THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 20th NOVEMBER 1885.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume I, Issue 126, 20 November 1885, Page 2

THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 20th NOVEMBER 1885.

After a careful comparison of the Land Act which came into force on the First day of this month, with its predecessor, we are struck with one alteration which is of vital importance in a mining district. In the old Act. any person intending to appiv l'or a mineral lease or prospecting licon.-e had to advertise such intention in itt least one paper circulating in the-disirict of the land about being appii< i! for. ha! in the Act now in force. t :<■'■:'■• ;-. "o c!a i.-e making the advertising of such intention, necessary, and yet clause 22 in the Appendix relating to the land district of Nelson states that '• All objections to applications for mining leases and all disputes arising with respect to the boundaries of lands under such leases, shall be decided by the Board, whose decision shall be final." What we would particularly like to know, i;, how is it possible for present holders of leases or licenses to object to future ;ijudications

when notices of such applications are not made public ? •» From the reading of the Act it is very evident that an application can he made to the Nelson Land Board for licenses or leases and granted by that Board, unknown to anybody, except the Board and the .applicant. Of course the Board are supposed to see that no encroachments are made on land already leased, hut as none of the Commissioners of the Board are familiar with land, say in tin? Collingwood district, it is <piitc possible for them to erroneously grant applications against which valid objections would have been made, had notice of such applications being made public. According to toe Act the Govenor has power to "alter or rescind the regulations and rules for providing for all proceedings, forms ofleases, licenses &e," and we hope the Commissioners of the Nelson Board will see the advisability of enforcing the old rule relating to intention of application in regard to advertising, for by doing so they will confer a benefit on the public, and also probably prevent ui.necessare-

litigation, besides taking r. greet Seal of responsibility from their own shoulder--'. We bei; to draw particular attention t Clause 20 of this Act a■•• one heiny e-meoi ally interesting to a number of our iocai settlers:—"Any person who, without right title, or license, wilfully allows any cardo. horses, or other animal-i to trespass - pen any Crown hinds, or any public re--.-,-■ not granted or vested in anv local ~o\.. trustees, or other persons, whether w. ; .'.-i or without a mining district, or ■'..•>. without right, title, or license, shall rbli. remove, or sell anv timber growiin? vr being thereon, or otherwise unlawfully trespass upon • any such lands or public reserve, shall be liable to a penalty notexceeding fifty pounds."