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No. 134. —Petition of James McKay and Others. Petitioners pray that the Biver Inangahua may be proclaimed a watercourse within the meaning of the Mining Act. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that the petition be referred to the Government. sth September, 1899.

No. 164. —Petition of Alexander McDonald. Petitioner represents that he was the discoverer of gold at Buckleburn Creek, Otago, and has rendered good service to the colony in other ways. He prays for reappointment in the public service. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. sth September, 1899.

No. 222.—Petition of Alexander Mackay. Petitionee claims to be the discoverer of gold at Waihi and Karangahake, and seeks a reward. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. sth September, 1899.

No. 376.—Petition of D. Maloney and 20 Others, of Charleston Biding, Buller County. Petitioners pray that the law may be amended, to provide that where water from a tail-race flows into a river or creek the licensees of the tail-race shall have the right to pick the said water up again at a point lower down from out the said river or creek. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 15th September, 1899.

No. 400.—Petition of Mary Ann Stitt, of Westport. Petitioner prays that compensation be allowed to her for serious damage to her property, caused —and likely to continue to be caused—through the proclamation of Bradshaw's Creek as a sludgechannel. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having carefully considered the facts embodied in this petition and reported upon the same in 1896, have the honour to report that they have now no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1899.

No. 472. —Petition of Charles Lewis, a Surveyor, Westport. Petitioner represents that he was engaged by the Survey Department in 1896 to survey certain gold-mining properties in Mohikinui, West Coast District, the remuneration for his work being fixed by a scale of charges under an Order in Council; that the work having been performed under a second scale of charges, and ignoring the scale under which he had been engaged, the Warden at Westport reduced the amount of the payments due to him, whereby he became a loser to the extent of about £150. He seeks relief. The Goldfields and Mines Committee having inquired into the statements set forth in the petition of Charles Lewis and considered the same, have the honour to report that they recommend that he be paid the sum of £100 in full settlement of his claims, and that the petition be referred to the Government. 3rd October, 1899.

No. 265.—Petition of Bobert Shepherd, of Charleston. Petitioner prays that a sum of £300, lodged by the late J. J. Moynihan on behalf of himself and others as a deposit in connection with an application for a lease of a block of land required for coal-mining purposes, may be returned to him as executor in Moynihan's estate. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having carefully considered the questions raised in the petition of Bobert Shepherd, have the honour to report that they recommend leave be given to the petitioner to sue the Crown for the purpose of enabling him to establish his claim to the amount referred to in his petition. 3rd October, 1899.

No. 473. —Petition of John Stephens, of Totara Bridge, Boss. Petitioner prays that compensation be granted to him for damage to his property, resulting from mining operations on the banks of the Totara Biver. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. sth October, 1899.