THE NEW GOLDFIELDS BILL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1086, 4 July 1873, Page 3

THE NEW GOLDFIELDS BILL.

[gbeymouth stab.] The hill prepared by Messrs Mouat, Shepherd, and Haggitt, at the request of the Colonial Government, contains 217 sections, and will be entitled "An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Goklfields." In his recent speech at Cromwell, Mr Shepherd mentioned that himself and his coadjutors had been occupied for the spac9 of a month in preparing the bill, Had they spent a day or two additional in arranging the various parts systematically under distinct headings, it would have been comparatively easy to discover what portions of the measure are new, and how much of the regulations in force are retained. By careful comparison (so far as the jumbly nature of the document permits) with the existing Eegulations, we are enabled to present to our readers some of the more important changes proposed to be effected. Many of these changes are such as cannot fail to meet with the hearty approval of the mining community throughout the Colony. Sections 3 and 4> provide for the Repeal of no less than thirteen existing statutes relating to the Goldfields : all rights and privileges acquired under those statutes, however, being preserved ; and all liabilities incurred being still enforced. Section 6 provides for the constitution of " goldmining districts ; " 10 empowers the Governor to cancel or (with the concurrence of the lessee or licensees) suspend the depasturing lease or license, as regards the whole or part of the land comprised within such goldmining district: the runholder to be compensated out of r " v jviflcial revenue, and the amount %S be fixed by mutual agreement between himself and the Government, 'or, failing that, by arbitration. Whether any actual alteration is intended or not, it is difficult to determine.

In sections 13 and 14 provision is made for the issue of miners rights to individuals and of consolidated miners rights to unregistered companies, for any number of years not exceeding fifteen: at a charge, in the former case, of £1 for every year for which "the right is to be in force; and in the latter on payment of a sum at the same rate multiplied by the number of Tights under Which the claim may %e tenable. This plan would appear to confer greater security of teuure than the present system of issuing miners rights annually. Section 23 provides (inter alia) that the owners of two or more adjoining claims may amalgamate the same if so disposed. Section 24 reduces the fee for half yearly business licenses from £3 to £2 los. Section 26 provides that the holder of a business license may transfer the same to any other person, for the then Unexpired period of the license, on payment of five shillings. As the law stands at present, business licenses Cannot be transferred: every fresh owner or tenant is obliged to take out a new license. Sectson 27 allows, in case of neglect, three months grace (instead of one as at present) for renewal of miner's right or business liconse, but only on payment ot ten shillings in addition to tho ordinary price of such right or license. Section 37 deals with water rights and races. In applying for a waterlicense the applicant is to specify (besides the Usual particulars) the situation and dimensions of any Reservoir or dam intended to be con-

structed in connection with the waterrace. A copy of the notice of application is to be lodged with the mining registrar of the district, who will note thereon the day and hour of receipt, and keep the same in his office. After the lapse of fourteen days 'from receipt of notice, if no objection be lodged, the mining registrar shall issue to the applicant a license "to be in force for any term not exceeding fifteen years: and there shall be grauted, and every subsequent payment to be made on the same day in every subsequent year: aud such license shall be renewable at the end of the term for which the same shall have been issued, either for the like or any other term net exceeding fifteen years." No necessity will exist for serving notice upon miners holding adjacent ground, or upon other interested persons, as required by the present regulations. Whether the quantity of water required be one sluice-head or fifty, the license shall be charged at an uniform rate of £\. Any person objecting to the granting of a water-license must serve a notice to that effect upon the mining registrar, vyho shall withold the issue of the license pending adjudication by the Warden. The applicant must summon the objector to show cause why such license should not be granted. The Warden is empowered to ascertain bv evidence the facts of the case and order accordingly, and to award costs to either party. No mention is made of special applications being requisite for tail-races, and it may therefore be inferred that the right to construct such is conferred by the water-license. The persons constructing a race will acquire the right to occupy (for the purpose of depositing matter from such race) the land immediately adjoining to a distance not exceeding fourteen feet in width, including the width of the race, either on one side only or partly on both sides, as may be specified in the license.