MINING REPORT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1101, 10 April 1880, Page 2

MINING REPORT.

[Fnoifc our Special MjotokjEbpokcbb.]

The several applications for, extended claims, and theiv refusal by the Warden, is a subject that should be taken up by everybody who takes any interest in the welfare of the district. That the "Warden was right in not granting a monopoly of ground close to the sludge-channel nobody will dispute ; but the time has now arrived iniihe history of this field when it shbuWrbe decided whether an ordinary claim is sufficient to warrant parties in opening, up for sluicing. I have no hesitation in saying that nine out of every ten miners will say with me that it is not. Nothing less than a double area of ground is at all likely to recoup the necessary expense and outlay, and, if started with the ordinary amount of

ground, a large percentage of failures will be the result. The Government have gone to the expense of constructing a sludge-channel, I talce it, for the benefit of the community at large. It is therefore the duty of the Warden to see that no monopoly of ground takes place by people taking-up all the ground along the course of that channel ; but that can easily be obviated by having it laid off in blocks of a certain ■width, running at light angles to the course of the channel, and compelling those who have claims on the course of the channel toextend them atrlghtangles where it be found practicable, and where the patties Want extension. By adopting this plan all the claims that are within a workable distance of the channel could extend their ground by taking-up whatever widtb might be laid off, say 100 ft. running towards the channel, and they could then, either tunnel that into their several claims or. take in an open cutting, as the case might be. Unless something of this sort is done, there will be no end of litigation and humbug, as it would be a fat greater monopoly to give an ordinary claim lengthways on the course of the channel than a double area some distance away with merely an approach to it. To delay granting an adequate amount of ground for sluicing is simply to delay the opening up of the place, and to delay the returns to the Government that would otherwise accrue on the completion of the channel. It will take a long time to open-up the ground for sluicing, and a good deal of preparatory work could well be done before the channel" is completed. Our Warden has brought a name with him to this field that commands respect, and I have no doubt that were the miners to call a public meeting and appoint a committee to interview that gentleman, that there would be no difficulty in arranging matters to the satisfaction of all concerned and to the welfare of tbe district generally.