G.—No. 23.

PAPERS IN REFERENCE TO THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR GOLD FIELDS (PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT) CORRESPONDING DIRECT WITH WARDENS ON GOLD FIELDS.

FEINTED BY OEDEE OF THE HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON.

1872.

G.—No. 23.

PAPERS IN REFERENCE TO THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR GOLD FIELDS (PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT), CORRESPONDING DIRECT WITH WARDENS OF GOLD FIELDS.

No. 1. The Supeeintendent of Auckland to the Hon. Colonial Secretary. g IR Superintendent's Office, ' tvt^ 1» *■ I L» r, ', Auckland, 19th June, 1872. W h Da 7 att^tion has just been called to the fact that the Under-Secretary for Gold Fields has been ordering reports returns, &c, to a very considerable extent, to be made direct t him by arise torn SL™ GOM TFl6f • Permit, m6 t0 dir6Ct Ur attentloa t0 th« inconvenience which arises from this course I order a report from one officer; a similar report is ordered without mv mF' ?°%ffi* I ? fficer', inVolying double lab°nr'. Masses of returns a c ord ed whS interfere materially with the performance of their duties by officers already fully employed ' wh eh returns could be obtained by me through officers whose duties would not be interfered wfth ' Sther inconveniences will, no doubt, suggest themselves to your own mind. I would, thereforerespectfully request that a 1 mstructions to Gold Fields officers be sent through me, so long a >?& \Z C to hold the delegated powers of administration of Gold Fields. i nave, &c., T. B. Gillies, , L ____„ Superintendent.

No. 2. The Hon. Colonial Secretary to the Superintendent of Auckland. ■ g IR Colonial Secretary's Office, ' I have to acknowledge the receipt of your HonorXf "of^hV^'th calling attention to the inconvenience which may ariseTomXsupnlTov Wardens of Cnl/i n°'' En?ZT Ct 'V ll6 UndT SeCret^ fOT Public Wo'" 9 efftS that it has always been usual m case of information required respecting the Gold Fiefdsbv the Houses of Assembly for the Government, through an Under-Secretary, to "give ins Suction. directo _S?a«s_-^^ of m £n°,! Ip nqUlrJ- 1 kaT S"* the °nly retU™ Which may be considered at all laborious is the list lltTSuarv'lS to he fi 3SS ffW"* a Circul- to Wardens, dated so for back a lotn February 1870, to be furnished m obedience to an order of the House of RepreseatativM T PhSZISf TVt™ Called,? r had been eviously *«--- to yl7Hon ror to the SdTS^TJ \ bUti lf/°' W°Uld b6 ea3^ for the Warden to send a copy thereof if prtated SSP* P /t0 aSkl lf T SSary ' aUthority t0 enga Se clerical aid for copying it IK be yt^SftX '°U™h "» WhenCTer a WardeQ i 8 Called 0n to fo™» «y fecial -turn^totnLm I have, &c, - W. GISBORNE.

No. 3. Deputy-Superintendent of Auckland to Hon. Colonial Secretary. g IR Superintendent's Office, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your iltlf^M ffM^^M relative to the order and supply of Goldfields returns J ' the Bth mstant > I have, &c, Joseph May, ' ; _____ Deputy-Superintendent.

PAPERS IN REFERENCE TO RETURNS FROM GOLD FIELDS.

G.—No. 23,

4

No. 4. Circular to Wardens. Wardens of Warden's Courts within Gold Fields, are requested to be good enough to fill up and forward quarterly* to the Under-Secretary of Public Works for Gold Fields, Wellington, the enclosed forms of Return. The first return is to be completed up to the end of March, 1872 . W. bISBORNE. ,„ • -n T rr \< /T ■ ~ . , -o 1 X

No. 5. Circular to Wardens. Wardens upon Gold Fields are informed that the Under-Secretary for Gold Fields (Public Works DenStmenrtTas been authorised to place himself in immediate communication with them for the S_S7ob_fi!fS! information necessary for compiling the Mineral Statistics of the Colony. r r a By order, Colonial Secretary's Office, (Judicial Branch), R- G- .^°™T AINk ffl \ Wellington, March 27, 1872. (*« the Assistant Law Officer).

No 6. Mr. Haughton to Mr. Sheehan, Gold Fields Secretary, Auckland. Public Works Office (Gold Fields Branch), Wellington, 4th April, 1872. ' _ I have the honor to enclose for your information copy of Circular (A) which by direction of the Government has been forwarded to the Wardens, and shall feel much, obliged if you will tour me wS such returnsf from your office, up to 31st March last, as may enable satisfactory statistics to be laid before Parliament. &c C. E. Haughton.

Enclosure in No. 6. Circular to Wardens.—(A.) Wellington, 26th March, 1872. I beg to forward you copy of a Resolution agreed to by the House of Representatives m--1869, and have the honor to request that, in addition to filling up the forms already you by the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, you will furnish me with such a general report of he state of your district up to 31st March, instant, as may enable satisfactory statistics to be laid before Parliament. I have &c C.E.WhTON.

Enclosure m Circular A. Order of the House oe Bepresentatives, dated 3rd August, 1869. That it is desirable that the Government should cause to be laid upon the table of this House, during each session, a Report embodying a general account of the present condition of the Gold Fields of the Colony, their advancement or otherwise during the preceding year, j and their probable prospects ■ together with particulars showing the average price of provisions during the year on each GoM Field, the rate of wages, estimated population, and such other information as would afford a 2£ve idea of the general condition of the mining interest in the Colony; and that His iSS^Ceßted to f^arda copy Report to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. __■__■-_

m 0 .W ..No- '• CiECULAE to Resident Magistrates. Colonial Secretary's Office (Judicial Branch), Wellington, 15th February, 1870. The House of Representatives having ordered " that there be laid on the table a return of the number of Mining Companies incorporated under the provisions of the < Mining Companies T imitoTLkbnity Act 1865' in the various Provinces of New Zealand, and also the number of ahareh33STO^W«- I the honor to request you to be good enough to furnish me with the required information for your district, up to the dlst March next. -^ W. GISBORNE.

Bth July, 1872, and are laid before Parliament.