WATER RACE LICENSES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 125, 2 April 1872, Page 5

WATER RACE LICENSES.

| —o— The Mount Ida Chronicle, in a leading article upon the subject of the Goldfields Bill to bo introduced at the coming session of the General Assembly, suggests the following needful alterations in the law regarding the renewal of water-race licenses : Startling though it is, the fact start s us in the face that mining, as a rule, is an illegal pursuit, as a single case in the District or Supreme Courts would prove—for the miners have no further rights than those registered, I besides the ordinary claim—and as sluicing ! is the most profitable mode of mining, so also it is the most illegal. The rivers, creeks and gullies that are now receiving sludge and tailings are improper channels, and any sin- | gle steward of the Government can successj fully prosecute numberless miners in every I district for breach of law, and most gigantic works could be stopped and rendered useless ! by the arm of the law. We do not suppose I that any action will be taken for such tresI pass for the present, but the existing fact of j a ti'csputm is a strong reason for lack of in- ] vestments and a general dread of mining i speculations. The system—or, rather want j of it — of renewing that important and valnI able document, the water-race license, is | most absurd—compelling the owner to keep in his possession a number of useless docu--1 incuts, increased by multiple each year, and : by the printed words on the license altered in language, and sometimes in meaning hv I the Mining Registrars. For example, one John Smith may have obtained a license for a water-race of eight miles in length in July. 1866, to which race there are attached twelve tributary races, for each of which he holds (of necessity) a license ; and at the end o; i each year he is obliged'to bring Ids thirteen licenses to bo renewed. By July, 1872, | John Smith will have seventy-eight lionises Ito take care of to maintain his rights. This jis not an uncommon case, and all of this i! might be obviated by adding two lines to the . | sub-section of the Act having reference to ij renewals of licenses—mV ; ‘Every holder of , | a license shall bring the same to the Mining ’! Registrar once a year, to have it slumped n - . | neircd, the fee for which will be 2s. 6d.’ The , holder then would ha ve his one Hraise fur cm k ■! t'lijld. The o/kjiuni record in the Registrar’s . I oliice would serve to supply a now one in case i ;of loss of document, and the maintenance of . i the right would be supported by its use, the I stamp, and the Registrar's cash-book. And, I to provide for documents defaced or covered , ; with writing,—such as memoranda of trans- • j fers, alterations, extensions, Ac.,- —another . (sub-section might be added io the Act— sir.; ■; ‘ Whenever any water-right owner shall dot i sire to obtain a new certificate in place of a -1 defaced one, lie may do so by delivering up I the old certificate or license to ho impounded, i i by the Registrar, who shall, on payment of | 2s. (id., issue a now I - cense instead, and iu- > | sort such alterations on the face of such li- . ; cense as appeared on the back of the old one. I The old licenses shall become oliice records. . | In the case of list licenses, the applicants . I shall first prove their title before the Warden . ■ by a declaration and the records of the office, before obtaining a new license. ’ —Those are I I only a few of the many alterations required , in the Gold Helds Acts now in force.