Aid to Prospectors.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2908, 11 June 1878, Page 2

Aid to Prospectors.

The following letter has been received by Mr Adam Porter with reference to aid to the Ohinemuri Mining Association, which Mr Porter has b- m urging upon the Goveiument for some time past :—

Secretary for Goldfielde Ofßce,

Wellington, sth June. 1878

Sib,—l bare the honor, by the direction of the Honorable the Minister of L;,nds, to ;cknow edge the receipt of your letter of the 14th of May ultr'me, in farther reference to the Government s ibsidy for the Ohinemuri Mining Association towards prospecting oper.v'ionc, and, in reply, to state that, if the Association will employ a given number of won at the rate of fire shilliugs per day upon bona fide prospecting, the Government will pay ole half of this amount from t'me to time to an extent not exceeding two hundred pounds (£&C0) on the production at the Colorral Ti'eawy of vouchers duly rertified by the JTarien. In the event of any of the members c* you<: Association preferring to contribute their half in labor instead of money, the Government must rely upon the Warden being t .tisaci that such contribution hau been fully rendered. This is a responsibility, however! which is oubide the functions of the Warden, and which cannot be imposed upon him unless he chooses to undertake it without prejudice to his other duties. It will, therefore, rest with him as to whether or not the (Government subsidy can be applied in the exceptional manner above mentioned. You will, of course, understand that the prospecting regulations apply strictly to places where gold has not been previously discovered within the limits set forth in the regulations—l have &c, Oxiveb Wakbfibld, Under-Seoretary Goldfitlds. ; Adam Porter, Eeq., Chairman Ohinemuri ' Mining Association, Ohinemuri.