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EE POETS. No. 93.—Petition of Jambs Brown, of Naseby, Otago. Petitioner represents that he is the owner of a water-race, mining claim, and mining privileges at Gimmerburn Creek; that his mining property at that place cost him £1,050, besides other expenditure on plant, &c. ; that the only outlet for the tailings from his claim is through private property acquired since he purchased the claim; that the Land Board of Otago neglected to take the necessary steps under section 154 of the Land Act, 1877, to have the Gimmerburn watercourse reserved for mining purposes; that the Mining Department failed to comply with the provisions contained in their letter of the sth September, 1878 ; whereby through these things he has sustained grievous loss. He prays for compassionate consideration. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report that they recommend that the petition of James Brown be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 19th August, 1910.

Coal-mines Amendment Bill (No. 2). The Goldfields 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 duly considered the provisions of the said Bill, they recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed subject to the amendments shown on a copy of the Bill hereto attached. 25th August, 1910.

No. 97.—Petition of A. H. Westenra. Petitioner represents that in November, 1905, he deposited with the Public Trustee the sum of £1,000 as boiia fide* for the opening-up and development of a coal-mine, in the name of William Haswell-Wood, for flotation in London ; that the said lease was cancelled on the 22nd July for noncompliance with the conditions of working. Petitioner prays that the £1,000 deposited may be now returned to him. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to recommend that the petition of A. H. Westenra be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, 2nd September, 1910.

RULING OF THE CHAIRMAN. The Goldfields and Mines. Committee have the honour to report that at their meeting held on the 15th instant an amendment of subclause (c) in clause 20 of the Mining Act Amendment Bill was agreed to, and, the subclause not then having been passed, thereupon the Committee immediately adjourned. At the meeting of the Committee held yesterday, the 22nd instant, the Hon. the Minister of Mines moved that the subclause (c) be reconsidered, when the Chairman ruled the motion to be out of order at that stage. Whereupon the Committee resolved that the matter of the refusal tif the Chairman to put the motion moved by the Minister be reported to your honourable House with the view of obtaining the ruling of Mr. Speaker on the point of order raised. 23rd September, 1910.

Ruling of the Chairman. The Goldfields and Mines Committee have the honour to report to your honourable House that at their meeting held on the 22nd instant the following resolution was agreed to, namely,— " That on the question being put that subclause (c) of clause 20, as amended, of the Mining Act Amendment Bill stand part of the clause, an amendment was moved that the amendment to subclause (c)' be reconsidered : the Chairman of the Committee refused to put the said amendment, and a motion was made that the Chairman's refusal to put the amendment be reported to the House with the view of obtaining the ruling of the Hon. Mr. Speaker upon the point raised." 29th September, 1910.

No. 29.—Petition of Andrew Roger. Harvey. Petitioner represents that he occupied a section under perpetual lease under the Crown ; that he exchanged such perpetual lease for a lease in perpetuity ; that under the provisions of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907, in common with other lessees, he was given the right to purchase at any time the fee-simple; that as a consequence his section became "private land," and exempt from mining without resumption; that by section 17 of the Mining Act, 1908, his section was