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THE OTAGO GOLD EIELDS.

7

c—No. i

our interests as a mining community, but as unconstitutional and fraught with the most serious consequences to the advancement of the Province. We wish further to express our regret that your Excellency has seen fit to appoint an Agent to administer the government of the Gold Fields of this Province, over whom the Provincial Government has no control. This appointment is, in our opinion, a virtual disfranchisement of the entire mining population of the Gold Fields; and it is calculated to bring the Provincial authorities into contempt. We also regard the appointment of an Agent irresponsible to us as an infringement of our political rights, and a violation of the spirit of Constitutional Government. We beg, therefore, most respectfully to urge upon your Excellency the propriety of cancelling the ill-advised appointment of a General Government Agent for the Gold Fields of this Province, and of delegating the necessary powers to His Honor the Superintendent and Provincial Council, by whom only can the Government be properly, efficiently, and satisfactorily administered. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. [Here follow sixty-four signatures.]

No. 8. Copy of a Petition from the Committee of a Public Meeting held at Manuheeikia. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. May it please Totte Excellency,— We, the undersigned Committee elected at a public meeting held in this (the Central Manuherikia) District, consisting of a population of over three hundred, do most humbly pray—That your Excellency will again consider the ill-advised step of withdrawing the delegated powers from His Honor the Superintendent of this Province, as we consider the appointment of an Agent above His Honor is an insult to that gentleman, and calculated to do this Province a great amount of injury. This community also pledge themselves to do everything in their power to assist His Honor the Superintendent and his Council to this end, and pray that your Excellency will cancel the appointment of Mr. Bradshaw as Gold Fields Agent. And your humble petitioners will ever pray. William Etjpeet Mooee, William Feedeeick Dixon, John Stewaet Dickie, John Melloe, Edwaed Magee. Drybread, Matakanui, 20th May, 1867.

No. 9. Copy of a Petition from the Miners of Nevis. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor-General of the Colony of New Zealand. Mat it please Toue Excellency,— Tour petitioners, the Miners of the Nevis District, learn with much satisfaction that your Excellency has taken the management of the Otago Gold Fields into your own hands, for the following reasons, viz.:— " That the administration of the Gold Fields by the Provincial Government of Otago has been grievously inefficient and burdensome. " That the Provincial Government has misapplied the revenues derived from the Gold Fields, and diverted them from the purposes to which they should have been legitimately devoted. " That a great proportion of the expenditure on Public Works has been injudiciously made and diverted from its legitimate source to the serious disadvantages of the up-country districts. " Tour petitioners having lost all hope of any redress of their grievances through the Provincial Government, trust that your Excellency will continue to withhold the Gold Fields administration from the Provincial Government. And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray. Nevis, Otago, 11th May, 1867. [Here follow seventy-four signatures.]

No. 10. Copy of a Petition from the Aeeow District. To His Excellency Sir G. Grey, X.C.8., Governor of New Zealand. Mat it please Your Excellency,— We the undersigned, being a large majority of the Miners resident in the Arrow District, have heard with unfeigned satisfaction that your Excellency has determined to retain the management of the Gold Fields in your own hands. The Provincial Government has almost always turned a deaf ear to our very moderate wants ; has absorbed thousands of pounds sterling of revenue from this district and spent it in Dunedin, doling out to us with niggard hands only the most trifling sums for local works. Interminable delays have also arisen in obtaining our leases, caused solely by the double system of Government. All this will doubtless now be altered, and a fair proportion of our revenue allotted to us for local requirements. Under these circumstances we trust your Excellency will continue to withhold the powers under " The Gold Fields Act, 1866," from the Provincial authorities. And your petitioners will ever pray. [Here follow one hundred and fifty-six signatures.]

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