GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, I-03

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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Presented to the House of Representatives, Session 11, 1879, and ordered to be printed.

INDEX. PETITIONS, ETC. PAGE. PETITIONS, ETC. PACE. A. M. Alexander, Samuel, of the Thames . . 3 Maerewhenua, C. P. Roberts and Others, of . .3 Arthur's Point, C. Moss and Others, of . . 4 McReady, David, of Kyeburn Diggings . . 2 McWhirter, William, and Walker, Benjamin . . 1 ■d i t n j mi. c™ -i -i • tt ii Miners' Rights Fees Reduction Bill . . .2 Baylen, J.C., and Others, of Waikenken Valley . 3 Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill ... 2 Brennan, Patrick, and Others^ of Inangahua County . 1 Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill . .2 Brighton, Buller County, S. Draffin and Others, of . 3 Mining Leases .... 2 q Moore, Daniel James ..... 4 Cardrona Valley and Pembroke, Otago, J. Needham Moor?' a^> rS^i Others, of Waimangaroa . . 3 and Others, of . . . .1 Morning Star Mining Company . .4 Charleston and Westport, R. H. J. Reeves and Others, Mo8s' Charle3 > and Otller8 > of » . . 4 of (vide I.-3a). it. •p Reeves, R. H. J., and Others (vide I.-3a). Draffin, Samuel, and Other., of Brighton, Buller SSS+ilS'^ AU*°n?i,' txr' u' ' 1 County . . . 3 ■ Kobert5 ' Carles F., and Others, of Maerewhenua . 3 E. SEwine, J., and Others, of St. Bathans . 1 Sandle, H. B., and other Residents of Westland . 4 Sarage, Robert, of Reefton .... 4 F. St. Bathans, J. Ewing and Others, of . . 1 Fraser, Simon, of Aldershot, Auckland . i 2 W. »• Waikerikeri Valley, J. C. Baylen and Others, of . 3 Greenville, William Sowerby .... 2 Waimangaroa, G. Moore and Others, of .3 Waite, Reuben, of Inangahua Junction . . 4 _ . , _f • , , Walker, Benjamin, and McWhirter, William . . 1 Inangahua County, Patrick Brennan and Others, of . 1 Westland, H. B. Sandle and other Residents of . 4 White, George, of Westport . . . .' 3 iv» Kumara Education Reserve Bill . . 3

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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLD FIELDS COMMITTEE. (REPORTS OF).

Presented to the House of Representatives, Session 11, 1879, and ordered to be printed.

(MR. C. A. DE LATJTOUR, CHAIRMAN.) No. 128, Session I.—Petition of J. Ewing and other Eesidents of St. Bathans, Maniototo, Otago. The Golds Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that the proposed alteration in the regulations ail'ecting agricultural leases on gold fields may not become law, as they will seriously retard settlement, has directed me to report that, as the regulations in question have not been allowed to come into force, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th October, 1879.

No. 146, Session I.—Petition of Lorenzo and Antonio Eesta, Gold Miners, Macetown. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for a reward as the original discoverers of payable auriferous quartz reefs in the vicinity of Macetown, Otago, has directed me to report that no unconditional offer of reward appears to have been made which would have been applicable to the present claim. The Committee does not, therefore, feel justified in sending for evidence herein, as the subject of rewards for past discoveries, while undoubtedly worthy of serious consideration, is a question of policy to be initiated by the House, or by the Committee on order of reference by the House. 10th October, 1879.

No. 355 of 1878. —Petition of Patrick Brennan and other Eesidents of the Districts of Eeefton and Murray Creek and Suburbs, County of Inangahua. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that Patrick Murray, of Little Grey, be granted a reward as the original pioneer and discoverer of the district called Murray Creek, now known as a valuable gold field, has directed me to report that no unconditional offer of reward appears to have been made which would have been applicable to the present claim. The Committee does not, therefore, feel justified in sending for evidence herein, as the subject of rewards for past discoveries, while undoubtedly worthy of serious consideration, is a question of policy to be initiated by the House, or by the Committee on order of reference by the House. 23rd October, 1879.

No. 145, Session I. —Petition of Benjamin Walkeb and William McWhirtek, Gold Miners, Lake Wakatipu, Gold Fields District, Otago. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for relief for loss sustained by them through sale to private individuals of the payable auriferous land known a 8 the Crown Terrace, for which they hold a registered mining claim, tail-race, and water-right license, has directed me to report the following resolution, viz.: " That, unless the Government can come to an amicable settlement with the petitioners —the Minister having recognized the claim, and proposed terms of settlement —the same be referred to arbitration, the District Judge being appointed umpire." 23rd October, 1879.

No. 104, Session II. —Petition of Joseph Needham and other Miners, Cardrona Valley and Pembroke, Otago. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that there may be placed on the estimates a sum sufficient to thoroughly prospect the Cardrona Gold Field, has directed me to report that the petition be referred to the Government. 23rd October, 1879.

