THE GOLDFIELDS LEGISLATION

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2553, 14 June 1882, Page 4

THE GOLDFIELDS LEGISLATION

fPBOSI THE "PRBBB."J

WELLINGTON, June 13.

Tho su'ocommittee of the goldfields membars have made their report as to the reforms they deem deairablo ia goldfields legislation. The following suggestions are made by Messrs Sheehan and Weston for the amendment of ths goldfields laws and regulations :—Codifioation of mining laws, so as to make them universal throughout the oolony. In the consolidation of the existing laws, the following to reoeive special consideration : —The protection of bona fide mining enterprises for a reasonable period for prospecting, for the erection of machinery, and for perfecting arrangements for tho successful working of claims. Eec s and charges under the regulations to be uniform, and the procedure of both administrative and judiowl departments of tho warden's office to be simplified and shortened, and to enable that to be done additional wardens to be appointed. Provision to bo made for draining through, adjoining claims or leads. The conditions of mining leases to be jless stringent at tho commencement. The provisions in the Minos Aot in regard to raining on agricultural leaseholds to be analagous to those of the Waste Lands Aot. Prospecting licenses alone to be granted until tho ground has been tested, so as to prevent the locking up of the country. The cancellation of leases to be in all ordinary oases effected upon breaoh of covenant-, and the procedure in regard to snoh cancellations to be simplified. Suoh cancellations to be so announced as to give all the public an equal chance of taking up the ground. The soale of fees to be revised, and minors' rights, business licenses, and other duties to be lowered. Tho Government to purchase sites for tailings when they deem it prudent. No agricultural land adjacent to a mining township or mining claim to be leased or sold. When machinery has to be erected on alluvial claims, the area to be, in the discretion of the warden, increased to 20 acre*.