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No. 453. —Petition of Clement A. Coenes.

Petitionee represents that he entered into possession of a leasehold property and held the same under the provisions of " The Mining Act, 1877 " ; that he erected buildings, fenced the land, cultivated the soil, and became, entitled to acquire the freehold under his tenure; and that his leasehold deed and other documents were destroyed by the fire in the Post-office, Wellington, so that the time having expired and he having no records, he was unable to obtain the freehold, which was his right. He prays the favourable consideration of your honourable House. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the circumstances set forth in the petition of Clement A. Cornes, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government in order that, if possible, he be granted the freehold of the land he has so long occupied, or, if it be not possible to grant him the freehold, he to be given a long lease with right of renewal and compensation for improvements. 19th September, 1902. '

No. 67. —Petition of Simon Feasee, Miner (Second Beport). Petitionee claims to have been the discoverer of gold at the Taieri and other places, and seeks a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given further consideration to the petition of Simon Fraser, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1902.

No. 334.—Petition of Timothy Moeiaety, of Stillwater. Petitionee prays that he may be granted the renewal of a lease which three years ago expired by effluxion of time, the land, it is alleged, being part of the Grey Coal Beserve, and the refusal of the lease being based upon sundry reasons. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the statements embodied in the petition of Timothy Moriarty, have now the honour to report upon the same that they have no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1902.

No. 397.—Petition of James Beown, Miner, Naseby. Petitionee represents that he is the owner of a water-race, mining claim, and mining privileges at Gimmerburn Creek; that his mining property at that place cost him £1,050, besides other expenditure on plant; that the only outlet for the tailings from his claim is down the Gimmerburn Creek, and that has been denied to him. He seeks compensation for the neglect of the Mining Department in not proclaiming the creek a sludge-channel. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the facts set forth in the petition of James Brown, now have the honour to report that they recommend that the lessees of the mining reserve at Gimmerburn Creek be restrained from cutting any channel which would prevent the 'tailings from the petitioner's claim being deposited on the reserve, and that the petition be referred to the Government. 26th September, 1902.

No. 398. —Petition of Chaeles Dougheety and Others. Petitionees represent that they are farmers and settlers in the Gimmerburn District; that mining operations at Gimmerburn Creek could not have been carried on in any other way than by the process that has been followed ; that it is in the interest of the general community that the faces of the hills should not be sluiced away; and they pray that the mining rights of James Brown, another petitioner to your honourable House, may be resumed by the Crown at a fair and reasonable price. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having, in connection with the petition of James Brown, given due consideration to the petition of Charles Dougherty and others, have now the honour to report that they recommend it be referred to the Government. 26th September, 1902.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,200 copies), £1 17s. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o2.

Price, 3d.]

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