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No. 341. —Petition of W. S. Mbldrum and Others (the Huntly Syndicate). Petitioners represent that the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Land Board of the Auckland District have refused to grant to them the full area to which they believe they are justly entitled under the Coal-mines Act as the original prospectors for coal, and they pray that your honourable House may take such steps as may be necessary to insure that the land they claim for mining purposes shall be granted to them. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, having given careful consideration to the various matters embodied in the petition of Meldrum and others, have the honour to report that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the favourable consideration of the Government with a view to some compensation being granted. (Vide Appendix 1.-4 a.) 6th October, 1904. ,

No. 308. —Petition of the Ross Borough Council and Others. Petitioners pray that a sum of £15,000 may be granted by your honourable House as a subsidy towards the cost of draining Ross Flat. The Goldfields Committee have the honour to report on the petition of the residents of Ross and the Totara Flat district that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, provided that the work of draining Ross Flat be undertaken within the next two years. 11th October, 1904. •

No. 731.—Petition of C. O'Brien and Another. Petitioners pray that during this session of your honourable House the law be so amended as to require the office of a mining company where the men are paid to be situated near to the mine where operations are carried on. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the petition of C. O'Brien and another that they recommend that the said petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 11th October, 1904.

Nos. 864, 865, and 885.—Petitions of G. T. Smith and 63 Others, A. E. Bagnall and 30 Others, and John Buchanan and 32 Others. (Petitions presented during the Session of 1903.) Petitioners pray that steps may be taken to put a stop to the silting-up of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers, now taking place through the inflow of debris from the mines at Ohinemuri and from the tunnel and cuttings of the Paeroa and Waihi Railway. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report on the above-mentioned petitions that they recommend that they be referred to the Government for consideration. 14th October, 1904. Mining Act Amendment Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom, was referred the Mining Act Amendment Bill, have the honour to report that, having carefully considered the provisions of the said Bill, they now recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown in a copy of the Bill attached hereto. 14th October, 1904.

Petroleum Mining Bill. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, to whom was referred the Petroleum Mining Bill, have the honour to report that, having in the form of amendments incorporated the said Bill in the Mining Act Amendment Bill, they now recommend that the said Petroleum Mining Bill be not allowed to proceed. 14th October, 1904.

No. 904. —Petition of C. Rumble and Others, Miners, Naseby. Petitioners pray that steps be taken to throw open for mining purposes Section 1, Block 7 Naseby District, which has been alienated from the Crown without the course of the Wedderburn Stream being reserved from the grant. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they recommend that the petition of C. Rumble and others be referred to the Government for consideration 25th October, 1904. Approximate Gout of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing ],2501 copies), £1 17s. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer. Wellington.—l9o4. Price 3d.)