1.—4

2

EEPOETS. No. 140. —Petition of Alexander Mackay, of Paeroa. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery of gold, which he alleges was made by him &t Ohinemuri, Karangahake, and other places. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Alexander Mackay that they have no recommendation to make. 28th October, 1909. No. 645.—Petition of William Fraser MoLeod, of Kilbirnie (presented in the session of 1908). Petitioner alleges that he took up a mining claim on the Five-mile Beach, Okarito, Westland; that a certain Joseph McCluggage applied to the Warden for a certificate of abandonment of the said claim, which application was granted; that, owing to sickness in his family, he was unable to be present when the certificate was granted; that he made application for a rehearing, but the Warden refused to proceed further with the case. He represents that the Warden exceeded his powers in declaring the claim abandoned, and that the manner in which his application for a rehearing was refused was opposed to the principles of justice. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of William Fraser McLeod that they have no recommendation to make. sth November, 1909. Mining Regulations. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred for consideration the regulations under the Mining Act, having duly reviewed the same, have the honour to report to your honourable House that they have no amendment to make. 12th November, 1909. No. 19.—Petition of Ellbn Garner and 15 Others, and similar Petitions as per attached Schedule. Petitioners represent the importance of utilising the power of the river-waters of the colony now running to waste, and that the imposition of any charge or rent upon the employment of water used for mining purposes is an unjust discrimination. They urge that every encouragement should be given by the Government for the investment of capital in the opening and equipping of new fields of industry, especially on idle and abandoned goldfields; that large cash deposits prior to the flotation of hydro-electric sluicing companies are effectual deterrents to enterprise. They therefore pray that the Public Works Amendment Act and the regulations thereunder be amended so that the power to grant licenses to use water on the goldfields be vested in the Warden. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they recommend that the petitions as above set forth be referred to the Government for consideration. 25th November, 1909. [Vide Appendix 1.-4 c] Schedule. No. 20. —Greene, J. S., and 17 others. No. 340.—Linklater, H., and 90 others. ~ 58.—Malfriory, J. C, and 72 others. •„ 341.—0rr., J., and 74 others. ~ 137.—Hyndman, H., and 72 others. „ 342.—Spence, A. E., and 46 others. „ 138.—Nicoll, C. W., and 24 others. „ 343.—Thompson, F., and 34 others. „ 148.—Cederman, H., and 63 others. „ 344.—Torley, F., and 73 others. ~ 184. —Newton, J., and 77 others. ~ 345. —Ward, 8., and 72 others. ~ 232. —Atkinson, J., and 15 others. ~ 416.—Dee, G., and 6 others. ~ 233.—80nar, V. D. M., and 25 others. „ 417.—Dorrington, C. G., and 13 others. ~ 234. —Borkin, T., and 65 others. „ 418. —Duckworth, W., and 56 others. „ 235.—Chesterman, P., and 26 others. ~ 419.—Gibb, E. A., and 24 others. ~ 236. —Clifton, Margaret, and 26 others. ~ 420.—Ferguson, S. G., and 24 others. „ 237.—Dietrich, D., and 27 others. „ 421.—Nicholson, F. M., and 62 others. „ 238.—Muir, J., and 64 others. „ 422.—O'Connor, E., and 68 others. „ 336.—Brookes, A., and 12 others. „ 423.—P0110ck, M., and 65 others. „ 337.—Frankpitt, W. H., and 30 others. „ 424.—Pritchard, W. J., and 16 others. ~ 338.—Garner, G., and 78 others. ~ 520.—Cotter, C., and 52 others. „ 339.—Gilbert, W. 8., and 49 others. Coal-wines Act Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having bestowed careful consideration upon the provisions of the Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill referred to them by your honourable House, have the honour 1 to report that they recommend that the said Bill be allowed to proceed subject to the amendment shown on a copy of the Bill hereto attached. 7th December, 1909. [Vide Appendix 1.-4b.]