GOLDFIELDS REVENUE

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 161, 10 July 1899, Page 5

GOLDFIELDS REVENUE

The allocation of goldfields revenue is apparently not always satisfactory to municipal bodies. Occasionally roads are laid off by the Department, it is stated, without the knowledge or approval of the local bodies, and are charged against the goldiields revenue. A letter of advice regarding the matter, sent to the Ohinemuri County Council by Mr J. A. Miller (solicitor), concludes as follows: —"Seeing that your Council have no check whatever upon the goldiields revenue, to which you are entitled, nor as to any deduction therefrom made by the Department, it seems to us that, until such a check can be obtained, the only course open is to take whatever revenue the Government choose to give."

That eiTors sometimes occur is shown by the fact that a native reserve, cut out by the Lands Court, was wrongly located. In consequence the Ohinemuri County Council was apportioned timber revenue off lands which subsequently proved to be native reserve. The survey was rectified, and the money paid to the Council as revenue off Crown lands was surcharged against the Council to the extent of about £300. The Council had nothing to do with locating the reserve or collecting the revenue, and but f^r casual inquiries made, they, would not have been made aware of the dediiction from their revenue.

NEW WHAU.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

THAMES, this day.

Since driving commenced on the course of the. Sons of Freedom reef, a distance of 10ft has been driven west of No. 1 rise, but breaking down will not take place for a few days. The lode is 3 to 4ft wide, and alittle gold has been seen in the quartz in the reef, encased in a splendid class of gold bearing country.