The petitioners ask for the abolition of the duty on fl-ol'-i, aud recommend that for the purpose of making np the !o=*B of revenue to the County Coui-ci's caused hy the loss of the gold duty, nil pircels of land held for mining purposes shall be subject to County or other Looal Government rules, also tbat tbe rent from occupation lioens-s on the goldflelds shall be msde County revenue, and that the Government be recommended to assign a portion of the rents from the pastoral leases

I to County funds. In the next place they wish the gold miners of this colony to be placed in a better position for forwarding gold in quantities to the Australian mints, and, with a view to preventing tail-race rob berit_ being so common, they ask that tbe punishment for thia offence my be made more deterrent. Finally they wish the rents from licensed holdings fixed ao the uniform annual rate of! ten shillings an aore, with a deduction of one-third for holdings, coming j under Beciion 13 of tne Mining Act, 1888. Nelson Foreshoke Bill. Ihe Nelson Foreshore Reserve Bill has passed the ordeal of examination by the Local Bills Committee without suffering more than verbal amendment, including an entire re -casting of the schedule which describes the land to be reserved without any reduotion of area. It is from the sohedule, however, that Mr Harkness antici pates most difficulty in piloting the Bill through. It will be remembered that when the late Mr Levestam had the Bill in oharge, the area was reduced in deference to the objections of the Marine Department to about 50 acres. This time the promoters of the Bill have framed it in its original form, providing for an area of 167 acres, instead of leaving matters as they stood, so that Mr Harkness will have to fight the battle again over the old ground. There is not much hope of the full extent named in the Bill being obtained, but he will do his best to keep the area as large as possible. Judge Waro. I hear that the Government propose asking for the appointment of a Speoial Committee to consider Mr Christie's petition against the administration of justice by Judge Ward. 