1.—3.

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.