IMPORTANT MINING JUDGMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1733, 24 April 1895, Page 2

IMPORTANT MINING JUDGMENT.

COOPEB v.THE KOMATA G.M. COMPANY. The Warden gave judgment on-Satur-day morning at the Thames in the case of Edward Kergey Cooper v. the Komata Goldmining Company. The complainant alleged that for fa period of five months the defendant Company 1 had failed to comply with the mining regulations by not employing the number of men required for. the area of the mine. The application was to have the holding forfeited, and an order empowering the complainant to take possession; of the said holding) The Warden reviewed all the salient points-in the .evidence, and also in the argument of council, besides quoting .enormous authorities. He pointed out. that £9, 619 had been expended on the grounda# the same time it was evident that the Koiiiata Company had, out of .a pe,riod of five, months, for 31 days neglected to comply with the conditions of . the licensee. No one. in their senses could say that was a heinous offence/ which ought to involve nothing less than forfeiture of the property. It would be an abuse of language to say (to quote judgment in Davis v. Bull) that there had been an open disregard of mining regulations. Justice, in bis opinion, would be sufficiently vindicated by the imposition of a Small fine. The defendant Company must pay a fine of 31s and £l9 Is costs of the proceedings.