MINING LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 49 (Supplement)

MINING LAW.

LICENSES TO PROSPECT. SOME GENERAL AMENDMENTS. (Bj Telegrapli.—Special to "Star. , ") WELLINGTON, this day. An amendment of the Mining Act introduced by the Minister of Mines in the House includes a clause authorising the Governor-in-Council to issue licenses to prospect or mine for mineral oil on lands held by local authorities, the Public Trustee, or the Native Trustee, with the consent of any lessee or other person having registered interest in the land in connection with dredging or alluvial claims. A clause empowers the warden, subject to the approval of the Minister, to grant an application for a dredging claim, or an alluvial claim not exceeding eight miles in length, or twelve hundred acres in area, in any case where land to which application relates has been previously held as a dredging claim, or as an alluvial claim, and has been abandoned, or in the case of an application for a dredging claim where the ground to be dredged is of a depth not exceeding sixty-five feet. Special protection is to be created for dredging claims worked on tribute. They cannot be deemed forfeited or abandoned save with the Ministers consent, and will be deemed, without application on behalf of the licensee, to be protected at all times, while, owing to the depth of water in the river or stream, it is impracticableto work the claim efficiently. Licenses for claims are not to be granted without the Minister's written consent. Another clause empowers 5 per cent to be deducted from goldfields revenue as the cost of collection before it is paid to the looal authority.