1.—4.

3

No. 545.—Petition of Timothy Mori arty. Petitioner seeks to obtain compensation for losses alleged to have been sustained by him through the illegal sale of his land by Government to the Greymouth Harbour Board. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Timothy Moriarty that they have no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1909. No. 346. —Petition of Arthur DOyly Bayfeild. Petitioner, for himself and other shareholders of the Westport-Cardiff Coal Company, liquidated, represents that in order to satisfy a debt of £4,470 the Government seized the plant, material, and property of the company valued at £24,329; that the value placed by the Mining Inspectors of the Government upon the plant, material, and works so seized was £7,516 3s. lid.; that the whole of the property is now being profitably worked by the Government; and that no consideration has been allowed to the shareholders of the liquidated company for the value of the property in excess of the debt. Petitioner prays that in equity some consideration be shown to the claims of the shareholders. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful and exhaustive consideration to the various matters embraced in the petition of Arthur DOyly Bayfeild, have the honour to report to your honourable House that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for immediate and favourable consideration. 14th December, 1909. [Vide Appendix 1.-4 a.] Mining Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having bestowed careful consideration upon the provisions ■of the Mining Act Amendment Bill, referred to them by your honourable House, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said Bill be allowed to proceed subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill hereto attached. 14th December, 1909. [Vide Appendix 1.-4 d.] No. 555.—Petition of James Hosih. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery of gold alleged to have been made by him at Waihi and Karangahake. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of James Hosie that they have no recommendation to make. 14th December, 1909. No. 598.—Petition of David Boss and 3 Others. Petitioners claim to be the discoverers of a new goldfield at Blackwater, County of Grey. They allege that they started prospecting in the early part of October, 1905, and on or about the 9th day ■of November they discovered the quartz reefs now being worked by the Consolidated Blackwater Mines Company (Limited). The company has won an average of over 1,000 oz. of gold per month, and twelve months after their discovery there were 136 bona fide miners working on the new field. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they recommend that the petition of David Ross and others be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 22nd December, 1909. Nos. 321 and 322.—Petitions of F. R. W. Daw and Others, and A. C. Hubbard and Others and John W. Thorp. Petitioners F. R. W. Daw and others represent that they are vitally interested in the gold-mining industry carried on in Waihi and Karangahake; that prior to the establishment of the mining industry the districts named were totally unoccupied, being quite unfitted for agricultural or pastoral holdings; that at the time the rivers were proclaimed there were few farms in the districts; that should the proclamation of the rivers be revoked a very serious blow would be inflicted upon the mining industry, quantities .of ore being left untouched; that by the prohibition of the use •of the rivers to the mining companies the huge plants erected would be practically destroyed; and they pray that no steps be taken to prevent the mining companies from the exercise of the rights they have acquired.