1.—4

2

EE POETS. No. 51. —Petition of Alexander Mackay. Petitioner seeks to obtain a reward for the discovery of gold, which he alleges was made by him, at Ohinemuri, Karangahake, Puru, 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. 20th August, 1912. No. 196.—Petition of the Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). Petitioner company represents that on the 10th November, 1909, it imported from Great Britain two electric sinking-pumps ; that such pumps were admitted duty-free at Auckland ; that some eighteen months after such importation the Hon. the Minister of Customs decided that the pumps were not sinkingpumps, and petitioner company was called upon to pay, and did pay, the sum of £1,067 duty on the said pumps ; that under the provisions of the Customs Act power is given by which the said electric pumps could have been deemed substitutes for steam pumps, and they should have been so considered. The petitioner company prays for a rebate of the duty paid. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of the Waihi Goldmining Company (Limited) that they have no recommendation to make. Your Committee would, however, suggest that the Customs Act be amended with a view to allowing all pumps intended to be used solely for mining purposes to be imported free of duty. 26th 'September, 1912.

Gold-miners' Relief Fund Amended Regulations. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that, having duly considered the regulations relative to the Gold-miners' Relief Fund referred to them by your honourable House, they recommend that the said regulations be referred to the. Government so that the suggested amendments shown on a copy of the regulations attached hereto may be given effect to. 4th October, 1912.

No. 238. —Petition of Frederick Hamilton, of Stillwater. Petitioner represents that on the 15th September, 1910, whilst working at the Paparoa Mine, he met with an accident, sustaining a double fracture of the leg complicated by dislocation of his ankle. Through an omission on the pait of the secretary of his union at Paparoa his application for relief from the Gold-miners' Relief Fund was not forwarded to the office of the Inspector of Mines in time. He prays your honourable House for relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Frederick Hamilton that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view of having the regulations so amended as to make provision to meet the case of petitioner and all such cases. 4th October, 1912.

No. 38.—Petition of James Hosie, of Kuaotunu. Petitioner seeks the grant of a reward for discoveries qf gold which he alleges were made by him at Waihi, Karangahake, and Puru. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of James Hosie that they have no recommendation to make. 4th October, 1912.

Mining Regulations. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that, having given careful consideration to the Mining Regulations under the Mining Act (parliamentary paper 180 C) referred to them by your honourable House, they have not any amendments to suggest. Your Committee therefore recommend that the said regulations be approved. 4th. October, 1912.

Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2). The GoMfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2), have the honour to report to your honourable House that, having bestowed careful consideration upon the measure, they recommend that it be allowed to proceed subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill hereto attached. 17th October, 1912, '