Mining.

A.—sb.

370. (1.) All fees, rents, royalties, and other dues payable under this Act or any former Mining Act shall be deemed to be moneys of the Crown, and, without in any way restricting any other mode or remedy for the recovery thereof, any Receiver of Goldfields Revenue for a mining 5 district, or Receiver of Land Revenue for a land district, may in his own name sue therefor in the Warden's Court, or any other Court of competent jurisdiction, if the same remains in arrear for thirty days : Provided that in any case where all the local authorities or persons entitled to any specified dues as goldfields revenue request the Minister 10 to treat them as not recoverable, or to accept a composition in respect thereof, or to give time for the payment thereof, he may do so, and in every such case the Receiver shall act as directed by the Minister. (2.) All mileage fees received for service of any process under this Act shall be paid into the Public Account and form part of the Consoli--15 dated Fund, anything in this or any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding. 371. The Receiver of Goldfields Revenue shall furnish a return half-yearly, in the prescribed form, to the local authority entitled to goldfields revenue, setting forth in respect of such half-year the parti--20 culars of all revenue payable, paid, and in arrear. 372. Where land situate in a mining district is taken under " The Public Works Act, 1894," a copy of the Proclamation shall be deposited with the Mining Registrar for registration, and the Registrar shall register the same as on the hour and date of its being so deposited. 25 373. The Mining Registrar shall furnish to the Minister a monthly return, in the prescribed form, setting forth the particulars of all licenses, transfers, forfeitures, or other transactions registered by him during each month. 374. Every Warden acting in the execution of his office or duty 30 under this Act shall be entitled to the same protection as Justices of the Peace under any law for the time being in force to protect Justices from vexatious actions for anything done by them in the execution of their office or duty ; and Part IV. of " The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882," shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to Wardens as fully as to Justices. 35 375. Whenever a Warden is empowered or required by this Act to cause anything to be done, and the mode of doing it is not elsewhere sufficiently provided for by this Act, it may be done by any person authorised verbally or in writing by the Warden ; and all constables and peace officers shall, if thereunto required, assist any Warden or 40 person authorised as aforesaid in the performance of his duty under this Act. 376. Wherever by this Act any matter is to be done within a time, or in a mode, or subject to a condition or provision to be prescribed, and no prescription is made by this Act or the regulations thereunder, 45 the Warden, when dealing with each such matter as it arises, may himself make the necessary prescription. Validation. 377. For the purpose of removing possible doubts as to the validity of any mining privilege heretofore granted by the Warden 50 in respect of land that at the time of such grant had been acquired in fee-simple by the Crown from the- Native owners thereof, but was held by the Kauri Timber Company (Limited) under lease or license given

Receiver may sue for fees or rent in arrear. 1898, No. 38, sec. 313

Receiver to furnish half-yearly return. Ibid, sec. 314

Registration of Proclamation taking land under Public Works Act. 1904, No. 33, sec. 11 Mining Registrar to furnish monthly return. 1898, No. 38, sec. 315

Protection to Wardens. Ibid, sec. 316

Power of Warden where no provision is made. Ibid, sec. 317

Warden to prescribe matter if omission made. Ibid, sec. 318

Validating mining privileges on land acquired from Natives while subject to lease to Kauri Timber Company. Ibid, sec. 319

18—A. sb.

137