THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 18th NOVEMBER 1885.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume I, Issue 125, 13 November 1885, Page 2

THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 18th NOVEMBER 1885.

We liave repeatedly stated that New Zealand’s future greatness will in a large measure depend on her mineral wealth and we have pointed out the advisability and necessity of every Government aslisting as much as possible in developing those resources. We are pleased to observe by a Gazette notice of the 28th ultimo that the present Ministry are recognizing the truth of this, and are now offering very liberal inducements for prospecting. The notice reads as follows: Regulations for aid to prospecting. Upon the Council of any county, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon any Road Board, adopting the following regulations for prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, or tin, the Government shall, sub-

ject to the following conditions, subsidize by pound for pound the amounts expended by each County Council or Road Board, as the case may be. Then follow the conditions.

Class I.—One party of two of three men in each riding,of any county will be subsidized at the rate of 15s. per week per man for prospecting new and unprospected country, three miles from any main or district road and from any known workings. Class 11. One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will bo subsidized a; under while prospecting partially-worked and prospected country within tolerably easy access of road communication:—

Sinking. Dry ground: Is. per foot from surface to 15 feet, 2s. per foot from 15 to 60 feet, 3s per foot from 60 feet to any greater depth. Wet Ground, requiring slabbing: Double tiie above rates.

Tunnelling and driving.— Through Drift oi Blue Reef: 1/6 per foot for the first 500 feet, 3/6 per foot lor next 500 feet, 4/6 per foot for next 500 (or any portion of 500) feet. Through Haid Rock or Cement requiring blasting, or through Pug: 5/s per foot. All tunnels and drives to be at least 4 feet by 3 feet 6 inches. Prospectors under both jffiass I and II are required before commencing operations to send in their names to the County Coun. cil or Road Board, who must approve of same. The regulations as to rewards for the discovery of new gold-fields are gazetted as follows: 1. Upon the Council of any County, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon any Road Boai'd. adopting the following regulation, the Government shall sub.-idize by pound for pound the amounts paid by way of reward under the same. 2. For the discovery of a new gold-field, three miles from any workings, there shall be paid, at the expiration of six months from date of discovery, a reward of ±IOO per" hundred miners, up to £SOO for five hundred or more miners so employed. 3. For the recovery of & lead in proximity to the place where a lead has been lost, and has not been worked for a period of six months, a reward. equal to one-half of the above rates; and for the discovery of a uew lead one mile from any lost lead, a reward equal to two-thirds of the "above rates. 8. For the discovery of a payable diamond field, lode of tin or silver, for every one hundred miners profitably employed thereon at the expiration of six months from date of discovery, there shall be paid a reward of £lO9 up to £SOO for five hundred or more miners so employed.

Such liberal facilities for prospecting have never been offered by any previous Government, and the information will be especially encouraging to miners in our own district. The Chairman of the County Council has . been requested by the Public Works Department to inform Government whether the Council will undertake the expenditure of tho vote £IOO9 Aorere to Kavamea, and as it is very improbable that a negative reply will be returned, there is every likelihood of this work being started almost at once. It is already known that this track will open up communication with a largo extent ol auriferous country, and as this area ol land is some considerable distance from any presant'alluvial workings, a splendid chance is offered to-

miners to obtain not only good payable ground but a handsome bonus in addition.