Tuapeka Times. AND QOLDFIELO3 REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1872. " MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 7

Tuapeka Times. AND QOLDFIELO3 REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1872. " MEASURES. NOT MEN."

The promised bill "to amend and consolidate the laws relating to i gold mining,/' has been introduced to the General Assembly by the Government. By the courtesy of a gentleman who received a copy we were favoured with a perusal of it. We have not yet had opportunity of mastering its contents thoroughly, but we have been able to perceive it' is, in many particulars, a measure unsuited to the requirements of the mining population of the South Island, although there are many good points in it. The bill consists of 218 clauses and 7 schedules ; and is divided into fifteen parts, and appears to h& a. Lash of the Grold Mining Districts Act, and GokL Mines Drainage Act of last session. The first portion we will refer to is Part 111, which provides for the appointment ofTnspectors, whose duties shall be to look after the interests lof the miners generally — to see that they comply with the Act, and work their claims properly. These officials are to be invested with the power of determining the number of men the owner of a " licensed holding " shall employ, of declaring ground abandoned if they think fit, of dictating the terms upon which miners shall be allowed to enter upon private lands, and of doing many, other things which we have not space to enumerate. This office is an absurdity, unless the General Government wishes to retrograde 20 years and introduce a style of governing the goldfields similar to that which prevailed in Victoria prior to the outbreak of the Ballarat riot. If the General Assembty decides that such officials are to be j appointed, about fifty will be required -for Otago alone, for it is perfectly certain that a less number can not overtake the multifarious duties they are to perform. A prominent feature in the bill is the creation of a tenure called a " licensed holding." ' These licensed holdings seem to be intended to take the place of mining leases, and are to be granted in a somewhat similar manner. In the former, however, no lease is executed, the title consisting merely of the Warden's certificate or license. The security of tenure is not equal to that of the mining lease, and there does not seem to be any compensating advantages in favour of the license to the claimholder, and that interesting operation known' as " shepherding," is quite as possible under the license as under the | lease. Part VI is somewhat startling. It relates to water races, dams and reservoirs, and prescribes that those applying to construct such works shall deposit the sum of £5 "to cover the expense to be incurred lin advertising or otherwise," the balance, after deducting such expenses, to be returned to the applicant. Should the Warden see fit to grant the application he is to issue a liceuse under the condition "that the licensee shall pay in advance the sum of £5 annually, with an addition of £1 for each sluice head of water in excess of two." Part IX relates to ! machine, business and residence sites, and is even more startling th in Part VL It provides " that no machine site shall exceed one acre, no business site Half an acre, and no residence area a.' quarter of an acre." The sum payable annually for the privilege of occupying these sites is for the first £10, the second £5, and the third £1. The two last rentals are in addition to the business license costing £5, and the miner's right costing £1. . We leave these parts of the bill without comment. Our readers will be able to form their own opinion of them. We may remark, however, that the reduction of 6d an ounce gold duty seems a satire in the face of the exorbitant taxes proposed to be imposed by this bill There fa-~ t ft6 provision in the bill for the ; formation of Mining Borads. This is an omission that ought to be rectified, aa the feeling is pretty general now that the work of framing regulations can best be executed by meu elected Cor thai purpose by the miner* T&re *re several other

points in tbe bill wbich- we should nave liked to have touched upctn, but we are unable to do so in oar present issue. We think it is altogether wrong that a measure of such importance as the Gold Mining Bill should be passed through the General Assembly before the people interested have an opportunity of expressing their opinion upon it. We believe we are correct in stating that not half a dozen copies have reached the goldiields of Otago, and that not a single journal has received a copy. There is a great necessity for consolidating the various laws relating to gold mining, but it is also necessary that the consolidating measure should be as perfect as possible. It would be far better to delay the bill for a session in order to circulate it amongst those interested, than to hurry it through the House. If the latter course is adopted, some amendments will have to be made every session, and in the course of a very short time another consolidating Act will be required. The Waitahuna people have spoken on the bill, and the Tuapeka Mining Association has called a meeting for this evening to disenss it. If the residents of other mining distriots are alive to their own interests, they will not be slow in following suit.