96 Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

(7.)
Wellington, 22nd February, 1876.
To Sir George Grey,
Auckland.

Re education expenditure. I regret we could not
decide this matter yesterday. The difficulty was
the question of whether it would have to be dealt
with as unauthorised expenditure. This difficulty is
now overcome, and the money will be telegraphed
to Your Honour. I hope to be able to reply to-
morrow to telegram about £60,000.

Julius Vogel.

(8.)
Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, February 23, 1876.

Sir,—

With reference to a telegram from the Provincial
Treasurer, addressed to the Colonial Treasurer, I have
the honour to inform you that the sum of two thou-
sand and ninety pounds, for Educational purposes,
will be remitted to you by telegram this day.

I have, &c.,
Charles C. Bowen,
In the absence of the Colonial Secretary.

His Honour the Superintendent,
Auckland.

II. Correspondence relating to the Unemployed Miners
at the Thames.

(1.)
To Mr. McLaren,
Auckland, January 15, 1876.
Grahamstown.

It has been reported here that there are about
four hundred men at the Thames out of employment
who will shortly have to be maintained out of
charity. Telegraph what has come under your
observation as regards the facts of this matter. It
is also said that Waitekauri road is not progressing
as fast as it should do, and cannot be opened by
next month.

Reader Wood.

(2.)
Reader Wood, Esq.,
Grahamstown, January 17, 1876.
Provincial Secretary, Auckland.

I estimate there cannot be less than 300 men out
of employment here. They are real miners, who do
not come asking Government for work. I have only
had one application for work during the last month
and that from an old man. Have no doubt if it was
known that any work was to go on there would be
plenty of applications. Have just returned from the
Waitekauri district, and have made such arrange-
ments that if there is anything like good weather I
will be able to let the machinery go through by the
tenth of next month.

James M. McLaren,
District Engineer.

(3.)
Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 17th January, 1876.

Sir,—

I have the honour to draw your attention to the
fact that, in consequence of the suspension of opera-
tions at some of the mines at the Thames, about 300
miners are now out of work, and demands are made
upon the Provincial Government for assistance.

In consequence of the stoppage by the General
Government of the Goldfields revenue, the Provincial
authorities have no means of any kind to meet the
emergency by offering these men employment upon
public works.

I beg to suggest to you the propriety of at once
incurring some expenditure on public works at the
Thames, to prevent distress. Perhaps the work of
greatest public utility upon which men can be em-
ployed at present would be in improving and opening
up the road from Grahamstown to Ohinemuri.

I have, &c.,
Reader Wood,
For the Superintendent.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,
Auckland.

(4.)
Office Thames Borough Council,
January 17th, 1876.

Sir,—

For the information of his Honour the Superinten-
dent, and of his Government, I have the honour to
inform you that on a requisition from the inhabi-
tants of this district a public meeting was called by
me, and was held on Saturday last. Copy of the
requisition and notice in the margin.

At the meeting four resolutions were unanimously
agreed to, and of which copies appear in the margin.
It will be seen by the last of these resolutions that
the meeting was practically adjourned until next
Wednesday.

I most anxiously hope that in the meantime you
will put me or some more convenient channel in a
position to furnish to the meeting an assurance of
the aid of your Government in the matter of the
first, second, and third resolutions.

I have, &c.,
J. E. Macdonald,
Mayor.

The Provincial Secretary,
Auckland.

ENCLOSURES.

Grahamstown, January 12th, 1876.
To J. E. Macdonald, Esq.,
Mayor of the Borough of Thames.

Sir—

We, the undersigned Miners, residents of the
Thames, respectfully solicit that you will call a Pub-
lic Meeting This Day (Saturday), 15th instant, at
7.30 o’clock, at the Theatre Royal, to take into con-
sideration the present depressed state of the field.

Richard Williams,
And 39 others.

In compliance with the above requisition, I hereby
call a Public Meeting, to be held at the Theatre
Royal, Grahamstown, This (Saturday) Evening, at
7.30 o’clock.

W. Davies,
For the Mayor.

Thames, January 13th, 1876.

Resolved—

That in the opinion of this meeting there is now
great distress upon this goldfield, owing to the stop-
page of the mines and the consequent want of em-
ployment.

That this meeting, having heard Messrs. Brown
and Mitchell’s explanations of the intentions of both
Provincial and General Governments, and in view of
the existing distress, would most earnestly and re-
spectfully impress upon the Provincial and General
Governments the necessity for commencing some
public works of such a character as will find em-
ployment for those men now out of work until the
pressure of the labour market is relieved.