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No. 356. —Petition of Horatio Walmslet. The petitioner states that he is the holder of an agricultural lease on the Waihi Goldfields, and that at the time he took up the said lease he was promised he could purchase the freehold on the extinguishment of the Native title. The Warden has now declared that one chain wide shall be reserved on each side of the creek for mining purposes, which includes most of the land he has available for agriculture, also nearly all his improvements. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition has been dealt with by the House of Eepresentatives, the Committee do not see their way to make any recommendation thereupon ; but recommend the petition to be forwarded to the Legislative Council, in whose hands the matter now rests. ' 21st August, 1885.

The Gold-mining Disteicts Act 1873 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom the above Bill was referred, have the honour to report that the Committee, having carefully considered the additional clauses and amendments as shown on Supplementary Order Paper No. 42 (copy hereto attached), recommend their acceptance and adoption by the House, August, 1885.

Eepoet on Eegulations for Aid to Prospecting. (Under Order of Eeference dated the 14th July, 1885), (vide p. 1). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having carefully considered the matter, desire me to report to the House the attached regulations, which they recommend for adoption by the Government: — 1. Upon the Council of any county, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon any Eoad Board, adopting the following regulations for prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, or tin, the Government shall, subject to the following conditions, subsidize by pound for pound the amounts expended by each County Council or Eoad Board, as the case may be. 2. Previous to the Government binding itself to subsidize any local body as aforesaid, each local body shall submit its proposals to the Minister of Mines for approval. 8. On the application and proposals having been approved of, each payment shall be made on the certificate of the County Chairman in the case of a County Council, and in the case of a Eoad Board on the certificate of the Chairman of the said Board, or such other person as may be appointed by the Minister. 4. The amounts payable by way of subsidy to any County Council in any one year shall not ■exceed £500. 5. The amounts payable to any Eoad Board in any one year shall not exceed £200. 6. The Government shall subsidize by pound for pound any amounts expended by County Councils or Eoad Boards in the purchase of boring appliances to be used for prospecting purposes. Class I. —One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidized at the rate of 15s. per week per man for prospecting new and unprospected country, three miles from any main or district road, and from any known workings. Class II. —One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidized as under while prospecting partially-worked and prospected country within tolerably easy access of road communication: — Sinking. —Dry ground—ls. per foot from surface to 15ft., 2s. per foot from 15ft. to 60ft., 3s. per foot from 60ft. to any greater depth. Wet ground, requiring slabbing—Double the above rates. Tunnelling and Driving. —Through drift or blue reef—ls. 6d. per foot for first 500ft., 3s. 6d. per foot for next 500ft., 4s. 6d. per foot for next 500ft. or any portion of 500ft. Through hard rock or cement requiring blasting, or through pug—ss. per foot. All tunnels and drives to he at least 4ft. by 3ft. Gin. Prospectors under both Class I. and Class 11. are required, before commencing operations, to send in their names to the County Council or Eoad Board, who must approve of same. The locality of prospecting operations must also be stated, for the approval of the Council or Eoad Board. Each prospecting party must send in a report, once in every month, to the Council or Eoad Board, setting forth the nature, extent, and result of operations during the past month. All measurement of work done under Class 11. shall be made by the County Engineer, Eoad Overseer of the district, or other person appointed by the local body, who will be required to certify to the voucher for payment. The subsidy under Class I. and Class 11. may be discontinued, if the Council or Eoad Board think necessary, on one month's notice of discontinuance being given to the party or parties. Payments will be made monthly. Applications (giving the full names and residences of each man of the proposed party or parties, and specifying the locality in which it is proposed to prospect) must be sent to the Council Chambers or Eoad Board Oiiices, and the application must be indorsed on the envelope : " Application for Prospecting, Class I." (or Class 11., as the case may be). Ist September, 1885.

Eepoet on Eewards for the Discovery of New Goldfields. (Under Order of Eeference dated the 14th July, 1885), (vide p. 1). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, after careful consideration of the matter, desire me to report to the House the attached regulations, which they recommend for adoption by the Government: — 1. Upon the Council of any county, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon'any Eoad Board, adopting the following regulations, the Government shall subsidize by pound for pound the .amounts paid by way of reward under the same.

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