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No. 179, Session II. —Petition of William Sowerby Greenville, of the Thames. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for a reward as one of the original prospectors for gold on the Thames Peninsula, has directed me to report thereon as follows -.— That petitions of a similar nature have been frequently considered by your Committee during the last few years. That your Committee has never seen fit to disturb the original award made by the local authorities of Auckland in 1870, or to justify your Committee in reporting that such award was in any degree unfair as between the respective claimants. Your Committee has therefore no recommendation to make. 7th November, 1879.

"The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1879." The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill, by order of reference of date 22nd October, 1879, have directed me to report that they have gone through the Bill, and recommend that it be passed with the amendments as shown in the copy of the Bill accompanying this report. 13th November, 1879.

" The Miners' Eights Fees Seduction Act, 1879." The Gold Fields Committee, to whom stands referred the Miners' Eights Fees Eeduction Bill, have directed me to report that they have gone through the Bill, and recommend that it be passed without amendment. 13th November, 1879.

" The Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Act, 1879." The Gold Fields Committee, to whom stands referred the Bill intituled " The Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Act, 1879," have gone through the Bill, and have directed me to report the same with the amendments shown in the copy accompanying this report. 18th November, 1879.

No. 203, Session ll.—Petition of Simon Feaser, of Aldershot, in the Suburbs of Auckland. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for a reward for discovering the West Taieri Gold Field, have directed me to report:— That your Committee, in 1876, inquired into and reported upon the claim advanced by the petitioner, declining to review the decision arrived at by the Provincial Government of Otago. Tour Committee see no further reason now advanced by the petitioner to justify them in re-opening a question settled by the local Legislature many years before the abolition of the Provincial Governments. They therefore have no recommendation to make. 19th November, 1879.

Order of Eeference, dated 29th October, 1879, relative to Amendments in " The Mines Act, 1877." Ordered, " That it be an instruction to the Gold Fields Committee to consider, in any Bill that may be introduced for amending ' The Mines Act, 1877,' chuues to the effect that all leases hereafter grunted'for working uiinerals (other than gold) shall contain provisions for insuring the efficient working of such minerals; and also reserving to the Crown the right within proclaimed gold fields to grant to persons, other than tho lessees, the right to mine for gold."— {Mr. QUI..-.) The Gold Fields Committee, having taken into consideration the instruction conveyed to them by order of reference dated 29th October, 1879, relative to amendments in " The Mines Act, 1877," 'and examined Mr. Gibbs, M.H.E., thereon, and having ascertained that the leases which are complained of as locking up land against the gold-miner were executed uuder " The Nelson Waste Lands Act 1874," and not under the Acts now in force regulating the leasing of land for mining purposes, have no recommendation1 to make. 19th November, 1879.

No. 178, Session ll.—Petition of David McCready, of Kyeburn Diggings. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that instructions be issued so that he may secure or be allowed to purchase certain land, have directed me to report that your Committee are of opinion : — That the petitioner should be allowed to secure a title to the land he has occupied against all others, except the miners who may require such land or some portions thereof for mining purposes. That it is not desirable that the Kyeburn District should remain a proclaimed district for the granting therein of hom«»steads under " The Mines Act, 1877 " (clause 60). That there saeins to be no power to revoke proclamations once gazetted under clause 66 of " The Mines Act, 1877." That, in the opinion of your Committee, a sufficient area of land at Kyeburn Diggings, including the land held by the petitioner, should bo dealt with as a mining reserve,' so that the petitioner and others similarly situated may obtain leases under clauses 9 of "The Mines Act, 1877."

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That, in order that such opportunity may be given, a clause should be introduced into " The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1879," giving power to the Governor from time to time to revoke proclamations made under clause 66 of the said Act, 19th November, 1879.

No. 137, Session ll.—Petition of Samuel Deaffin, Miner, and Others, of Brighton, Buller County. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that an investigation be made relative to the water supply for mining purposes, have directed me to recommend that the petition be referred to the Government. 19th November, 1879.

No. 127, Session I.—Petition of J. C. Baylea and Others, of Waikerikeri Valley. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that Government resume possession of certain land in the Waikerikeri Valley for gold-mining purposes, have directed me to report the following resolution thereon, viz.: — That it appears desirable that the freehold of Mr. Feraud should be resumed, if it can be obtained at a reasonable price, inasmuch as the only available course for the outlet of tailings is through this property ; aud the large sums expended by the Provincial Government of Otago for the repurchase of auriferous land in the Waikerikeri Valley, now being profitably wrought, will have been expended uselessly, unless such outlet is secured for public use. 25th November, 1879.

No. 257, Session ll.—Petition of George Moore and Others, of Waimangaroa. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that inquiry be made as to the exemption by Proclamation of certain land from occupation for mining purposes, has directed me to report the following resolution thereon, viz.: —■ That the Proclamations exempting land from occupation for mining purposes at Waimangaroa, Nelson South-West Gold Fields, and published in the New Zealand Gazette of 20th June and 27th December, 1878, should never have been made, and the Committee recommends that they be cancelled forthwith. 25th November, 1879.

