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BE PORTS. Special Report: The late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. I am directed to report that this Committee, of which the late Hon. William Donald Stuart Mac Donald, M.P., was for many years a valued member, both as a private member of the House and also for some time as Minister of Mines, desires to tender to his family its most sincere sympathy with them in their sad bereavement ; and further desires that this resolution shall be recorded in the minutes of this Committee and reported to the House, and that the Clerk be directed to prepare a copy to be forwarded to the late Hon. Mr. Mac Donald's family. Bth September, 1920.,

No. 249 of 1919. —Petition of James Vbrrall, of Auckland. Praying that he may be rewarded for the, finding of the first gold in the Ohinemuri goldlields. 1 am. directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Covernment for favourable consideration, with a recommendation that a grant of a compassionate allowance should be made to petitioner. Bth September, 1920.

Coal-mines Amendment Bill. The Goldlields ami Mines Committee, to which was referred the Coal-mines Amendment Pill, having carefully considered the same, has the honour to report that it recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments shown on the copy attached hereto, and that counsels' addresses and the opinions of the Solicitor-General and the Crown Solicitor attached to the report of this Committee on the Mining Amendment Bill be printed. 15th October, 1920.

Mining Amendment Bill. The Goldlields and Mines Committee, to which was referred the Mining Amendment Bill, has the honour to report that, having carefully considered the same, it recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendment shown on the copy attached hereto, and that counsels' addresses and the opinions of the Solicitor-General and the Crown Solicitor attached be printed. 15th October, 192(1.

Special Report : Failure of Mining Companies to install the Axial Water-eeed Drill. 1 am directed to report that, in view of the fact that the companies are responsible for the failure to carry out the provisions of section 7, subsection (2), of the Mining Amendment Act, 1919, the Committee is of opinion that the mine-owners should pay the miners' wages for the time they have been idle in cases where the men ceased work for the purpose of securing compliance with the requirements of the Act. 21st October, 1920.

Mining Amendment Bill (No. 2). The Goldhelds and Mines Committee, to which was referred the Mining Amendment Bill (No. 2), Iras the honour to report that, having carefully considered the same, it recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendments shown on the copy attached hereto. 21st October, 1920.

Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to which was referred the Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2), has the honour to report that, having carefully considered the same, it recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendments shown on the copy attached hereto. 25th October, 1920.