Goal-mines.

A.—6a

person shall be entitled to claim or to receive compensation in respect of any lease being so cancelled. 10. Every lease granted under this Act shall be signed by the Governor for and on behalf of His Majesty the King, but no such 5 lease shall be granted until the application therefor has been twice advertised at an interval of one week in some newspaper circulating in the district in which the land comprised in the proposed lease is situate. 11. On the recommendation of the Warden or Commissioner, as 10 the case may be, the lessee of a coal-mining lease, with the consent in writing of the Minister first had and obtained, — (a.) May assign or otherwise part with the possession of the demised premises or any part thereof, or his estate or interest therein, notwithstanding there may be contained 15 in any such lease any provision to the contrary, and no other consent whatsoever shall be requisite ; or (b.) May surrender his lease. 12. All assignments or transfers of any coal-mining lease shall be laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament forthwith if 20 Parliament is in session, and, if not, then within ten days after the meeting of the first session of Parliament thereafter; and no assignment or transfer of any coal-mining lease shall be deemed to be completed until ten days after the date upon which such assignment or transfer of any coal-mining lease has been laid on the table 25 of both Houses of Parliament as aforesaid. 13. (1.) Every lease may, with the consent in writing of the Minister, be amalgamated or consolidated with other coal-mining leases : Provided that before any amalgamation or consolidation of leases 30 shall take effect a return of such proposed amalgamation or consolidation shall be laid upon the table of each House of the General Assembly. (2.) The Legislative Council and the House of Bepresentatives may, by resolution, refuse to permit any such amalgamation or con--35 solidation. (3.) In the absence of any such resolution such amalgamation or consolidation shall take effect from the termination of the session. 14. (1.) Every lease shall be made subject to such conditions as the Warden or Commissioner, with the sanction of the Minister, 40 thinks fit, and shall contain covenants for securing the proper and effectual working of the coal within the land thereby demised, and for the surrender of the said land at the end or earlier determination of the lease ; and (a.) Shall be for a term not exceeding sixty-six years: 45 (b.) Shall comprise an area -not exceeding two thousand acres, and shall impose a dead-rent at the rate of not less than one shilling nor more than five shillings per acre : (c.) Shall reserve a royalty at the rate of not less than twopence nor more than one shilling per ton on the output of all 50 marketable coal raised under the powers of the lease : Provided that such royalty shall not be payable on any unsaleable waste coal or rubbish :

j > Leases to be signed by Governor. 1 1901, No. 46, sec. 5

5 Lessee may assign . or surrender lease. J 1891, No. 46, sec. 8

[ Assignment or ? transfer of lease to - be laid before • Parliament. i 1903, No. 80, sec. 10

Lease may be amalgamated or consolidated. 1891, No. 46, sec. 10

Term, area, rent, royalty, and conditions of leasee. Ibid, sec. 11

1901, No. 46, seo. 2

7