REPORT ON REGULATIONS FOR AID TO PROSPECTING.

Kumara Times, Issue 2805, 17 September 1885, Page 2

REPORT ON REGULATIONS FOR AID TO PROSPECTING.

[Under Order of Reference dated 14th July, 1885.] The Goldfields and Mines Committee having carefully considered the matter, desire me to report to the House the attached legislations, which they recommend for adoption by the Government. VINCKNT Pvkjb, Chairman, lni .September, ISSS. 1. Upon the Council of any county, or, wlici'e the Counties Act is not in force, upon any Road Board adopting the following regulations for prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, or tin, the Government shall, subject to the following conditions, subsidise by pound for pound the amounts expended by each County Council or Lload Board, as the case may be. 2. Previous to the Government binding itself to subsidise any local body as aforesaid, each local body shall submit its pro-

posals to the Minister of Mines for approval.

3. On the application and proposals having been approved of, each payment shall be made on the certificate of the County Chairman in the case of a County Council, and in the case of a Road Board on the certificate of the Chairman of the said Board, or such other person as may be appointed by the Minister. 4. The amounts payable by way of subsidy to any County Council in any one year shall not exceed i'soo. 5. The amounts payable to any Road Board in any one year shall not exceed £2OO. 6. The Government shall subsidise by pound for pound any amounts expended by County Councils or Road Boards in the purchase of boring appliances to be used for prospecting purposes. Class I.—One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidised at the rate of 15s per man per week for prospecting new and improspected country, three miles from auy main or district road, and from any known workings. Class ll.—One party of two or three men in each ridjng of any county will be subsidised as under while prospecting partially-worked and prospected country within tolerable easy access of road communication. SINKING. Dry Ground—ls per foot from surface to 15 feet, 2s per foot from 15 to CO feet, 3s per foot from 60 feet to any greater depth. Wet ground, requiring slabbing, double the above rates. TUNNELING AND DRIVING. Through Drift or Blue Reef—ls 6d per foot for the first 500 feet, 3s Gd per foot for next 500 feet, 4s 6d per foot for next 500 (or any portion of 500) feet. Through Hard Rock or Cement requiring blasting, or through Pug—ss per foot. All tunnels and drives to be at least 4 feet by 3 feet 6 inches. Prospectors under both Class I. and Class 11. are required before commencing operations to send in their names to the County Council or Road Board, who must approve of same. The locality of prospecting operations must also be stated, for the approval of the Council or Road Board. Each prospecting party must send in a report, once in every month, to the Council or Road Board, setting forth the nature, extent, and result of operations during the previous month. All measurement of work done under Class 11. shall be made by the County Engineer, Road Overseer of the district, or other person appointed by the local body, who will be required to certify to the voucher for payment. The subsidy under Class I. and Class 11. may be discontinued, if the Council or Road Board think necessary, on one month's notice of discontinuance being given to the party or parties. Payments will be made monthly. Applications (giving the full names and residences of each man of the proposed party or parties, and specifying the locality in which it is proposed to prospect) must be sent to the Council Chambers or Road Board offices, and the application must be endorsed on the envelope : "Application for Prospecting, Class I." (or Class 11., as the case may be).