NEW GUINEA MANDATES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17470, 2 June 1922, Page 3

NEW GUINEA MANDATES.

LAW AND MENING ORDINANCES. (]fBO3C OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, May 24. Ordinances dealing with mining, timber, and laitd3 in the mandated territory of German New Guinea have now boon adopted by the Commonwealtih Government. The chief interest | in the ordinance controlling mining operations, as in these regulations the conditions governing prospecting for oil are included. The ordinance specifically excludes shale, petroleum, and mineral oil. The right to search, for and work any suoh deposits is absolutely reserved to the Government. In regard to gold, silver, and every kind of mineral (including opals and precious stones), the ordinance is framed on models of the State Mining Acts, provision being made for miners' nght6, coneolidatecl miners' rights, gold mining leases, and mining leases. Special provision is made for dredging and sluicing leases. Business and residential 6ites will ho obtainable. Wardens' courts are pro vided for, together with the customary machinery for the regulation of mining generally. In regard to the control of lands, a new principle in island legislation lias been adopted by the insertion of a clans© enabling the Governor-General to sell land in fee simple if he desires. Agricultural, pastoral, business, and residential leases may be granted from the Crown lands, all beinj: subject to improvement conditions. The leases in most cases will he for 99 years, but m the case of pastoral leases the limit is 30 years. The annual rental will he fixed upon the unimproved value of the land. A land board is to be appointed to deal with all applications for land. Ordinances have been adopted for dealing with timber rights. Tren? are large forests of valuable timber in the territory. Special rights ] lave been conferred on toe natives in regard to cutting timber, and their lands are protected. Licenses are to be issued for cutting timber on Crown lands. Areas thus conceded under the license must- not exceed 50CO acres, and the licensees will be required t<> work sawmills on the. property. The timl>e r exported will be liable to royalties to be fixed by regulation. '