MINING BOARDS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 652, 30 April 1870, Page 2

MINING BOARDS.

(To the Editor of tlie Westport Times.) Sib, —Having seen in your paper lately a good deal on the subject of Mining Boards, I wish to give expression to my opinion on the matter, and that is plainly that we do not want them and are better off without them. This opinion is also entertained by several intelligent- miners with whom I have conversed, and I feel doubtiul that a majority of the miners on the Coast are in favor of Mining Boards. In fact the Nelson mining regulations are so nearly perfect as to require but very little alteration; let that alteration be much or little, can it not be as effectually made through the medium of our representatives in the Provincial Council as by the members of a Mining Board, even supposing those members to be the very best selections, which may not be the case ? I shall now refer to one or two slight defects in the present mining regulations which have been suggested to me. Ist, In consequence of the languishing state of the Gbldfields at present, and the most accessible parts pretty well prospected, greater inducements ought to be held out to prospectors by increasing the area of ground to which they may become entitled, and reducing the distance from the next diggings to entitle them to a prospecting claim. In deep ground, like the Shamrock lead for instance, I think a prospecting claim ought to be granted if the lead should be discovered half a mile from last trace of it. 2nd, When parties take in lon°tunnels entailing much time labor and expense, an extension of ground ought to be granted proportioned to the length of the tunnel. What miners at present have most reason to complain of is beyond the jurisdiction of the Provincial Council to redress, and that is the high duty on gold (which ought to be reduced to one shilling or sixpence per ounce,) and that one miner's right for twelve months is not sufficient for all parts of New Zealand. I have no vain ambition to thrust myself on public notice, neither do I wish to be guilty of apathy by permitting the idea to be conveyed that the mining community are almost unanimously in favor of Mining Boards. With an apology for trespassing so much on your patience if you read this, and for your space if you publish it—l subscribe myself yours, &c, Miner. Christmas Terrace, April 28. [One of the objects of the Miners' League is, we believe, to induce the Colonial Government to take over the administration of these G-oldfields, and if possible those of the ontire Colony. As a matter of course, there would be

then no petty distinction with respect to provinces, as one miner's right would apply to the entire Colony, and as the General Government do not derive one penny benefit from the export duty on gold that impost would probably be altogether remitted, or if maintained, would be returned to the Goldfields in the shape of reproductive works. —Ed. W. T.~\