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The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have instructed me to report a Bill intituled "An Act to amend 'The Mines Act, 1877,' and 'The Gold-mining Districts Act, 1873 ' " (Hon. Mr. Larnach), with amendments and additions as shown upon the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 10th July, 1885.

The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have instructed me to report a Bill intituled "An Act to amend ' The Mines Act, 1877 ' " (Mr. Seddon), with amendments, and recommend that clause 7 be added to a similar Bill introduced by the Hon. Mr. Larnach. Copy hereto attached. 10th July, 1885.

No. 146. —Petition of Eeuben Waite. The petitioner prays that the recommendation of the Goldfields and Mines Committee of last year, who reported favourably on his petition, be given effect to. •ABffCA I am directed to report that the Committee do not see their way to take further action in the matter, and refer the former report to the consideration of the Government. 10th July, 1885.

No. 187.—Petition of Matthew N. Coopee. Petitionee, who is the owner of a water-race at Mount Ida, considers he is entitled to compensation on account of the Government having constructed the Mount Ida Water-race, thereby reducing his receipts. He now prays the Government to purchase his race. I am directed to report that in the opinion of this Committee the petitioner has no claim upon the Government for compensation, and the Committee cannot recommend compliance with khe petitioner's request to purchase his race. 22nd July, 1885.

The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill. lam directed by the Goldfields and Mines Committee to report: The Committee recommend that additional clauses be inserted in " The Mines Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1885," now before the House, as follows : — Whenever in any case it is not expedient that the provisions of "The Public Works Act, 1882," relating to the proclamation and construction of water-races should be put in force, or whenever any rights to the use of water held under Acts relating to goldfields or mining districts, or for the construction of works connected therewith, have heretofore been, or may hereafter be, acquired by or on behalf of the Council of any county under " The Public Works Act, 1882," or " The Mines Act, 1877," and have by Order in Council been vested, or which may hereafter be vested, in the County Council of any county situated within a gold-mining district, or partly within and without any gold-mining district, the following provisions shall have effect: — (1.) The County Council may in any mining district apply for, receive, and hold any license or other authority to cut, construct, and use any water-race, sludge-channel, tail-race, dam, reservoir, or for any other purpose and in any manner authorized under "The Gold-Mining Districts Act, 1873," or "The Mines Act, 1877" (which Acts and any regulations for the time being in force thereunder respectively are hereinafter included in the expression " the said Acts "). (2.) Every such license or other authority shall confer upon the County Council all rights, powers, remedies, and authorities, and it shall be subject to the same liabilities in respect thereof as if such license or authority had been issued to it as a private person, except that the same shall not be liable to forfeiture for any cause whatever. (3.) (a.) The County Council may from time to time appoint some person or persons in any mining district under the said Acts or either of them, on behalf of the County Council, to apply for and obtain the issue of any license or other authority as aforesaid under the said Acts or either of them, or for the issue of any renewal of any such license or authority ; (b.) And the County Council may in like manner appoint such person or persons or some other person or persons to exercise on behalf of the County Council all such rights, remedies, and authorities, execute all instruments or documents, and to perform all such conditions in respect of any such license or other authority in the name and on behalf of the County Council, as it might have or exercise, or could be called upon to perform, if it were a private person holding such license or authority. (c.) Every such appointment may be limited to some particular power or purpose hereinbefore mentioned, to be specified in the appointment, or may include all such powers or purposes. (4.) A notification in the Gazette signed or purporting to be signed by the Chairman and Clerk of any County Council shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence that such person has been duly appointed with all the powers and for all the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, unless in such notification there shall be expressed some limitation of the authority conferred upon him. (5.) Every Warden, registrar, clerk, or other officer whose duty it may be to issue any license or other authority under the said Acts or either of them shall, upon application made to him for that purpose, either upon an Order in Council or by the County Council, transfer or renew any license, right, or easement to and for the County Council.