BULLER RESERVE ACT.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1071, 13 May 1873, Page 2

BULLER RESERVE ACT.

The provisions of the Act and Amendment regulating the management and control of the Buller Reserves have become of sudden interest to the inhabitants of the district. The folio wingextracts therefrom are published foi\general information: — By the Act of 1563 power was given to ths Superiuluii<.lent to sell or leaso portions of the reserve in such manner and on such special terms as might seem fit, with the advice of the Waste Lands Board, subject thereafter to the approval of the Provincial Council. The form and size of all sections were determined by the "Waste Lands Board, provision being made that no section for sale should contain more than one hundred acres, and no lease more than tweLe hundred and eighty acres. All sales to be by public auction at an upset price of not less than two pounds per acre, and every Jease imposing a dead rent of not less than one shilling nor more than five shillings per acre. By the Amendment Act, 1866, power was given to the"Waste Lands Board " in their discretion to grant to any person or persons a prospecting license," giving, for a term not exceeding two years, the right to search for all minerals, other than gold, over any specified part of the reserve not exceeding in area fifteen thousand acres, -pon payment of a deposit of one penny per acre per annum. Such sum to be applied towards payment of rents and royalties becoming due on any lease granted in respect of such license within one year from the time of payment of such deposit. In the event of no lease being granted the deposit to be forfeited. Tho Amendment Act also provides that during the currency of such prospecting license the holder may " obtain a mining lease of such portion not exceeding one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of the laud comprised in such license as the Board may determine, on payment of deposit and fees, and upon the terms and conditions provided in the Act of 1563 " The term of such lease to be for any period not exceeding ninety-nine years. Provision is further made for the leasing of a larger extent of land, whenever the persons entitled to a mining lease " shall have expended money in the construction of permanent works conducive to the efficient working of the mines before such lease shall be granted." Such additional grau£ not to exceed one acre for every pound so expended, and no lease to include more than five thousand acres. . Power is also given the Waste Lands Board whenever the holder of a mininolease has expended any considerable sum of money in preliminary works to remit any part of the rent payable under the lease, from the date thereof until the Commencement of mining operations, such remission not to exceed twenty per cent, upon the amount of capital so expended. The right to mine for gold arid also full rights of way over the lands demised are reserved.