I.— 4b

1903. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE: REPORT ON THE PETITION OF A. CLIFTON AND OTHERS, MINERS, OF THE COUNTY OF WESTLAND.

Brought up on the 4th day of September, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE.

Extracts from the Journals of the Souse of Representatives. Fbiday, the 3bd Day of July, 1903. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 211 be suspended, and that a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of sixteen members, be appointed, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining and all Bills relating to mines; with power to call for persons and papers ; five to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Colvin, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Herdman, Mr. Herries, Mr. Kidd, Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. Millar, Hon. C. H. Mills, Mr. Moss, Mr. Reid, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Mr. Smith, Mr. Witheford, and the mover."— (Hon. J. McGowan.)

Tuesday, the 28th Day or July, 1903. Ordered, " That the petition of A. Clifton and others be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."

PETITION.

To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Eepresentatives of the Colony of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned adult residents of the County of Westland showeth :— (1.) That a large area of auriferous ground, which has been proved payable, exists on the south side of the Hokitika Eiver at Eimu, and in its vicinity. (2.) That, owing to the height of the auriferous deposits above the level of the river, it has been found impossible for individual enterprise to bring in more than a very small supply of water. (3.) If a good supply of water could be brought on to the terraces in the vicinity of Eimu at a suitable elevation, profitable employment would be found for a large population for many years to come. (4.) The Humphrey's Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) has constructed a water-race from the Arahura Eiver, about seventeen miles along, carrying forty heads of water, which is delivered at Humphrey's Gully at an altitude of about 530 ft. above sea-level. (5.) An extension of the race mentioned in the last paragraph, of nine miles, would bring the said water-race, by way of Blue Spur, to Eimu, and deliver water there at an altitude of about 440 ft. above sea-level. (6.) That auriferous deposits exist at Blue Spur, for working which water from this proposed extension of race would be available. (7.) That no other considerable quantity of water can be brought on to the Eimu terraces at the same elevation as that from the Humphrey's Gully race, and the greatest elevation possible is desirable for working such terraces. That we believe ready sale would be obtained for all water brought in by means of the suggested extension. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray,— (1.) That the water-race of the Humphrey's Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) be acquired by the Government of the Colony of New Zealand, and extended to Eimu by way of Blue Spur. (2.) In the alternative, that the Government will subsidise and otherwise assist private enterprise in undertaking the said work, or take such other steps as it may deem advisable to secure an adequate supply of water for the purposes mentioned. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. A. Clifton and 343 Others.