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that the contract price was £1 3s. 9d. per foot; that he constructed 21 chains, value £2,124 45., on which he received progress-payment amounting to £1,704, leaving a balance due to him of £420 4s. ; that he has only received £9 of the balance ; that he ceased work under a misapprehension, owing to his deposit-money having been returned to him. He prays for consideration. I am directed to report as follows : That, in the opinion of this Committee, the petition should be referred to Government for consideration. 28th August, 1889.

Papees belative to the Kumaba Sludge-Channel (No. 2). The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom were referred the papers relative to the Kumara Sludge-channel, have the honour to report as follows : (1.) That, in the opinion of your Committee, it is a matter of regret that serious loss of work should have been entailed on the1 miners in the settlement of this dispute. (2.) That the proposal of the Minister, contained in paragraph sof the basis of agreement as between the Minister and the miners, cannot be given effect to as the law now stands, as the title to that portion of the No. 1 Sludge-channel proposed to be handed over is now vested in the Queen under the provisions of "The Public Works Act, 1882," and can only be disposed of and dealt with under that Act and " The Local Bodies' Finance and Powers, Act, 1885." An amendment of the law will be necessary to give effect to the proposal contained in the agreement. (3.) That the subject-matter, as set forth in paragraph 7 of the agreement, be referred to the Public Accounts Committee, the same being more a question of finance than of mining. 28th August, 1889.

No. 371. —Petition of C. H. Mills and Others. The petitioners state that Charles Jackson and M. Patterson discovered an important goldfield in Marlborough. The signatures to the .petition include the names of the Chairman and members of the Town Board of Havelock, Pelorus Road Board, Picton Eoad Board, and the Mayors and members of the Borough Councils of Blenheim and Picton. The petitioners pray that the House vote £500 to the prospectors. lam directed to report as follows: (1.) That Charles Jackson and M. Patterson are the discoverers of the goldfield in the Pelorus Road district known as " Mahakipawa." (2.) That the Pelorus Road Board did not adopt the regulations under the Mining Act respecting the discovery of new goldfields; and in justice to the prospectors they should immediately do so. (3.) That when the Board adopts the regulations, and it is proved to the satisfaction of the Government that the conditions have been fulfilled, the Committee recommend the Government to fulfil their part of the obligation. 6th September, 1889.

No. 506.—Petition of W. E. Sandebson and Others. The petitioners, residents in the Maruwhenua district, Otago, pray that the Maruwhenua Eiver be declared a watercourse into which tailings, mining debris, and waste water may be discharged. I am directed to report as follows : That the Committee are of opinion that it is in the interests of the colony, and would facilitate mining in the Maruwhenua district, if the Maruwhenua River were proclaimed a watercourse for the reception of tailings and mining debris under the provisions of section 154 of "The Mining Act, 1886 ;" and the Committee recommend the proclamation of the said river accordingly. 6th September, 1889.

No. 503.—Petition of Joseph Kilgouk. The petitioner states that he and eight others applied to the Nelson Waste Lands Board for coalprospecting licenses, and that the Board granted the licenses subject to the approval of the Minister of Lands; that the petitioner paid the fees and charges in connection with said licenses; that he put men on to prospect, and made tracks through and to the land applied for, and spent large sums of money on said land ; and your petitioner was subsequently refused the licenses, and suffered considerable loss thereby, and prays for redress. 1. I have the honour to report that the Committee is of the opinion that an unreasonable delay occurred between the time the Nelson Land Board recommended the granting of the prospecting licenses and the Minister's refusal to approve same, and that on this determination being arrived at the right of refusal of a lease of the lands over which the prospecting licenses obtained should have been given to Mr. Joseph Kilgour. 2. That, leases of the land in question having subsequently been given to other persons, and seeing these leases could not be annulled without landing the colony in serious difficulties, the Committee recommend that Mr. J. Kilgour be recouped all moneys expended by him in connection with the prospecting licenses and the areas contained therein, the formation of a company to work the said areas, and other incidental expenses—this recommendation to cover the moneys expended only as between the 4th and 14th July, 1887, and the 4th April, 1888. 10th September, 1889.

No. 310.—Petition of James and Mabt Campbell. The petitioners took up land under the homestead clauses of "The Land Act, 1877," and have complied with the conditions.1 * The Committee therefore recommend that titles be issued for the land, and, in the event of an application being made for its resumption under section 41 of " The Mining Act, 1886," that steps be taken to resume such portions of the land as may be actually necessary for mining. 10th September, 1889.