1.—4

3

mining purposes the waters of the Ohinemuri were pure; that in consequence of the Proclamation in 1895 of the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers the river-water became contaminated and so polluted as to be unfit for use by man or beast; that a sum of £1,160 was expended in the removal of nuisances and injuries, and providing for a supply of water pure and clean, thus admitting the riparian rights of petitioners to the Ohinemuri River where it passes through their lands; that at the present time about 40,000 tons of quartz are crushed every month at the various reducingmills of the district, the tailings, &c, being deposited in the Ohinemuri River, and that in consequence the river—diminished in depth and width —is incapable of carrying the same volume of storm-water as in former times, resulting in their cultivations being flooded; that a very slight covering of water will destroy growing crops oi potatoes, and petitioners have lost the whole of their crops through such floods ; that the sludge and sand deposited being infertile and injurious to the soil, their lands have become depreciated in value; that formerly the Ohinemuri River was a good fishing-place for eels and whitebait, and fish constituted an important part of their sustenance, now the cyanide-deposits have destroyed the river as a fishing-ground ; that by the Treaty of Waitangi the fisheries of the Natives were specially reserved; that petitioners have no wish to hamper the mining industry, but the present situation fills them with dismay. They pray for relief. The Goldfields and Minos Committee have the honour to report on the petitions of Parati Harawira and others and Haora Tareranui and others that they recommend that they be referred to the Government for consideration. 25th October, 1906. Approximate Oost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,400 oopies), £ 2.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o6.

Price 3d.]