The Effect of the Warden's Decision. Thames, Sept. 12.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1887, Page 4

The Effect of the Warden's Decision. Thames, Sept. 12.

In order to give yonr readeis some idea of the result of the recent decision of Mr Warden Stratford upon the extensive areas of ground pegged out by various persons at Hikutaia, I have carefully perused the Mining Act, 1886, and the regulations connected therewith, and am now in a position to place before the readers ot the Star a true statement oi the effect it will have upon those speculators who haveendeavoured to secure •' sheep runs" of 30 acres. The Warden is willing to grant one man as many ordinary claims as he desires to take up within the supposed 30 acres he has marked off, but it will be necessary for the applicant to possess the requisite number of miners' rights, which will be £1 each, as, so far as can bo at present ascertained, the claims are all on native land. In the iirst place, a licensed holding may be in any form, but must not contain more than 30 acres, nor must the length exceed twice the breadth ; while it is necessary one man bhould be employed to every two acies. But the Warden purposes to deal with the land as ordinary claims, which are defined by Regulation 135 as follows :—": — " A quartz claim shall not exceed 100 ft in length, to be measured along the supposed course of the lode or vein, by a width not exceeding 300 ft upon each side of the supposed course for each holder of a miner's right : Provided that no miner or party of miners shall hold under this rule more than I,oooft along the course, or supposed course of any reef." Now, presuming that speculators have marked out the supposed 30 acres as advantageously as possible, and to secure as groat a length on the course of the reef as possible, they will have pegged out what was desired as a licensed holding in an oblong shape, but at the most cannot have more than 1,650 ft in length on the reef and 792 ft in breadth, or 25 chains x 12 chains. One ordinary claim consists of 100 ft on the line of reef and 300 ft on either side, and for this one miner's right must be taken out and one man employed ; but wnafc are termed consolidated, miners' rights may be obtained, the maximum number being ten, which would give one person I,oooft in length, and I 600 ft in width on the reef, upon which it 1 is necessary ten men should be employed. [ There would thus remain within the 30 acres a further 650 ft., which could be also taken up under seven miners' rights and employing seven men. It will thus bo readily seen that there are 192 ft in width remaining, which must be thrown off, and will be open for pegging out by others ,as soon as the Warden's decision is given. J ,am credibly informed that in some ingfcaijees those who have pegged out; the ground ha-ye included nearer 50 than 30 acres, preferring rather to b8 largely over the mark than less than the maximum of 30 acres, so that immediately the Warden announces his decision re tho present applications, the whole of the excess ground, which is at present protected by the Crown, will be available for marking out by those who desire to acquire it a& ordinary claims, and evevy possible means is certain to be, adopted to secure priority of pegging out. It is provided by Regulation 206 that in the case of any claims containing not lees than four men's ground the registered owners j may lawfully hold ajjq Qccupy the

same for three months with half the prescribed number of men ; but should they be desirous of testing the reef with a less number than half, they must apply to Uie Warden for protection, stating the number of men proposed to be employed, and the time for which protection is required. The remarks of the Warden and his action in the matter have given universal satisfaction, and I have not met a solitary individual who does not endorse his sentiments.