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No. 2, Sess. I.—Petition of Henry Howe, of Maerewhenua, Otago. Petitioner prays for recompense for the outlay incurred by him in the case of Borton v. Howe, held at Oamaru, on the 9th September, 1890. I am directed to report that this Committee is of opinion that the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 9th August. iB9l.

The Mining Bill, 1891. The Committee, to whom the above-mentioned Bill has been referred for consideration, have the honour to report that they recommend the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments thereon, as set forth in the attached copy of the Bill. 4th August, 1891.

The Coal-mines Bill. The Committee, to whom the above-mentioned Bill has been referred for consideration, have the honour to report that they are of opinion that, as it is very desirable to legislate on this subject, they recommend the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments noted thereon. 19th August, 1891.

No. 5. —Petition of Simon Fraseb, of Whangarei. Petitioner prays for a grant of £1,470 as the discoverer of the West Taieri Goldfield. I am directed to report that, having heard the evidence of the petitioner and Mr. Vincent Pyke, the Committee agrees with former reports of the Goldfields Committee on previous petitions from Simon Fraser, that the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 21st August, 1891.

Nos. 14, 91, 223, and 493. —Petitions of Kawhena Eangitu, of Kuaotuna; Alexander Peebles, of Kuaotuna; William White, of Mercury Bay; and Samuel Neill, of Auckland. Petitioners pray for a reward for the discovery of the Kuaotuna Goldfield. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that each of the petitioners be informed the regulations as to rewards for the discovery of new goldfields will have to be adopted by the Coromandel County Council before the Government can subsidise such reward, and that in the meantime the petitions be referred to the Government for transmission to Warden Northcroft,. with a request that he will report upon them when the regulations are adopted by the County Council. Ist September, 1891.

No. 623.—Petition of A. G. Fell and Others, of Picton. Petitionees pray that the discoverers of the Mahakipawa Goldfield may be paid the balance of £250 due to them under the regulations for the discovery of a new goldfield. I am directed to report that, as the Minister of Mines stated in the House on the 26th June last, that the reward under the regulations for the discovery of new goldfields was £1,000 —£500 of which to be paid by the Government and £500 by the local body. This being the case, the Committee recommend that the balance of £250 be paid to the prospectors of the Mahakipawa Goldfield by the Government, they having complied with the requisite conditions. Bth September, 1891.

No. 494. —Petition of F. C. Williams and Pabtt, of Thames. Petitioners pray that a balance of £20, due to them by the Government for driving a prospectingtunnel at Magazine Point, be paid to them. I am directed to report that the petitioners must obtain a certificate from the Thames Borough Council that the work stated has been performed by the petitioners before the Goldfields Committee can make any recommendation. 4th September, 1891.

No. 75.—Petition of Thomas Hughes and Others, of Kumara. Petitioners pray that the price of water for mining purposes at Kumara may be reduced. I am directed to report as follows : The Committee, taking into consideration the fact that the cost of the annual maintenance of the sludge-channels at Kumara is now undertaken by the miners, recommends that the request of the petitioners for the reduction in the price of water be complied with, failing which the Committee recommends that the Kumara Water-race be handed over to the Westland County Council, or to a trust to be specially constituted. 9th September, 1891.

No. 75. —Petition of Thomas Hughes and Others (second Eeport), of Kumara. Petitioners pray that the price of water for mining purposes at Kumara may be reduced. The Committee's report on this petition having been referred back by the House for further consideration, I am now directed to report that the Committee has gone carefully into the allegations contained in this petition, and has taken evidence thereon. It having been shown that the