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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES JOINT COMMITTEE. REPORT ON THE PETITIONS OF HERBERT ERNEST EASTON, Nos. 75 AND 231, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.

Beport brought up 30th October, 1901, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Friday, the sth Day of July, 1901. Ordered, " That a Seleot Committee be appointed to consider all Bills and petitions that may be introduced into the Council affecting goldfields and mines, and to report generally upon the principles and provisions which any suoh Bills may contain ; with power to sit and confer with any similar Committee that may be appointed by the House of Representatives, and to make a separate report: the Committee to consiat of nine members—viz., the Hon. Mr. Barnicoat, the Hon. Mr. Bonar, the Hon. Mr. Jennings, the Hon. Mr. Kerr, the Hon. Captain Morris, the Hon. Mr. Reeves, the Hon. Mr. A. Lee Smith, the Hon. Mr. Swanson, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. W. C. Walker, C.M.G.)

Friday, the 26th Day of July, 1901. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 162 be suspended, and that the names of the Hon. Mr. Johnston and the Hon. Mr. Twomey be added to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. W. C. - Walker, C.M.G.)

I Wednesday, the 14th Day of August, 1901. Ordered, " That the petition of Herbert Ernest Easton, praying for amendment of the law relating to mining oompanies, be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Jenkinson.)

Friday, the 6th Day of September, 1901. Ordered, " That power be given to the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the Legislative Counoil to agree to a joint report with the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the House of Repiesentatives upon the petition of Herbert Ernest Easton."—(Hon. Mr. Reeves.)

• - Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 3rd Day of July, 1901. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 211 be suspended, and that a Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of seventeen members, be appointed, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining, and all Bills relating to mines; with power to call for persons and paners ; five to form a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Colvn, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Gilfedder, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Herries, Mr. Lang, Mr. R. McKenzie, Mr. Miliar, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Palmer, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Mr. E. M. Smith, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. McGowan.)

Friday, the 6th Day of September, 1901. Ordered, " That power be given to the Goldfields and Mines Committee of this House to confer with the Goldfields and Mines Committee if the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint report in the matter of the petition of Herbert E. Easton."—(Mr. Palmer.)

Thursday, the 12th Day of September, 1901. Ordered, " That the Goldfields and Mines Committee have leave to sit and take evidence in the matter of Easton's petition to-morrow, although the House be sitting."—(Mr. Palmer.)

EEPOET.

No. 231. Beport on the petition of Herbert B. Easton, of Dunedin. I. In this case the petitioner asks that legislation be passed in order to prevent what the petitioner alleges are acts of commercial immorality in mining companies. 11. Your Committee have very carefully inquired into the complaints made by the petitioner. The inquiry was confined to seven of the companies floated by Messrs. Cook and Gray. There was some evidence adduced to the effect that the commercial immorality alleged to have taken place in these companies was typical of what had taken place in some other companies. Although a i—l. 4a,