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subscribed to work the ground. In cases where the land has not been previously prospected, permission is given to hold the claim by the employment of such a number of men as the locality and nature of the ground may require. The demand to become possessed of large areas in mining claims has now become patent, and only in claims of large areas can foreign capitalists be induced to invest. It is therefore of more advantage to grant what they require, and secure at least the employment of labour on the land, than to let it remain idle and unoccupied in the hope that at some future time parties with limited means may prospect the ground. Throughout the goldfield, land may remain unoccupied for years, and be scarcely touched by the prospector, and no value is attached to it; but as soon as an area is taken up with a view to work being systematically carried on, the land obtains a value, and is coveted by those who desire to get possession and sell or dispose of it to parties similar to those dispossessed. The cry that the land is locked up, is raised chiefly by those who hope to benefit themselves individually by obtaining possession with a view not of doing any work on the ground, but of disposing of it to capitalists. The development of the mines and search for fresh discoveries has been languishing through want of means, and now that outside attention is directed to the field, money can be obtained for working both old and new ground, and for the erection of machinery, thus furnishing employment not only to the miners residing in the district, but also to those from other places who may be out of work. It is therefore desirable that the mining industry be, as it were, nursed, and security of tenure given to those who seek investment in that industry. By continuing a reasonable and judicious course of enforcing the law, the best interest not only of the Hauraki district, but of the whole colony and, last but not least, of the miners themselves, will be studied, and prosperity will ensue, while employment will be provided for all. With respect to the labour conditions being violated, the following list will show those who are under the impression that the licensed holdings and special claims are not properly worked, that there is very little to complain of.

List of Licensed Holdings and Special Claims in Thames District, with Number of Men employed during May, 1895.

Even if the labour conditions are not complied with to the letter of the law, it would be an extreme hardship to arbitrarily sompel any claim to be fully manned when the shareholders have spent large sums of money in trying to open up fresh ground, and have not the available funds at command to pay sufficient money in calls to keep up the labour covenants. In the state of depression the Thames is now passing through it would not be in the interest of the working miner if these covenants were too strictly enforced. Many claims would be abandoned, and men would be thrown out of employment without possessing the means of entering into mining enterprises requiring a large amount of capital. It may be said that there are very few people on the goldfields, and even in the colony, who are not depending on their labour in some form or other. There is no gainsaying the fact that every one wishes to see foreign capital introduced into the colony to assist in the development of its resources, and it will be for the benefit of all to work hand in hand with those who may invest their capital in mining enterprises, in order that they may get a fair percentage for their outlay, and that the workmen may be fairly remunerated for their labour.

Name of Owner. Area. Nature of Holdings. § . u z Remarks. City of Dunedin Gold-mining Company B. Whitley and party (Scandanavian).. P. C. Hansen and Company (Kuranui) Robert Comer (Kuranui) Hazelbank Gold-mining Company Moanataiari Gold-mining Company .. John Fogarty and party (Alfred) A. R. P. 26 2 0 5 2 30 12 3 6 14 3 10 13 1 37 16 1 23 94 3 26 11 3 39 Licensed holding 4 5 10 15 14 98 2 Permission granted. Protected. Steam crushing machinery on ground. Protection expired in January; plaint for forfeiture entered by William Simpson not dealt with. J. Thornton and others (Freedom) Orlando Gold-mining Company H. J. Greenslade (New Whau) New Alburnia Gold-mining Company.. E. Macloy (Coliban) Victoria Gold-mining Company Waiotahi Gold-mining Company Cambria Gold-mining Company Fame and Fortune Syndicate John North ey (West Coast) .. W. Henry George (Welcome) Golden Age Gold - mining Company (Pinafore) John Farrell (Digger's Friend) May Queen Gold-mining Company George W. Bull and others (Adelaide) George Bryant (Claremont) Lone Hand Gold-mining Company Occidental Gold-mining Company J. G. Vivian (Pride of Karaka) H. Rabe (Silver King) North Star Gold-mining Company Robert Worth (Hit or Miss) Norfolk Gold-mining Company 6 0 0 15 0 0 3 2 8 15 1 0 7 0 27 41 3 10 22 3 20 15 2 17 57 2 22 6 10 9 3 28 2 3 24 Special claim .. Licensed holding w 3 4 3 26 21 34 21 26 2 2 3 Permission granted. Protected. Proceedings in forfeiture. 12 3 13 73 1 18 ■ 12 0 30 10 0 27 3 35 21 0 9 19 3 33 5 0 0 30 0 0 30 0 0 37 17 0 Special claim .. Licensed holding 2 57 7 1 12 10 6 5 10 4 6 Proceedings in forfeiture to be issued. Permission granted. Protected. « u