INSPECTION OF QUARTZ MINES.

Evening Star, Issue 3015, 17 October 1872, Page 2

INSPECTION OF QUARTZ MINES.

It is to be hoped that the ** Quartz Crashing Machines Regulation and Inspection Bill,” introduced by Mr Sheehan, and which has already passed its second reading, will not be found amongst the remains of the slaughtered innocents. The measure is one urgently called for in the interest of the Thames goldfield, and indeed of all quartz Helds in the Colony, When one remembers the fearful amount of swindling that has been perpetrated by the means of falsification of returns of crushings, and the encouragement to theft afforded by private and uninspected batteries, the bill must be regarded as one thAt ought td pass' ’into law with as little delay as possible. It enables the Governor in Council to make, alter, or amend rules and regulations for compelling. in the first place, every owner of a quartz crushing machine to take out a license for and register each machine owned by him, and to keep a true and cornet register of all ore delivered to him or purchased by him for the purpose of having the gold therein extracted, and to enter the amount of gold extracted and the names of the persons from whom the ore was received. The Governor may also make rules for compelling all persons delivering or selling any ore to any machine owner or re? torter tq furnish full particulars required to be ascertained by such machine owner Each machine owner is to furnish from time to time, as may be prescribed, full and correct returns to be verified by statutory declaration. Provi- ion is made for the appointment of an inspector, whose duty it shall be to enter upon any machine premises, and “to inspect and examine any machine, and all registers and returns required to be kept.” Persons committing a breach of the regulations are liable to a penalty not exceeding T,3ofi for each offence, or to imprisonment in default or payment. The Governor may delegate his powers under the Act to a •Superintendent. Should this Bill become law it will be the means of greatly increasing the confidence of the public in the pubWished returns from quartz mines, and put a stop to the specimen stealing which has undoubtedly been carried on to a large extent on the* Auckland goldfields.