GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). Mr. GUINNESS, CHAIRMAN.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1890 Session I, I-04

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1890. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). Mr. GUINNESS, CHAIRMAN.

Presented to the House of Bepresentatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. , . Extracts from the Journals of the House. Wednesday, the 25th Day of June, 1890. Ordered, That a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of fifteen members, be appointed to which shall

No. 96.—Petition of H. Bogees and 421 other Miners. The petitioners pray that the land known as Whangapoua, in the Hauraki Mining District may be opened tor gold-mmmg purposes. J The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom this petition was referred for consideration have the honour to report that, having heard the statement of Colonel Fraser that the land referred to m the petition is auriferous and m the possession of private owners, they recommend that Govern ment take the necessary steps to have the land resumed under the Mining Act for mini™ purposes. ° b 23rd July, 1890.

Bepoet on a Letteb addeessed to the Chaieman op the Committee by Me. B. F. Ltjks op Auckland. The writer recommends Mr. Eudolph Eecknagel, Mining Engineer, of Freiberg and Heidelberg for employment by the Government as an expert in all matters connected with mining and the treatment of refractory ores. He calls attention to the excellent credentials and extensive experience of Mr. Eecknagel, and indicates the terms on which Mr. Eecknagel is prepared to place his services at the disposal of the Government. I am directed to request the Government to communicate with Mr. Eecknagel, with a view to carrying out the recommendation made by the Goldfields Committee in paragraph 11 of the report of last session—viz., "That the evidence given before the Committee by ... Mr Luks respecting the treatment of refractory ores, should receive the serious attention of the Government without delay." . 14th August, 1890.

No. 15.—Petition of Simon Feasee, of Arch Hill, Auckland. The petitioner prays for payment of £1,470, or for a grant of land of that value, in discharge of a debt alleged to be due to him by the Provincial Government of Otago for his services in discovering the West Taieri goldfield. 8 I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the petitioner has no claim against the Government for discovering any goldfield in Otago, and that the Committee see no reason to dissent from the several reports on this matter brought up in previous sessions 21st August, 1890. '

No. 129.—Petition of E. Keesey Coopee and 498 Others. The petitioners pray that section 4 of "The Customs Duties Consolidation Act, 1882," may be repealed. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they recommend that effect be given to the prayer of the petition; and that with that object the Government be urgently requested to proceed this session with the Gold Duty Abolition and Mining Property Eating Bill now before the House. ' 21st August, 1890.

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No. 108.—Petition of Geobge Mansfield and 4 Others. The petitioners are miners, and state that on the 18th December, 1889, they suffered imprisonment for twenty-two hours underground in a mine, which was flooded in consequence of an accident, attributable to negligence on the part of the Government officer in charge of the Kumara Sludgechannel. They pray for compensation. lam directed to report as follows: (1.) The Committee has taken considerable evidence, both general and technical, upon the allegations set forth in the said petition, and has carefully perused and considered the deeds, documents, agreements, reports, papers, writings, &c, appertaining to and connected with the several matters mentioned in the said petition, and the maintenance of the Kumara Sludge-channel and its No. 3 deviation construction. (2.) The Committee finds that on the 18th December, 1889, a public work, vested in Her Majesty the Queen, and known as the Kumara Sludge-channel, collapsed or caved in, and the waters of the said channel were dammed up and diverted, and inundated and flooded the drive in which the petitioners were at work, and cut off all means for their escape; and that the petitioners were partially submerged in water and were entombed in the said drive for twenty-two hours, and endured great sufferings, both mental and bodily. (3.) The Committee finds that, in addition to the bodily injuries suffered, the petitioners were prevented from proceeding with their work, and that the works upon which they were engaged were injured and made more costly to construct and finish, and that the petitioners lost certain tools and appliances used in and upon the said works. (4.) The Committee recommends that the sum of £100 be paid to each of the said petitioners in full satisfaction and compensation for the bodily injuries sustained. 22nd August, 1890.

The Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill. Youe Committee, to whom was referred the Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill, has the honour to report that they have considered the various provisions of the Bill, and that, subject to the alterations and amendments shown upon a copy of the Bill attached hereto, they are of opinion that the Bill should be allowed to proceed. 26th August, 1890.

No. 188.—Petition of Eobebt Kelly and 8 Others. The petitioners pray that the surface of their mining-claim may not be granted under the Homestead Section Act, or otherwise alienated. Your Committee, to whom was referred this petition, has the honour to report that, in the event of the petitioners being unable to make arrangements with the owner to mine on the land, the Government should resume those portions which are considered auriferous. 26th August, 1890. _

No. 237. —Petition of P. Stubt Beown, Chairman of the Whaugarei County Council. The petitioner prays for aid towards making road to Puhipuhi silverfields. Your Committee, to whom was referred this petition, have the honour to report that, takiu" into consideration the special circumstances of the case, they recommend the Government to make a special grant of. £500 for the road mentioned in the petition. 26th August, 1890.

