REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL UPON THE MINING REGULATIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 810, 2 March 1871, Page 2

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL UPON THE MINING REGULATIONS.

The following is the report brought up by the Committee appointed— by the County Council to take into;consideration the existing Mining Regulations : — "The Committee, in submitting for your approval the annexed amended Regulations, report that the alteration effected by them are chiefly of a liberal nature, and calculated, in the opinion of the Committee, to foster the mining interest, and to assist in developing those auriferous resources which are known to exists to a great extent throughout the County of Westland. .. :: " "Tie most prominent features in the alterations proposed by the Committee are as follows : — "An increase in the size pf claims to the .following extent.— -Ordinary, 60 x--60 ; 50ft sinkins, 75 x 75 ; 100 ft sinking, 100 x 100 per man, as compared with the following scale, as under the 'provisions of the 'West Canterbury Regulations, 1867' : Ordinary, 45 x 36; 50ft sinking, 60 x 60 ; 100 ft siuking, 75 x 75 per man, and as compared with the allowance of ground under the Regulations gazetted by the late , County Chairman, . jyiz. : — Ordinary, 6Q x 50; 50ft sinking, 75 x 75 ; 100 ft sinking, 90 x9O per man. And the Committee have decided upon recommending tbe proposed increase in the size of claims from the conviction that miners being afforded occupation in one place for an extended period will act as an inducement to settle down and to become permanent residents. " The Committee also recommend the recognition of the principle of shepherding or tenure of claims without, work, but to an extent that is almost nominal, viz. : During seven days subsequent to taking up claims, they would allow parties to hold ground upon conditions that each share is fully represented for two hours between nine o'clock a.m. and twelve noon ; at the expiration of the said |$yen days, each share to be fully represented and worked. „ ' The necessity for Wardens. making a personal inspection of ground for w bach application is made as a prospecting claim is also apparent, and although the effect of this regulation will entail upon

the Wardens of the County an extra "^Hiount of labor, the suffering and inconvenience that have upon so many occasions been experienced by large numbers of miners will be averted. "The Committee, in making provision for the composition of prospecting parties of both working and sleeping shareholders, are not introducing any innova- , tion, a3 the same arrangement was possible under the old Regulations, but are affording to parties willing to undertake the outfit and support of prospecting parties, a guarantee that their claims wilt receive due recognition, and thereby holding out inducements to atorekeeperand others to encourage a syatem oi organised prospecting. " The proposed reduction of the quan tityof watertobekeptin anycreek from two heads to one head may be effected withou any injury to existing ri»hts, or, in the majority of cases wherein this regulation is brought into effect, one head is sufficient for general purposes. •'lt is also recommended by the Committee that the system of protection t<> parties engaged in constructing tunnels of extended length should be introduced in the regulations on the same principle that obtains upon the gold fields of the adjoining Province of Nelson, aud is attended with the most beneficial results. " The foregoing are the most prominent alterations proposed by the Committee in the Mining Regulations, as compared with the Reflations of the " West Canterbury Gold Fields, 1867," which the Committee adopted as a basi3 -upon which to suggest any alterations, deeming the said regulations of 1867 more applicable to the requirements of the mining population (as a proof of which the Committee refer to the satisfaction with which they were regarded), than the regulations gazetted by the late County Chairman. "In the arrangement of the regulations, the Committee recommend the consecutive numbering of them from first to last, and have embodied the cases wherein registration is necessary, and the charges for the same in one regulation and one schedule of charges, deeming the same to be simpler than that the specifications for registrations should be scattered throughout the rules. " The Committee would point out the necessity for carrying out Rule 157, which renders necessary the posting at the Warden's Courts of notices of applications, which, in too many instances, is at present ignored, and also for a faithful adherence to Rule 30, under the Gold-mining Lease Regulations, which provides for the forfeiture of leases not worked in accordance with the Regulations. *' The Committee beg to call the attention of the Governor's delegate to certain matters of administration connected with the Gold Fields Regulations. The miners and business people upon the gold fields have for some time past complained that they have been put to a very considerable amount of iuconvenience in consequence of a practice which prevails in many places of transacting a large amount of the ordinary business of the Warden's Court through pigeon-holes, instead of giving access to the applicants to the office of the Warden or Clerk. The Committee beg to suggest to the Governor's delegate the necessity which exists for effecting such alteration in the matter referred to as will suit the convenience of the public. " The Committee would point out that in many instances miners have experienced great difficulty in obtaining the refund of any balance due to them from deposits made by them for mining surveys, and recommend that steps be taken to remedy the evil complained of."