GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (Mr. SCOTT, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, I-04

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Session 11 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF). (Mr. SCOTT, Chairman.)

Brought up and ordered to be printed. ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the. Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 2nd Day of August, 1912. Ordered, " That a Goldfields and Mines Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining and all Bills relating to mines ; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. R. F. Bollard, Mr. Colvin, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lee, Hon. Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. Poland, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Scott, Mr. Seddon, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Memorandum for the Chairman of the Goldfields and Mines Committee : " Parliamentary piper 180 C, Regulations under the Mining Act, 1.908, stands referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee, in accordance with section 395 of the said Act." Wednesday, the 7th Day of August, 1912. Ordered, " That all potitions not finally dealt with during session 1911 be referred to the same Committee as they were leferred to during the said session, and all petitions presented during Session I, 1912, be referred to the Petitions Classification Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.) Memorandum for the Chairman of the Goldfields and Mines Committee : " The regulations relative to the Goldminers' Relief Fund, under the Mining Act, 1908, stand referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee for report." Thursday, the Bth Day or August, 1912. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. G. M. Thomson be substituted for that of Mr. Lang on the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Eraser.) Tuesday, the Bth Day oe October, 1912. Ordered, " That the Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2) be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."— (Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Thursday, the 17th Day of October, 1912. Ordered, " That the petition of Robert Johnson be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. R. McKenzie.) Wednesday, the 23rd Day oe October, 1912. Ordered, "That the petition of J. S. Ritchie be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Mr. Poland.)

ORDERS OF REFEREN.CE. Extracts from the. Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 2nd Day of August, 1912. Ordered, " That a Goldfields and Mines Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining and all Bills relating to mines ; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. R. F. Bollard, Mr. Colvin, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lee, Hon. Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. Poland, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Scott, Mr. Seddon, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Memorandum for the Chairman of the Goldfields and Mines Committee : " Parliamentary piper 180 C, Regulations under the Mining Act, 1.908, stands referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee, in accordance with section 395 of the said Act." Wednesday, the 7th Day oe August, 1912. Ordered, " That all potitions not finally dealt with during session 1911 be referred to the same Committee as they were leferred to during the said session, and all petitions presented during Session I, 1912, be referred to the Petitions Classification Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.) Memorandum for the Chairman of the Goldfields and Mines Committee : " The regulations relative to the Goldminers' Relief Fund, under the Mining Act, 1908, stand referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee for report." Thursday, the Bth Day oe August, 1912. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. G. M. Thomson be substituted for that of Mr. Lang on the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Tuesday, the Bth Day oe October, 1912. Ordered, " That the Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2) be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."— (Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Thursday, the 17th Day of October, 1912. Ordered, " That the petition of Robert Johnson be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. R. McKenzie.) Wednesday, the 23rd Day oe October, 1912. Ordered, "That the petition of J. S. Ritchie be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Mr. Poland.)

INDEX.

So. Petitioner. Page. No. Petitioner. Page. 364 Campbell, Peter McLachlan 3 144/11 Lohmann, Thomas T. 3 Coal-mines Amendment Bill 2 2 51 Mackay, Alexander .. 2 Gold-miners' Relief Fund Amended Regulation s Mining Regulations .. 2 Hamilton. Frederick 2 313 Muir, T. Patterson .. 3 238 303 Ritchie, John Samuel 3 364 Henery, James, and 81 others 3 196 Special Reports 38 4 Hosie, James 2 Waihi Gold-mining Company ;' 2 349 Johnson, Robert . 3

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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, '

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No. 144. —Petition of Thomas T. Lohmann, of Cape Terrace. Petitioner represents that one of the Wardens of the goldfields has refused to take evidence bearing importantly on his case, and in giving his decision has not taken into consideration the true facts as they have been submitted, and that this is so he is prepared to prove. He prays for inquiry and relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Thomas T. Lohmann that they have no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1912.

No. 313. —Petition of J. Patterson Muir, Miner, Ross. Petitioner represents that mining privileges in Westland held by him for more than thirty-six years were, in October, 1909, declared by Mr. Warden Acheson to be forfeited by reason of non-user, petitioner at the time being a sufferer from illness. The loss of his claim has deprived him of the means of earning a livelihood, and he is now penniless. He prays for relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of John Patterson Muir that they recommend that the petition, be referred to the Government, with a view to further inquiries being made by the Warden as to the value of the water-races, dams, pipes, and other of the mining property on the claim of petitioner at, the time of its forfeiture, in order that relief may be afforded. 24th October, 1912.

No. 349. —Petition of Robert Johnson, Karamea District, Nelson. Petitioner represents that the development operations of the Mount, Radiant Mine, in which a large amount of capital has been invested, are being seriously impeded through the want of proper access to the mine, but that the erection of a traffic-bridge, with approaches, over the Little Wanganui River would quite satisfy the necessities of those associated with him in the Mount Radiant mining enterprise. He prays that assistance may be rendered. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of Robert Johnson that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government, with a view to provision being made on the supplementary estimates for the erection of a traffic-bridge over the Little Wanganui River as prayed for. 24th October, 1912.

No. 363.—Petition of John Samuel Ritchie, of Onehunga, Miner. Petitioner represents that in 1902 he went to work at the Waihi Company's mine, where the dry process of crushing is in operation, as a battery hand ; that as a result of such working he contracted pneumoconiosis, or miner's complaint; and that three medical practitioners have certified that he will never be fit to return to work any more. Having no resources he is concerned for the future of himself, his wife, and his children. He has five children. He prays for relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they regard the facts disclosed in the petition of J. S. Ritchie as exceptional, and they therefore recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 31st October, 1912.

No. 364. —Petition of Peter McLachlan Campbell, of Waimate. Petitioner represents that, having come into the possession of a previously worked coal-mine, situated near W T aihao Forks, in Canterbury, he made application to the Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, for a copy of the plan showing the old workings. The Inspector informed him that he did not possess such a plan, and could not comply with his request. Petitioner proceeded with mining operations. On breaking through info old workings water flowed in and the mine collapsed. Petitioner estimates the amount of his loss at £400, without regard to the profits that would have accrued to him if his mining operations could have been continued. His loss was due to the inability of the Inspector to furnish a plan. Petitioner seeks to obtain compensation. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of P. McLachlan Campbell that, pending the receipt of more complete information, they have agreed to hold over further consideration until next session. sth November, 1912.

No. 389. —Petition of James Henery and 81 Others. Petitioners pray that, as against the proposal to vest the control of the Waimumu Stream and Sludgechannel in the Southland County Council, it be vested in a local Board of the ratepayers. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of James Henery and others that they have no recommendation to make. sth November, 1912.

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Special Report (re Chairman). The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that at a meeting of the Committee held this day, the sth November, 1912, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to, namely : — " That the members of this Committee place upon record their high appreciation of the impartial manner in which the Chairman (Mr. Scott) has presided over their deliberations, and extends to him hearty thanks for the courtesy, consideration, and ability with whi"h he has at all times conducted the business of the Committee." sth November, 1912.

Special Report (re Clerk). The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report to your honourable House that at a meeting of the Committee held this day, the sth November, 1912, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to, namely : — " That the members of this Committee desire to place upon record their appreciation of the services of the clerk, Mr. James Izett, who has filled the office of clerk of the Goldfields and Mines Committee for eighteen years ; and, so that the Committee may be assured of a continuance of his service and experience, recommend the Government to provide for him clerical employment during the recess. That this resolution be reported to the House." .sth November, 1912. Approximate Cost of Paper.- —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,400 copies), £2 12s. fid.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.- -1012.

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