No. 165. —Petition of James and Emily Bennett. The petitioners pray for compensation for delay by Government in issuing title. Your Committee, to whom was referred this petition, has the honour to report that, owing to the action of the Government in delaying for several years to issue the title to their land, petitioners were put to serious inconvenience and loss. The Committee recommends that the Warden should be asked to estimate the amount of recompense they are. entitled to. ■ 26th August, 1890.

No. 160.—Petition of James Campbell. The petitioner prays for compensation for delay by Government in issuing title to land. Your Committee, to whom was referred this petition, has the honour to report that, owing to the action of the Government in delaying for several years to issue the title to his land, the petitioner was put to serious inconvenience and loss. The Committee recommends that the Warden should be asked to estimate the amount of recompense he is entitled to. 26th August, 1890.

Gold Duty Abolition. Youe Committee has the honour to report that the Government be recommended to proceed this session with the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, together with any clauses of the Mining Bill that may be deemed to specially affect that measure. 27th August, 1890.

The Mining Act 1886 Amendment Bill. Youe Committee, to whom was referred the Mining Act 1886 Amendment Bill, has the honour toreport that they have considered the various provisions of the Bill, and that, subject to the alterations and amendments shown upon a copy of the Bill attached hereto, they are of opinion that the Bill should be allowed to proceed. ~!'■ 27th August, 1890.

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Begulations cndek Mining Act. Youe Committee has the honour to report that this Committee strongly recommends the Govern" ment to add to Part 111. of the regulations under the Mining Act a clause compelling Wardens of goldfields to hear and deal with every application under section 60 of that Act within one month after the receipt of such application. 27th August, 1890.

No. 262. —Petition of John Cobbigan. The petitioner, who was a sub-contractor for a portion of the Kumara Sludge-channel deviation, prays for compensation for damage and injury sustained by him through the collapse of the No. 1 Sludge-channel. Your Committee finds that the petitioner has proved his claim, and recommends the Government to pay the same; and, if any portion of the £600 agreed to be paid to the trustees of the No. 3 Channel was to meet any of the damages set forth in the claim of the petitioner, the same should be deducted from the said sum of £600 and paid to the petitioner. 2nd September, 1890.

No. 231.—Petition of William Nicholson and David McGoxnon. The petitioners, who were the contractors for the construction of the Kumara Sludge-channel deviation, pray for compensation for damage and injury sustained by them through the collapse of the No. 1 Sludge-channel, and consequent flooding of their workings. Your Committee has the honour to report that in January last the Inspecting Engineer for Mines, Mr. Gordon, when at Kumara, shortly after the accident, promised to recommend that the sum of £300 be paid to the trustees for payment by the said trustees to the petitioners in liquidation of damages done to the petitioners' works by the collapse of the channel; that the Government has since agreed to pay the trustees the sum of £600. Your Committee finds that the petitioners have proved their claim, and recommends the Government to pay the same; and further recommends that, if any portion of the £600 agreed to be paid to the trustees was to meet any of the damages set forth in the claim of the petitioners, the same should be deducted from the said sum of £600 and be paid to the petitioners. 2nd September, 1890.

No. 180.—Petition of .1. 1). Colebbook and 200 Others, Miners and Residents of Coromandel and Hauraki Mining Districts. The petitioners pray that the land known as Whaugapoua be declared open for gold-mining. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the Government should take the necessary steps to have the land resumed under the Mining Act for mining purposes ; and, in the event of the Government being unable to resume these lands, they should endeavour to make some reasonable arrangements with the owners to open the lands for mining purposes. 2nd September, 1890.

No. 193. —Petition of John S. Spence and 11 Others. The petitioners pray that the Maruwheuua Biver be proclaimed a watercourse under section 154 of " The Mining Act, 1886." Your Committee, to whom was referred this petition, has the honour to report that it is of opinion that the prayer of the petitioners should be given effect to ; that the Government take immediate steps to have the Maruwhenua Biver declared a watercourse for the discharge of tailings and debris. 2nd September, 1890.

The Gold Duty Abolition and Mining Peopeety Bating Bill. Youb Committee, to whom was referred the Gold Duty Abolition and Mining Property Bating Bill, has the honour to report that they have considered the various provisions of the Bill, and that, subject to the alterations and amendments shown upon a copy of the Bill attached hereto, they are of opinion that the Bill should be allowed to proceed. 3rd September, 1890.

The Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill. Youe Committee, to whom was referred the Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that they have considered the various provisions of the Bill, and that, subject to the alterations and amendments shown upon a copy of the Bill attached hereto, they are of opinion that the Bill should be allowed to proceed. 3rd September, 1890. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,200 copies), £'!.]

By Authority : GrfiOKGUi Didsbubt, G-overnment Printer, Wellington.—lB9o.