GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (Mr. JAMES COLVIN, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1904 Session I, I-04

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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (Mr. JAMES COLVIN, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OP REFERENCE.

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 30th Day of June, 1904. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 218 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. Hemes, Mr. Kidd, Mr. K. McKenzie, Mr. Millar, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Moss, Mr. Reid, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Mr. Smith, Mr. Witheford, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. McGowan.) Friday, the 15th Day of July, 1904. Ordered, " That the Mining Companies Bill be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. McGowan.) Thursday, the Bth Day of September, 1904. Ordered, " That the Petroleum Mining Bill and the Mining Act Amendment Bill be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee." —(Hon. Mr. McGowan.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioner. Page. No. Petitioner. Page. 865 308 885 Bagnall, A. E., and others Borough Council of Ross and others Buchanan, J., and others 3 3 3 633 Mining Act Amendment Bill Mining Companies Bill.. Moriarty, Timothy 3 2 2 94 Fraser, Simon 2 731 O'Brien, C. .. 3. 67 94 Healy, Dennis.. Hosie, James a 2 Petroleum Mining Bill .. 3 ■2 3 904 Rumble, 0., and others.. 3 346 341 Mackay, Alexander Meldruin, W. S., a,nd others (vide also Appendix I.-4a 98 864 Schofield, Robert Smith, G. T., and otherb 2 3

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REPORTS.

No. 67. Petition of Dennis Healy, formerly of Granity Creek, Buller County, but now of Wellington. Petitioned represents that under section 230 of "The Mining Act, 1891," he held 12 acres of land in the Ngakawau Survey District under an occupation license; that he cleared, fenced, cultivated, and grassed the same; and that whilst the said license was still valid and in foree — notwithstanding his objections —the Warden granted the said land as a mining claim, no compensation for his improvements being allowed. Petitioner prays for inquiry and redress. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the various matters set forth in the petition of Denis Healy, have the honour to report that they recommend that the t-aid petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th July, 1904.

Mining Companies Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the above-mentioned Bill, have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the bearing and probable operation of the provisions of the same, they now recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 30th August, 1904.

No. 94. —Petition of Simon Fbaseb, Miner, of Maungatapere, Whangarei, Auckland. Petitioner represents that he discovered gold at the Taieri in 1863, and, to the satisfaction of the Provincial Council of Otago, established his claim to be regarded as the first discoverer. Petitioner asserts that his claim to be the discoverer and to be entitled to the reward has never !een denied or disputed. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that petitioner first claimed a reward from Parliament for the discovery of gold in 1879, and every year since 1883 his petition has come before the House of Representatives. In the year 1879 the report was that the claim of Simon Fraser had been settled by the local Legislature of Otago long before the abolition of provincial government. In 1883 the report was that a small grant of land be given to petitioner, but nothing was done. Since the year 1883 the report has invariably been that of "No recommendation." Your Committee now repeat former reports: Upon the petition of Simon Fraser they have no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1904.

No. 346. —Petition of Alexander Mackay, Miner, of Paeroa, Ohinemuri County. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery of gold alleged to have been made by him at Waihi in the year 1866, at Karangahake in 1867, at Waitekauri in 1868, and for floating the original company on the Thames leading to the opening-up of the Ohinemuri district. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Alexander Mackay that the} 7 have no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1904.

No. 468. —Petition of James Hosie, Miner, Kuaotunu. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery of gold, alleged to have been made by him at Waihi, Karangahake, and at Puru. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of James Hosie that they have no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1904.

No. 98.—Petition of Robert Sohofield, Miner, of Brunnerton. Petitioner prays for a reward for the discovery of the Blackball Coalfield, which he alleges was made by him. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Robert Shofield that they have no recommendation to make. 30th September, 1904.

No. 633.—Petition of Timothy Moriartt, of Stillwater. Petitioner prays that he may be granted the renewal of a lease that expired by effluxion of time, the land, it is alleged, being part of the Grey Coal Reserve, and the refusal to grant a renewal being based upon, as the petitioner believes, sundry insufficient reasons. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report upon the petition of Timothy \foriartv that, in their opinion, the petitioner was entitled either to compensation from anyincoming tenant for the then existing buildings or other improvements of a permanent character or, in equity, he was entitled to a renewal of his lease ; that delay in issuing a renewed lease took place not through any fault of the tenant, which delay deprived him of any legal remedy he might have possessed to protect himself against any damage arising from dredging; that under the circumstances set forth the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration 30th September, 1904.

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No. 341. —Petition of W. S. Mbldrum and Others (the Huntly Syndicate). Petitioners represent that the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Land Board of the Auckland District have refused to grant to them the full area to which they believe they are justly entitled under the Coal-mines Act as the original prospectors for coal, and they pray that your honourable House may take such steps as may be necessary to insure that the land they claim for mining purposes shall be granted to them. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the various matters embodied in the petition of Meldrum and others, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the favourable consideration of the Government with a view to some compensation being granted. (Vide Appendix 1.-4 a.) 6th October, 1904. ,

No. 308. —Petition of the Ross Borough Council and Others. Petitioners pray that a sum of £15,000 may be granted by your honourable House as a subsidy towards the cost of draining Ross Flat. The Goldfields Committee have the honour to report on the petition of the residents of Ross and the Totara Flat district that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, provided that the work of draining Ross Flat be undertaken within the next two years. 11th October, 1904. •

No. 731.—Petition of C. O'Brien and Another. Petitioners pray that during this session of your honourable House the law be so amended as to require the office of a mining company where the men are paid to be situated near to the mine where operations are carried on. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of C. O'Brien and another that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 11th October, 1904.

Nos. 864, 865, and 885.—Petitions of G. T. Smith and 63 Others, A. E. Bagnall and 30 Others, and John Buchanan and 32 Others. (Petitions presented during the Session of 1903.) Petitioners pray that steps may be taken to put a stop to the silting-up of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers, now taking place through the inflow of debris from the mines at Ohinemuri and from the tunnel and cuttings of the Paeroa and Waihi Railway. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the above-mentioned petitions that they recommend that they be referred to the Government for consideration. 14th October, 1904. Mining Act Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom, was referred the Mining Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the provisions of the said Bill, they now recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 14th October, 1904.

Petroleum Mining Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the Petroleum Mining Bill, have the honour to report that, having in the form of amendments incorporated the said Bill in the Mining Act Amendment Bill, they now recommend that the said Petroleum Mining Bill be not allowed to proceed. 14th October, 1904.

No. 904. —Petition of C. Rumble and Others, Miners, Naseby. Petitioners pray that steps be taken to throw open for mining purposes Section 1, Block 7 Naseby District, which has been alienated from the Crown without the course of the Wedderburn Stream being reserved from the grant. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they recommend that the petition of C. Rumble and others be referred to the Government for consideration 25th October, 1904. Approximate Gout of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing ],2501 copies), £1 17s. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer. Wellington.—l9o4. Price 3d.)