MINING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 589, 1 August 1873, Page 3

MINING.

—o — Suggestions for the amendment of tbo Gold Fields Act, 1873, by the Alexandra Mining Association. 1. The Association is of opinion that there is no necessity to alter the measurement of a sluice head of water, the present system being simple and easily understood by the miners. 2. That the ownership of the gold contained in a Residence area should not be vested in the occupier, and that Section 20 bo amended to that effect. ‘ 3. That Section 27 should he amended to the effect, that thirty days grace should be allowed during which a Miners’ Right could be renewed without penalty. 4. The Associationapprove of the Clause fixing the License Fee for water races at 1/. per annum, as it would be an anomaly, if while the Government were giving grants in aid of a water supply for the gold-field ■, they were to place a heavy tax on race g constnacte 1 by private enterprise. 5. The Association consider that the •u fixed by Section 182 as a depo it to Cle the cos's of an Appeal is excessive, should bo reduced to 10/. AGRICULTURAL LEASES. The Association is of opinion that the quantity of land which may be selected for Agricultural Leasing purposes should be increased to ten thousand acres, and in all cases an area of pastoral land at least equal in extent to the agricultural laud should be reserved for commonage.' The Association is also of opinion that when land is surveyed for Agricultural Leases the Pastoral License should he cancelled over the entire Bloch selected, as the present system prevents settlers from running cattle outside of their fences, except on sufferance from the Pastoral Lessee. The Association believe that ranch of the IT feeling tint exists between the miners and farmers has been caused by the indiscriminate maimer in which Agricultural Leases have been granted, there being no check whatever on the leasing of aurifeims laud, unless individual miners come forward and object to the issue of the lease, which is unjust to the miner as the duty of preserving intact the auriferous lauds of the Colony cleaidy belongs to the (State, and private individuals should not he called upon to sacrifice their time and money in opposing the various applications for the leasing of auriferous lands. The remedy the Association would suggest is that the land should bo classified at the time of survey : 2. All land which from the position in which it is situated presents no reasonable ground to suppose that it would be required for mining purposes should be placed in tike First Class. 2. All land on which gold-mining has ever been profitably carried on, but which, from the want of water for sluicing pur--1 oses, has been temporarily abandonded ; and all land in the immediate vicinity of gold-workings, presenting auriferous indications, but which, from the above-mentioned cause, may not be required for mining purposes for some period to come, should be placed in the second class. The Association is of opinion that every encouragement should be offered to settlers taking up land of the first class, by granting easy terms <n which they could acquire the freehold of their laud, ami by granting large commonage reserves, so as to enable a ktl.rs to combine the raising of stock with agriculture, and alter the system of constant cropping without restoring anything to the land, which can only result in completely exhausting the soil. Land of the second class should be strictly reserved from sale, and leases should only be granted subject to the condition that the land should be allowed to bo prospected (under certain restrictions) without compensation at any time when the crops arc off the ground; and, in the event of the land being required for mining purposes, that the lessee should he allowed to gather the crops olf the land previous to its being taken for mining purposes ; the lessee to be paid valuation for his fences, but no other compensation to be allowed. Land of the second class should be lot at a {tower rental, say at one shilling per acre pcmimnui, with the right of renewal of tteStase should the laud nut be taken up for mining purposes. Notwithstanding that particular sections might ho surveyed as land of tire lirst chss, the Government should reserve the right to pdace them in the second class of land, should they consider that sufficient evidence is brought forward to p>rovc that the land is auriferous, or that it may be required for mining purposes.