H.—2l

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As the only two claimants are therefore, in the opinion of your Commissioners, not entitled to compensation, and taking into account the large area of Crown lands in the locality, your Commissioners recommend that Spring Creek, with its tributaries, be proclaimed a watercourse into which tailings and waste water produced by or resulting from mining operations may be discharged. Transcript of the evidence taken by your Commissioners is transmitted herewith, together with plans showing sections affected by the various rivers. We most respectfully submit these matters to the consideration of your Excellency. Given under our hands and seals this 4th day of June, 1901. H. A. Gordon, Chairman. F. R. Flatman. C. W. Adams.

To His Excellency the Eight Honourable Uchtbe John Mack, Earl of Eanfurly, Governor of New Zealand. May it please your Excellency,— In accordance with your Excellency's Commission of the 7th day of January, 1901, to inquire into the expediency of proclaiming certain rivers and streams in the Land Districts of Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland. as watercourses into which tailings and waste water produced by or resulting from mining operations may be discharged ; as to the resulting benefit to the mining industry and the resulting injury to the agricultural and other industries ; as to the existence of riparian rights in the cases of landholders along the rivers and streams within the land districts mentioned; and as to the sums that will probably be required to settle claims for compensation or to take the lands compulsorily, your Commissioners have the honour to report finally as follows :— Bartlett's Creek. Bartlett's Creek takes its rise in the range which divides the watersheds of the Pelorus and Wairau Eivers, and flows through a narrow valley for a distance of about eight miles to its confluence with the Wairau Eiver. Gold-mining operations have been carried en in the low terraces and beds of several of the tributaries of this creek for over twenty years, and some fairly rich deposits of auriferous drifts have been found. The evidence tendered your Commissioners shows that, so far. no mining has been successfully carried on in the bed of the creek owing to a large influx of water being always met with, which prevented the miners bottoming the alluvial drifts. Claims, however, have been taken up recently with a view to working the ground with dredges. One claim has been made for compensation, amounting to £2,000. Your Commissioners have examined the land for which the claim is made, and find that the bed of the creek at the present time is in places nearly level with the surface of the adjoining banks. The water in flood-time flows over a considerable portion of the land, and will continue to damage it even if no mining operations were carried on. Your Commissioners have assessed the prospective damage at £416. Seeing that mining operations have been prosecuted for many years on the terraces and in the tributaries of this creek, your Commissioners recommend that Bartlett's Creek, with its tributaries be proclaimed watercourses into which tailings and waste water produced by or resulting from mining overations may be discharged. Transcript of evidence, with plans showing the land affected, are forwarded herewith. Your Commissioners have the honour to return Commission herewith. These matters are most respectfully submitted to the consideration of your Excellency. Given under our hands and seals this 7th day of June, 1901. H. A. Gordon, Chairman. Feedk. E. Flatman. C. W. Adams. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (2,250 copies), £9 19s.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ol.

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