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No. 135.—Petition of James Hosie, of Kuaotunu. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery, which he alleges was made by him, of gold at Waihi, Karangahake, and Puru. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of James Hosie, that, having duly considered the same, they have no recommendation to make. 31st July, 1900.

No. 54.—Petition of Alexander Mackay (No. 1), of Paeroa, Auckland. Petitioner prays that a reward may be granted to him for the discovery of gold at Karangahake, Waitekauri, Owharoa, and Te Aroha. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Alexander Mackay, that they have no recommendation to make. 31st July, 1900.

No. 124.—Petition of Thomas Evans and Others. Petitioners pray that the Motueka Biver shall not be proclaimed a sludge-channel under the Mining Act. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having ascertained that there is no present intention to proclaim the Motueka Biver, now have the honour to report, on the petition of Thomas Evans and others, that they have no recommendation to make. 17th August, 1900.

No. 214.—Petition of Bichard Frederick Wallis, Ernest Edward Wallis, and Arthur Sydney Wallis, Woolscourers and Fellmongers, Gore. Petitioners represent that their woolscouring and fellmongering works employ a large number of men, and are in the nature of a public benefit to the district; that the proclamation of the Waikaka Biver threatens to prove destructive to their business, and that the sum of £750 offered by the Government as compensation is quite inadequate. They pray that the compensation may be increased. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having considered the facts set forth in the petition of Messrs. Wallis, have the honour to report that they recommend that the petition be referred to the Government, with a recommendation that the sum of £750 be paid to petitioners in full satisfaction of their claim for compensation, as recommended in the report of the Bivers Commission. 28th August, 1900.

No. 367.—Petition of Peter Norbury, Storekeeper, Thames. Petitioner prays that he may be reimbursed the expenses incurred in ineffectually contesting the payment of the rent of a special-license claim. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of Peter Norbury, that they have no recommendation to make. 13th September, 1900.

No. 400.—Petition of J. M. Graham and Another, Miners, Gore. Petitioners claim a reward for having demonstrated that dredge-mining on the Mataura Biver can be made to pay. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of J. M. Graham and another, that they have no recommendation to make. 13th September, 1900.

No. 401.—Petition of H. D. Stewart and Others. Petitioners seek compensation for losses sustained through breaches of the agreement under which the aboriginal natives consented to throw open the lands of the Hauraki Goldfields for mining purposes. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of H. D. Stewart and others, that they recommend it be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th September, 1900.

No. 521.—Petition of James Millar and 132 Other Besidents of Hedgehope and Winton Districts, Southland. Petitioners allege that through the closing-down of the Hokonui Coal-mine they are unable to obtain fuel for engine-driving, domestic, and other purposes. They seek relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of James Millar and others, that they have no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1900.

No. 523.—Petition of John Bead, Timber Merchant, Thames. Petitioner alleges that he has had to pay the sum of £88 3s. 3d. costs in the Supreme Court through an action he was constrained to take in order to prevent his freehold property from being mined under. He seeks reimbursement. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report, on the petition of John Bead, that they have no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1900.