THE NEW GOLD FIELDS BILL

Dunstan Times, Issue 589, 1 August 1873, Page 2

THE NEW GOLD FIELDS BILL

—o— Tho Executive of the Otago Miners’ Association have forwarded the following suggestions to tho Gold Fields Committee of the House of Representatives for their con sideration, with a view to their incorporation in the proposed consolidated Gold-fields Bill Interpretation The word “ claim ” should also include water-race, as is ruled by both District Court and Supreme Court. The words “ water-race ” or “ race, " should bo defined as head, race, tail-race for sluicing and gold saving purposes, and drainage tail race. For each of these divisions special application forms and certificates of registration should be provided. Application forms should contain ques tions as to exact locality, length, etc., ofl existing neighboring rights, on holders oi which a copy of the application form should bo served. Warden should have power to add ques tions in writing to those in printed forms. Water Rights. These rights are beyond doubt the mosl valuable of mining properties, and there fore require special protection. Minors, though they may ohjcctjto increased taxa tion, would not complain of a rcasonabh charge for water, say os. per head. Tin charge of If. for each certificate is an un fair charge, and will, beyond doubt, retan mining operations. Many rights now it existence scarcely furnish their ownen with more than one or two heads, whib there are numerous parties who have wate sources registered, which yield them lesi than one head, and even this quantity bul for a limited period. On these parties a universal charge would press heavily, and for this reason it is objectionable. With regard to the two heads of wate; which are reserved to run down a creek i required, we would suggest, that the prio right to one head of water be vested in th Crown, and when wanted and taken awa; from licensed water rights holders, the Go vernment should compensate them. Under this head some provision shouh also he made for water supply for towns Many gold-Helds townships consist entire';

) fo wooden buildings and the danger from fire is therefore imminent. The Government subsidy provisions should be made to provide water supply for towns. Tne money thus invested could not fail to pay a fair per centage and contribute to a very great extent to the health of the inhabitants. The right of any water should be granted for any period not exceeding fifteen years, and it should be left to the option of the applicant to pay in advance the fees, for any number of years not exceeding fifteen. A clause should also be inserted under this head, making it compulsory for drivers of cattle and sheep to give the owners of water-races notice of their intention to drive cattle or sheep across their race, in such places where there exists no bridges. TailingsThis subject is one of the greatest im • parlance to the mining community, and should therefore he dealt with by the Act. Under the present system, all mining ope- , rations are conducted illegally, an 1 may bo interfered with, or stopped altogether. It is one of those subjects that give rise to endless litigation. We would recommend the Government to settle this vexing question ina definite manner. Parties intending to stack tailings must site. If more than one acre is repaired, the application must be advertised in throe consecutive issues of a newsp iper circulating in tbo district. The Warden of any distiiet to have, power to deal with any objections. We would also recommend that ail rivers in tire Colony should be declared mam tail races, for the purpose of carrying off the debris from mining claims ; but restrictions should be provided regulating the size, etc., of tailings, in accordance with the power of the stream ; and no stones orothor obstructions should bo allowed to ho deposited in the bed of any river which would obstruct the flow. Prospecting. The Warden of any gold-mining district should have power to grant prospecting claims. Special Claims. Vi c wish to call the attention of the Gold fields Committee to the fact, that this wise provision will come into more frequent requisition as labor an 1 machinery is reduce;! in price, and access to the various gold-fields mult: easy liy tracks, facilitating the transportation of timber and other cumbersome mining appliances. The prosperity of the mining industry o New Zealand depends on the large tracts of auriferous deposits, which bfiug surronn le I with great physical difficulties, have hitherto defeated the efforts of the uuasa'sted miner. The development of these deposits requires capital, as well as labor ; but tiie capital!; t requires security, and this is furnished him by the provisions of this clause. As miners we take this opportunity to express our astonishment, that the benefits of this provision are not more generally re cognised. We may hero also state, that wo entirely endorse the proposed alteration made in the Gold Mining Lease Regulation of the new Act, but would suggest, that only If. per acre bo charged instead of

2.'. 10s. Quartz Reefs. Quartz reefing, which may bo said to bo only in its infancy, should also be provided fir in the new Act. AVe beg to quote from the Report of Miners’ Conference at Tua peka, 1872, the following ; “In the case of quartz reefs or lodes, the right should be given to the holder to follow such veins in all their dips, variations, and angles, to any depth, although they may enter the land adjoining.” Local Legislation. AVe again avail ourselves of the Report of the Miners’ Conference, 1872 : “ The opinion of this Conference is that the miners are the best judges themselves of the rules and regulations by which they should be bound in the prosecution of their avocation, and they would ask the Government to appoint a Board of Miners for tho Province of Otago, to be elected by the miners from certain districts, which may A

be either defined by the minors, or by order,, S of the Governor in Council. That the ’ 1 Governor appoint from among the elected body a Chairman. That power bo given to said Board to make rules ami regulations i i conformity with the Gold-Hclds Act, which, on receiving the sanction and approval of the Governor in Council may become the rules and regulations under any particular district or province of the Goldfields. The mode of election, the time for which members should bo elected, and the defining of the districts, may be safely left in the hands of the Government.” We believe that, by the establishment of paid Mining Boards (one for every province which contains gold-fields), a vast amount of money would bo saved to the country, ami bettor legislation he provided for the miner. Priority or PvioiiT. Priority of right is a rule which has i long heen recognised as a fair and just one on the Gold-fields, and is the basis of all inning law.

I It is almost indispousiblo, and if introi duced in the new Act, would simplify mini ing legislation to a great extent. Wo beg > again to refer to Report of Minors’ Conr ferenco, 1872. a [Mixing on Private Property. ' The time has arrived that the attention of the Government should be called to this subject. Wo are aware that it is out of your province to deal definitely with the r matter; but having put ourselves in communication with you, we could not close r without bringing this subject under your e notice, and soliciting your co-operation, should a measure of this kind be introduced into the Assembly. I On behalf of Otag i Miners’ Association, JOHN A. MILLER, ’ President.