County Petition.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4506, 14 June 1883, Page 2

County Petition.

. Th;e following petition has been prepared for presentation to the House of Representatives:—

To the Honorable the Speaker, and the , Honorable the Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the undersigned, the Chairman, Councillors, and mii , habitants of the Thames County - - - Humbly Subweth— . 1. That by agreement, dated the eighteenth day of February, one tbooMnd eight hundred stid seventy-five, His Eioelleooy the Governor df New Z'aland obtained from the Native' owners the right to mine and other rights ov r the lands therein described called the " Ohim-muri Goldfleld," which was duly proclaimed a goldfield under "The Ooldfields Act, 1^66," and afterwards under " The Gold Mining Districts Act, 1873 " "l 2. The said Ohinemuri GoMfMd is wholly | within the boundaries of the Thames'

County. ,' r ' 3. That Mr James Maokay and his sue- | ct»sor« iv office, on behalfof the Government" of New, Zealand, purchased from the Native the freehold of the said Ohinamuri j Goldfield, end' the Government hare acquired ! ralid titles thereto. f 4. Undfr and by virtue of Motion 20 of the " Financial' Arrangements ' Act, 1876 '* nil goldfields' revenue (other than' revennw payable, to the Native owners) vh directed to be paid to the County in which such revenue accrued. 5. Within the O .inemuri Goldfleld, b*tween the First day of January, 1877, and the Fourteenth day of June, 1881, Goldflelds Revenue amounting to Five Thousand Founds or thereabouts has accrued whicli has not been paid either to tho Native owners or to your Petitioners.

6. Your Petitioners are «Jvised and believe that byreason of the purchase before mentioned all goldfields revenue heretofore accrued within the said Ohinemuri G-oldfield is payable ! to your Petitioners under section 20 of the " Financial Arrangements Act, 1876," with interest thereon, seeing that the same has not I been paid to the Native owners. 1% The withholding of the said moneys from'your Petitioners has crippled, and is crippling, the efforts of the Council in regard to( the opening up of the country and development of the mining industry. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray ' that your Honorable House will be '■ pleased to take into your' favorable i* consideration the matters contained iv this thtir Petition, and grant to 1 your Petitioner* «uoh relief in the premise* ■• lo your Honorable House may aeeta fit. And your Petitioner!, M in 4uty bound, will erer pr*y.,, ■ The Com moo Seal of the"] Chairman, Councillors and In* t h«biUnts of the Thames County y . wm hereto affix, div the'ure* " . Noueof '" "■ j ;.j," t Avxxkxvn Buosn, WIUUCAM MVBMOB, | M«iab«rs of the Oouooil.