THE GOLDFIELDS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1784, 20 June 1882, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE FOR AMENDMENTS OF GOLDFIELDS LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin Morning Herald telegraphed on the 12th instant, that a meeting of goldfields members was held that affernoon, about fourteen members being present. A draft report was drawn up by Air Pyke, and this, with verbal alterations, was the same as tho report adopted, with the exception of one paragraph, which was oraiited. The paragraph was to the effect that the Government should provide a two-head crushing machine, which should be readilj available for prospectors. The meeting unanimously resolved—

1. That prospecting Bhould be encouraged by grants-in-aid upon capital invested or labour employed—in the latter case, whether the prospecting party has a fund in hand or not; the working of iuferior auriferous ground and of country requiring special cost or labour for its development should be encouraged by the granting of extended claims on easy terms, subject to equitable conditions as to the capital invested and the labour employed, so as effectually to check the locking up and "shepherding" of mining ciantty, 2. In addition to the construction of water-races and sludge-canals wholly undertaken by the Government, waterraces and other works undertaken by by private enterprise should be subsidised by the State, and this whether such works are carried on by capital and labour or by labour only. 3. Sufficient sets of diamond-drill*, with a supply of extra diamonds to replace any tint might be broken, are required for the proper development of the goldfields. Separate sets should bo provided for the Auckland, Westland, and Otago goldfields. They should be placed at the disposal of the County Councils for use within their teßpective districts. Tl e same remarks apply to rock-boring apparatus. 4. The cutting and formation of tracks on or to goldfields should be wholly undertaken or largely a : ded by the Government, especially in the case of newly-discovered workings. The construction of roads to timber forests should also when required be wholly undertaken or largely aided by the Government. The lands known to be auriferous should be permanently reserved from sale, and land believed to be auriferous should on sufficient evidence be temporarily reserved, but provision should in respect of all such reserves be made for the temporary occupation and utilisation of the surface. C. A. de Lautour, Chairman. The foregoing resolutions were at once forwarded to the Minister in charge of the Mines Department, the Hon. Wra. Rolleston. + ("special to kumara times.] Wellington, June 19. The committee recommend that the mining laws of the colony should be codified and made uniform throughout the colony, and that in the cousolidation of the existing laws, the following matters should have special consideration : 1. That all fees and charges under the Mines Act or Regulations should be uniform. 2. That the procedure in the administrative and judicial departments of the Warden's office and courts should he simplified and shortened. 3. That the redactions of officers in the department of Mines has been earned too far, and additional officers should be appointed. A. That further provision should he mado fur the draining of mines, to facilitate the working of a joining claims or leases. 5. That provision be made for tunnelinn through adjoining claim* or leases. 6. That in the codification of miiiin" laws, the speciil facilities granted to applicants for agricultural leases, prospeeling licenses, and mining leas"s in the provincial district of Nelson should be ivt;U"ed. 7. That prospecting licenses should lie granted, tlms avoiding the hlockingu|> of auriferous lands under the present system of leasing. 8. That the cancellation of gold-min-ing leases should in ordinaiy cases he effected upon a breach of agreement or covenant, and the procedure re such cancellation l>e simplified. 9. That cancellation should be bo

locally announced as to give to the public an equal chance of taking up the ground subsequent thereto.

10. That the scale of fees should bo revised, and that miners' rights, business licenses, and other charges be lowered, unless the gold duty be abolished or materially reduced. 11. That rural lands adjacent to mining townships or mining claims be reserved from sale, iu order to provide commonage rights for the inhabitants. J. C. Brown, Chairman.

At a full meeting of the goldfields members the above recommendations were adopted, and, on the motion of Mr Seddon, the members agreed to forward the following additional recommendations :

1. That in the hearing and determining of applications for rights authorised to be granted under the provisions of the Mines Act, and where objections to the granting of such rights have been lodged and determined, a right of rehearing should be given either to the applicants or objbetors, should they be dissatisfied with the Warden's decision; and that such rehearing should bo held by the Warden sitting with four assessors, such assessors to be summoned and selected as provided for in the hearing of suits in the Wardens' Courts. The cost of such rehearing also to to be determined in like manner as in suits heard in the Wardens' Courts.

2. That in the case of reserves made under the provision of tho Public Works Act for works on goldfields, where it is proved that such lands are auriferous, then in such cases the Warden should have jurisdiction over such reserves in so far as granting lights and determining disputes, as provided for by the Mines Act, 1877; provided that no right should be granted without the approval of the Minister for Public Works having been first obtained.

Mr Seddon also gave notice of the following recommendations, which have been held over for further consideration.

1. That when miners are summoned to attend tho Warden's Court, so that assessors can be chosen, then that all men so summoned should bo paid for their attendance, although not selected to act as assessors ) and that the Warden should determine the amount to l»e paid to them, and such expenses bIimII be costs in the case then pending. 2. That in any suit in the Warden's Court heard and determined by the Warden without assessors, that should the Warden's decision be appealed against, then in such case the appeal shall be solely determined by the Judge of the District Court, and the power to have assessors shall be denied.

3. That on appeals on law and fact, and when such appeals take the form as a rehearing, then in such cases the parties may appeal from the decision of the District Court to the Supreme Court, but such appeal to the Supreme Court shall only tako place on the consent of the Attorney-General having been fiist obtained.