2184
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 99

Appointing Commission to inquire into and report on the Inspection and Management of Coal-mines.

To all to whom these presents shall come, and to William Reeve Haselden, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, of Wellington; Joseph Proud, Esq., a certificated mine-manager, of Wanganui; and John Lomas, Esq., of Christchurch, an Inspector under “The Factories Act, 1894”: Greeting.

WHEREAS in a report adopted by the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the House of Representatives on the third day of October, one thousand nine hundred, upon the petition of Thomas Corby and others, it was recommended, firstly, that a Royal Commission be appointed for the purpose of making full inquiries into the inspection and management of the Westport Cardiff Coal-mine; and, secondly, that in the event of such a Commission being appointed the scope of its inquiries should be extended to comprehend the inspection and management of the coal-mines of the colony generally: And whereas the aforesaid report was referred to the Government for consideration: And whereas it is expedient to give effect to the recommendation in the aforesaid report:

Now, therefore, know ye that I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, reposing trust and confidence in your knowledge, integrity, and ability, and by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, do hereby constitute and appoint you, the said

WILLIAM REEVE HASELDEN,
JOSEPH PROUD, and
JOHN LOMAS,

to be Commissioners for the purpose of making inquiry into the several matters mentioned in these presents, that is to say,—

(1.) Generally as to the management and inspection of the Westport Cardiff Coal-mine at Mokihinui up to the time of the outbreak of fire in the said mine, which took place on or about the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand nine hundred.

(2.) Generally as to the steps taken by the occupiers of the said mine to suppress or extinguish the said fire immediately upon the discovery thereof.

(3.) Generally as to the steps taken by the Inspector of Mines at Westport to suppress or extinguish the fire both during the time the mine was in occupation of the Westport Cardiff Coal Company (Limited), now in liquidation, and since the possession of the mine was resumed by the Crown on the twenty-third day of May, one thousand nine hundred.

(4.) Generally your opinion as to whether the means adopted by the aforesaid company and Inspector of Mines respectively were intelligently undertaken and continued, and were sufficient under the circumstances, with the means at the disposal of the company and Inspector respectively, to prevent the fire spreading and ultimately to lead to the extinguishment thereof.

(5.) That, in addition to the matters hereinbefore referred to, you report your opinion as to the management, control, and inspection generally, in terms of “The Coal-mines Act, 1891,” and regulations thereunder, of the said coal-mine, and also of the under-mentioned principal coal-mines in the colony.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

Hikurangi Coal Company. Taupiri Reserve.
Ngunguru. Ralph’s Taupiri.
Taupiri Extended.

WEST COAST DISTRICT.

Mokihinui. Blackball.
Millerton. Brunner Dip.
Coalbrookdale. Brunner Rise.
Ironbridge.

OTAGO DISTRICT.

Shag Point. Kaitangata, including Castle Hill.
Allandale.
Freeman’s, Abbotsford.

SOUTHLAND DISTRICT.

Nightcaps.

(6.) And, lastly, you are hereby enjoined to make such suggestions and recommendations as you may consider desirable or necessary to provide for the future more efficient working, control, management, and inspection of the coal-mines of the colony, or any of them.

And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you, the said William Reeve Haselden, to be Chairman of the said Commission.

And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorised and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such place or places in the said colony as you deem expedient, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise as may be allowed by law such person or persons as you think capable of affording you information in the premises; and you are also hereby empowered to call for and examine all such books, documents, papers, maps, plans, or records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Commission, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And it is hereby declared that this Commission is issued under and subject to the provisions of “The Commissioners’ Powers Act, 1867,” and its amendments. And, lastly, that, using all diligence, you do report to me under your hands and seals your opinion resulting from the said inquiries in respect to the several matters and things inquired into by you under or by virtue of these presents not later than the thirty-first day of March next. And it is hereby declared that this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue although the inquiry thereunder be not regularly continued from time to time by adjournment, and that you and any two of you shall and may from time to time proceed with the execution thereof, and of every matter, power, or thing herein contained.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused these presents to be issued under the seal of the said colony, at Wellington, this twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred.

RANFURLY, Governor.

Issued in Executive Council.

ALEX. WILLIS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Fixing Sittings of the Nelson District Court.

RANFURLY, Governor.

IN pursuance and exercise of the power and authority in this behalf enabling me, I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Ranfurly, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby fix and appoint that sittings of the Nelson District Court, for civil and criminal business, shall be held as follows, from and after the first day of January next, in lieu of those previously fixed and appointed:—

NELSON DISTRICT.

In the Courthouse, Nelson: For civil business only, on the fourth Wednesday in the month of January, and the third Wednesday in the months of April, July, and September, and the second Wednesday in the month of December, at 11 a.m.; and for civil and criminal business, on the third Wednesday in the months of February, May, August, and October, at 11 a.m.

Provided that in case any of the days so fixed as aforesaid shall happen to be a holiday, then the Court appointed for that day shall be held on the first day thereafter not being a holiday.

As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this first day of December, one thousand nine hundred.

JAMES McGOWAN.

Fixing Sittings of District Courts.

RANFURLY, Governor.

IN pursuance and exercise of the power and authority in this behalf enabling me, I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Ranfurly, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby fix and appoint that sittings of the District Courts of Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wairarapa, for civil and criminal business, shall be held as follows from and after the first day of January next, in lieu of those previously fixed and appointed:—

TARANAKI DISTRICT.

In the Courthouse at New Plymouth, on the second Wednesday in February, and the third Wednesday in May, August, and November in every year.

In the Courthouse at Hawera, on the first Tuesday in February, May, August, and November in every year.

WANGANUI DISTRICT.

In the Courthouse at Wanganui, on the third Monday in January, April, July, and October in every year.