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No. 63.—Petition of Thomas Oakbs, of Wellington, Settler. The petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him for the discovery of gold by his father near the Waiau Eiver, Coromandel. The Committee have the honour to report that, application having been made to them by petitioner for permission to withdraw this petition, they recommend that permission be granted as sought. 16th August, 1895.

No. 64.—Petition of Thomas Oakes, of Wellington, Settler. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him for having been, in conjunction with his brothers, the first to discover the existence of gold in that part of the Thames District known as Kaweeranga. The Committee have the honour to report that application having been made to them by petitioner to withdraw this petition, they recommend that permission be granted as sought. 16th August, 1895. No. 65.—Petition of Thomas Oakes, of Wellington, Settler. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him for having, in conjunction with his brothers, now deceased, been the first to discover the existence of gold in payable quantities, and of coal, on the west coast of the Middle Island. The Committee, having given careful consideration to the matters embodied in the petition of Thomas Oakes, have the honour to recommend that the petition be referred to the Government with a view to evidence being obtained from former officials and the records of the late Provincial ■Government of Canterbury as to the correctness or otherwise of the statements contained therein. 16th August, 1895. No. 213.—Petition of James Hesson, of Bald Hill Flat, Vincent County, Miner. Petitioner prays that there may be issued to him an Occupation License for 100 acres of a Mining Reserve, upon which he has erected a homestead, outhouses, and fences, planted hundreds of trees, expended large sums of money, and where he and his family have resided for twenty years. The Committee have the honour to report that, having heard and carefully considered the subject-matter of the petition of James Hesson, they are strongly and unanimously of opinion that his case is one of peculiar hardship; that in their judgment no reason exists against the application being immediately granted ; and that if the law does not provide for this being done, legislation should be passed during the present session to deal with this and similar cases. 16th August, 1895. No. .—Petition of Michael Mareinee, of Karangahake, Miner. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him as the discoverer of gold at Waitekauri and Waihi. I have the honour to report that the Committee, having considered the petition of Michael Marriner, see no reason for departing from the decision arrived at in 1894 in reference to his claim, and therefore have no recommendation to make. 22nd August, 1895. No. 173.—Petitions foe Eewards for Discovery op Goldfields. The Committee, having had under consideration the frequency with which petitions are addressed to your honourable House, year after year, by claimants for rewards for the alleged discovery of goldfields, have instructed me to report that they have agreed to the following resolution, namely:— " That, in the opinion of this Committee, no application for rewards for gold discoveries said to have been made more than five years before the presentation of any petition referring to, or claiming under, the same be considered now, nor in the future by the Goldfields Committee." sth September, 189-5. No. 316.—Petition of Alexander Mackay, of Auckland. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him as the first discoverer of gold in the year 1866 in Karangahake, Owharoa, Waihi, and Waitekauri. The Committee, having given careful consideration to the matters embodied in the petition of Alexander Mackay, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 19th September, 1895. No. 301.—Petition of the Executive of the Kumaea Miners' Association. Petitioners pray that the dams, water-rights, and head-races, of Okuku Water-race, Kumara, owned by Mr. James Holmes, may be purchased by the Government in order to assist in the development of the mining interests of the district. The Committee, having carefully considered the questions involved in the petition of the executive of the Kumara Miners' Association, have the honour to report that, in their judgment, it is desirable further inquiries be made by the Mining Department, so as to verify the statements which have been submitted as to the income at present derived from, and also in regard to the prospects of the future profitable employment of, Holme's water-race ; and if such statements are substantiated, the Committee recommend that the water-race, and the freehold section held in connection therewith, be purchased by the Government. 9th October, 1895.

No. 65.—Petition of Thomas Oakes, of Wellington, Settler. Petitionek prays that a reward may be granted to him for having, in conjunction with his brothers, now deceased, been the first to discover the existence of gold in payable quantities, and of coal, on the west coast of the Middle Island. The Committee, having given careful consideration to the matters embodied in the petition of Thomas Oakes, have the honour to recommend that the petition be referred to the Government with a view to evidence being obtained from former officials and the records of the late Provincial •Government of Canterbury as to the correctness or otherwise of the statements contained therein. 16th August, 1895.

No. 213. —Petition of James Hesson, of Bald Hill Flat, Vincent County, Miner. Petitioneb prays that there may be issued to him an Occupation License for 100 acres of a Mining Reserve, upon which he has erected a homestead, outhouses, and fences, planted hundreds of trees, expended large sums of money, and where he and his family have resided for twenty years. The Committee have the honour to report that, having heard and carefully considered the subject-matter of the petition of James Hesson, they are strongly and unanimously of opinion that his case is one of peculiar hardship; that in their judgment no reason exists against the application being immediately granted ; and that if the law does not provide for this being done, legislation should be passed during the present session to deal with this and similar cases. 16th August, 1895.

No. . —Petition of Michael Maeeinee, of Karangahake, Miner. Petitionee prays that a reward may be granted to him as the discoverer of gold at Waitekauri and Waihi. I have the honour to report that the Committee, having considered the petition of Michael Marriner, see no reason for departing from the decision arrived at in 1894 in reference to his claim, and therefore have no recommendation to make. 22nd August, 1895.

No. 173. —Petitions foe Rewaeds foe Discovery of Goldfields. The Committee, having had under consideration the frequency with which petitions are addressed to your honourable House, year after year, by claimants for rewards for the alleged discovery of goldfields, have instructed me to report that they have agreed to the following resolution, namely:— " That, in the opinion of this Committee, no application for rewards for gold discoveries said to have been made more than five years before the presentation of any petition referring to, or claiming under, the same be considered now, nor in the future by the Goldfields Committee." sth September, 1895.

No. 316. —Petition of Alexandeb Mackay, of Auckland. Petitionee prays that a reward may be granted to him as the first discoverer of gold in the year 1866 in Karangahake, Owharoa, Waihi, and Waitekauri. The Committee, having given careful consideration to the matters embodied in the petition of Alexander Mackay, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 19th September, 1895.

No. 301. —Petition of the Executive of the Kumaea Minces' Association. Petitionees pray that the dams, water-rights, and head-races, of Okuku Water-race, Kumara, owned by Mr. James Holmes, may be purchased by the Government in order to assist in the development of the mining interests of the district. The Committee, having carefully considered the questions involved in the petition of the executive of the Kumara Miners' Association, have the honour to report that, in their judgment, it is desirable further inquiries be made by the Mining Department, so as to verify the statements which have been submitted as to the income at present derived from, and also in regard to the prospects of the future profitable employment of, Holme's water-race ; and if such statements are substantiated, the Committee recommend that the water-race, and the freehold section held in connection therewith, be purchased by the Government. 9th October, 1895.

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