage and Thomas Collins. The Committee to whom was referred this petition, which stated that the petitioners had suffered wrong by the grant to the Keep-it-Dark Company, Crushington, of a gold-mining lease of lands, for which the petitioners had previously applied, have the honor to report that they are of opinion, from the evidence before them, that the grant to the .Keep-it-Dark Company of a special claim appears to have been recommended without sufficient publicity having been given to the application. They are further of opinion that the grant of a special claim to the Keep-it-Dark Company should be revoked, and the application of the petitioners duly heard by the "Warden after due notice of such having been given to the petitioners and the Keep-it-Dark Company. 10th August, 1880.

Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Biil. The Committee to whom was referred the Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill have the honor to report that they have carefully examined the said Bill, and recommend that it be passed without amendment. 10th August, 1880.

No. 265. —'Petition of Chaeies F. Eobebts and Others, of Maerewhenua. The Committee to whom was referred the petition of Charles F. Eoberts and others, praying that the Maerewhenua Eiver be declared a watercourse for the discharge of mining debris, &c, failing which, that a Commission be appointed to inquire into the whole subject, have directed me to report that the Committee recommend that the petition be referred to the Government, with a request that they will make inquiry into the matters alleged, with a view to giving effect to the prayer of the petitioners. 16th August, 1880.