THE MINING REGULATIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1339, 13 November 1872, Page 2

THE MINING REGULATIONS.

[to the editor.] Sir, — Would you allow me a small space in your valuable paper for a few remarks on that most fruitful source of litigation, Clause 8, Section X, of the Mining Rules — "The holders of waterrights shall not be entitled to take water from any river or permanent stream, when by so doing they will r-duce the quantity of water iv such stream to less than one sluice-head." Now, Sir, . I think the above clause is to be read in its literal sense — that it was intended to be a protection against, large companies^ and not to compel holders of water-rights to let their water run down the preek, if they have only half a head. I fail to see how a creek that dries up altogether can bo called a permanent stream. If the reading of the clause by the Warden in the suit between Tremblik. and- Godfrey y. Edmund Jona3, is the correct one, it is fully time a move is made to have it altered, as it virtually places all holders of water-rights at the mercy of any hatter that chooses to take up a claim in the creek, a case that actually has happened here. A party spent twelve months bringing in a race at a cost of over LI 000. As soon as they were in working order, they were summoned to let their water run down the creek, and four men kept idle for one that had not been to the outlay of a single shilling. lam willing to admit such a reading was but just when the creeks were first being worked, but now that they are buried 20 feet with tailings, it is time that the terraces had their turn, and some encouragement given to parties willing to give their time and money to the bringing in of water-races, and not only water-races, but the constructing of dams, as owing to the physical features of the country it is impossible to get a supply of water at any elevation from a creek, but if dams were constructed for the storage of water, it would be the means, and' a not unim- s portant one, of making the Grey Valley the most prosperous on the Coast. I am, &c, Fair Plat. Noble's Creek, Nov. 4.