" The Kumara Education Eeserve Act, 1879." The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the Bill intituled "The Kumara Education Eeserve Act, 1879," have directed me to report, — That they have gone through the Bill, and recommend that it be passed with the amendments shown in the copy accompanying this report. 25th November, 1879. No. 284, Session II. —Petition of Samuel Alexander, of the Thames. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, representing that he was the first to introduce means for crushing auriferous lodes at the Thames, and praying for relief for losses sustained, have directed me to report, — That they have considered the petition, hut have not called evidence thereon, considering that, if the facts as to the alleged grievances therein contained were assumed to be true, no recommendation for relief could be made to the House. 28th November, 1879.

No. 320, Session ll.—Petition of George White, of Westport. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that inquiry be made into certain expenditure incurred, and losses sustained by him, in connection with the track along the bank of the Buller Eiver to Eeefton and Lyell, has directed me to report, — That your Committee has no recommendation to make thereon. 2nd December, 1879.

No. 109, Session ll.—Petition of Charles F. Eobehts and Others, of Maerewhenua. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the petition of Charles F. Eoberts and others at Maerewhenua, praying that the Maerewhenua Eiver be declared a watercourse for the discharge of mining debris, &c, failing which, that a Commission be appointed to inquire into the whole subject, have directed me to report, —• 1. That the Committee, having carefully considered the petition, the action of your Committee in previous years, and the various recommendations which have from time to time been reported to the House, are of opinion that no further recommendation which they could make would be likely to afford a satisfactory or final solution to the difficulty as between the miners and riparian proprietors resident in the Maerewhenua District, unless it were deemed advisable to recommend that the Maerewhenua District be taken out of the gold field.

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2. The Committee do not see their way at present to make any such recommendation; at the same time they are of opinion that the holders of water-race property in the district affected might well consider whether it might not be wise to surrender all the rights they now possess under the Acts in force relating to gold fields—retaining their water-race property for all purposes other than mining—for such reasonable compensation as would offer an inducement to the Government to meet them in a liberal spirit. 3. The cancellation of the gold field would enable a large area of Crown land to be placed in the market for agricultural settlement, which at present is withheld from salo as being probably auriferous. 4. The Committee wish, however, distinctly to be understood they do not recommend any removal of the Maerewhenua Mining District from the gold field unless the fullest consent of the owners of mining property interested shall have been first voluntarily offered to the Government. 2nd December, 1879.

No. 138, Session II. —Petition of Eeuben Waite, of Inangahua Junction. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, in which the petitioner represents that he prospected the West Coast in 1860, was the means of opening up two large and prolific gold fields, and that he sustained heavy losses through damage done to his station at Addison's Flat by a great influx of diggers, has directed me to report that your Committee, having reported adversely to the claim of the petitioner in 1875, 1876, and 1877, and being in possession of no new facts thereon sees no reason to alter the decision arrived at. 9th December, 1879.

No. 54, Session II. —Petition of H. B. Sandle and other Eesidents of the Provincial District of Westland. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that measures may be adopted for the construction of a tunnel for drainage purposes at Kelly's aud adjacent terraces, to enable them to work the ground, known to be highly auriferous, have directed me to report the following resolution thereon, viz.:— That this Committee recommend — 1. That Government cause a detailed survey and report to be made. 2. That after such survey and report, if the inhabitants in tho locality or the local body of tho district contribute one-half of the amount necessary to construct the work, the Government —as provided for by vote under " Mines " in the " Estimates for the Year ending 30th June, 1880," viz. " Subsidies towards the construction of tracks and minor works upon gold fields, upon equivalent subscriptions being contributed, £10,000 "—contribute, if the work is approved of, the other half of such amount, such contribution not to exceed £3,000. The construction of the work to be undertaken by the local body, subject to supervision by the Government Engineer. 11th December, 1879.

No. 310, Session ll.—Petition of Charles Moss and Others carrying ou gold-mining at Arthur's Point, under the style of " The Morning Star Mining Company." The Gold Fields Committee, to whom tho above petition was referred, praying that assistance and certain privileges be granted them to enable them to cany on their mining operations, have directed me to report that your Committee recommend that the petition be referred to the Government for their favourable consideration. 11th December, 1879.

No. 317, Session ll.—Petition of Eobert Savage, Gold Miner, of Eeefton. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that inquiry be made into the granting of a lease to the Keep-it-Dark Company, to work certain auriferous land at Crushington, alleging that he and another miner had made a prior application for the lease, have directed me to report — That the Committee, having taken the evidence of the petitioners and of the legal manager of the Keep-it-Dark Company, are not satisfied that the petitioners have not suffered injustice in the matter of their application for a mining lease ; but not having time to examine the District Surveyor, or his Honor Mr. District Judge Shaw, during the present session, regret that they have no recommendation to make. 11th December, 1879.

No. 375, Session II.—Petition of Daniel James Moore, Practical Geologist and Gold Explorer. The Gold Fields Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for a reward for discovering certain gold fields, have directed me to report that your Committee have no recommendation to make thereon. 11th December, 1879. By Authority: Geohge Didseuky, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79. Price 3d.]