I.—4a

2

Wednesday, 14th August, 1889. Present: Mr. Cadman (in the Chair), Mr. Allen, Mr. Duncan, Colonel Fraser, Mr. Guinness, Mr. O'Conor, Mr. B. Beeves, Hon. Mr. Bichardson, Mr. Seddon. Mr. H. A. Gordon, Inspecting Engineer, Mines Department, gave evidence relative to the Kumara Sluge-channel. Explanations were given by the Minister of Mines, and also by Mr. Seddon.

Wednesday, 21st August, 1889. Present: Mr. Cadman (in the Chair), Mr. Allen, Mr. Duncan, Colonel Frasec, Mr. Grimmond, Mr. B. Beeves, Mr. Seddon. Mr. Seddon handed in a copy of the Kumara Times of 29th May, 1889, containing an advertisement relating to the Kumara Sludge-channel No. 1, also a copy of the Kumara Times, with a leading article thereon, dated 12th June, 1889; also a copy of the Kumara Times, dated 17th Jane, 1889, containing a report of a public meeting held in Kumara on the same subject. Mr. Seddon moved that the following resolutions stand part of the report of the Committee to the House on the papers in connection with the Kumara Sludge-channel No. 1, viz. : — That, the Committee are of opinion that the Manager of the Kumara Water-race, Mr. J. Gow, when suggesting to the Minister of Mines the placing of gratings in the miners' tail-races to prevent large stones going into the No. 1 Sludge-channel, did wrong in not informing the Minister ■of the fact that gratings had been previously tried for the same purpose and condemned, also by a decision of Warden Giles ordered to be removed, and that the then Minister of Mines had withdrawn the instructions for the introduction of the said grating. That the Manager of the race should have submitted the plans of the grating to the Mines Department prior to asking for authority for the re-introduction of the said gratings, and acted indiscreetly in advising the Minister to be firm in insisting on the re-introduction of the gratings in the face of the decisions of the Warden and the orders of the late Minister of Mines. That it would be impracticable to profitably hydraulic-sluice the auriferous drift at Kumara if gratings were placed in the miners' tail-races as proposed. That when the miners made the offer to reduce the grade in their tail-races so as to prevent large stones going into the channel the Manager should at once have telegraphed that offer to the Minister, or, at the very least, have forwarded same by the first mail thereafter leaving for Wellington ; also the Manager should have notified the Minister that he (the Manager) had stopped the works. That the matter in dispute was not of sufficient import to warrant over one hundred men being for several weeks thrown out of employment, thus entailing serious loss and hardship upon them besides causing great loss to the colony. That in the opinion of the Committee the Manager of the Kumara Sludge-channel showed want •of tact in dealing with the sludge-channel difficulty, and the Committee advise the Minister, in the interests of the Kumara mines, to remove Mr. Gow to some other post. And the Question being put, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow: — Ayes, 5. —Mr. Allen, Mr. Duncan, Captain Fraser, Mr. B. Beeves, Mr. Seddon. Noes, 1. —Mr. Griminond. So it was resolved in the Affirmative. On motion of Mr. Seddon, Besolved unanimously, That the following resolutions also stand part of the Beport of the Committee: — " That the maintenance of the No. 1 Sludge-channel, and the management thereof after deviation and alteration by the miners themselves, will effect a large yearly saving to the colony, and. more than compensate for the grant-in-aid made by the Minister. "That the action of the Minister of Mines in committing the colony to so large an expenditure without first consulting Parliament, and Parliament in session, is questionable ; and that the paragraph in the agreement made between the Minister and the miners, in which the Minister agrees to grant the miners the use of the unaltered portion of the channel, is ultra vires and void, being contrary to the law; and the Minister intends to ask for an amendment of the law to meet the case. " That the paragraph in the agreement made between the Minister and the miners as to payment of moneys received from sales of water into a No. 2 Account, and to be operated upon by the Manager during the construction of the deviation, comes more properly within the review of the Public Accounts Committee; and the Committee recommend the House to refer that part of the arrangements, as shown in the correspondence and papers, to the Public Accounts Committee."

Thursday, 22nd August, 1889. Present: Mr. Cadman (in the Chair), Mr. Allen, Mr. Brown, Mr. Duncan, Colonel Fraser, Mr. Griminond, Mr. Guinness, Mr. M. J. S. Mackenzie, Mr. O'Conor, Mr. B. Beeves, Hon. Mr. G. F. Bichardson, Mr. Seddon, Mr. Valentine. Kumara Sludge-channel. The Chairman made an explanation as to why he had not presented the report to the House yesterday. A discussion ensued thereon, and the Chairman intimated that he would present the report to-day. * The Hon. Mr. G. F. Bichardson, at this stage, attended the meeting, and stated that he had just ascertained that he was required to attend the Besident Magistrate's Court this afternoon, and that consequently he could not be present at the House, and wished the presentation of the report to be held over until to-morrow. A discussion ensued.