THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3645, 1 September 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.

In his annual report upon this goldfield the Warden, Mr Kenrick, refers to the owing, to the peculiar agreements made with the natives when the right to mine : for {{old was secured. _^ifeffp ea tiug*of Mother- matters, such as tiib Tuifcvo P r« a . peets of the district, and the results of the past year's mining he remarks:—" The discovery of valuable hematite ore within the. proclaimed gold field has brought prominently to the front the nature of the existing agreement between the Natives and'the Government. By that agreement permission was given to mine on Native lands for gold only. Application for leases for the purpose of mining for hematite and silver-lead ore (also known to exist in large quantities) have necessarily been refused. Unless, therefore, arrangements can be ma.de direct with the Natives by their discoverers, they will fail to reap the fruit of (heir enterprise, •and the district will suffer materially through the non-development of these deposits of valuable minerals. 1 would submit that it is certainly advisable, and might be found practicable, to bevise the existing agreements under lohich the gold field is worked. . . . Experience has, I believe, shown the necessity for some modification or extension of these agreements—notably in the direction of permit, ting mining for other minerals than gold. In connection with this, I would point out that lands have been thrown open for selection under the homestead system, that the Natives have been disposing of both freehold and leasehold interests in the gold-fields blocks. In both cases the. land is still subject to the gold mining laws, not having been withdrawn from the operation of the Gold-Mining Districts Act. But this fact appears to be unknown by the selectors, purchasers, and lessees, who, in improving their lands, will, or have, come into contact J with mining interests or rights, subjecting themselves to claims for comnensation. With regard to the land^^Hpd for homesteads, probably if a puSr of the ground proposed to be thrown open was furnished to this department, the existing mining titles could be shown thereon, and the issue of" fresh titles stayed. The land would then be i selected subject to known rights. Some modification of the prospecting regulations in force at present is desirable, as they scarcely meet the wants of a district such as this, where there is no alluvial mining, and where prospecting is carried on largely on old abandoned ground. Such alterations, I think, should be in the direction of granting a bonus for' bond fide new discoveries, tl»e bonus to consist of either (or both) money-grants or increased area of ground to the prospectors ; though possibly the grant of an increased area might be better provided for by an amendment to, the existing gold fields regulations, no provision being, at present made for granting prospectors' claims or.areas'. By the latter, I mean giving protection to a large arcu ol ground within which prospecting can be curried on uud Ihe claim

marked whou any discovery is made." In the roninrks (ho Warden deals with some of the quewtiuus affecting the future prosperity of the gold(icld, and it is to bo hoped this vory sensible suggestion will be acted upon by thn Govonnnont.