THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 298, 21 June 1909, Page 8

THE MINING INDUSTRY.

OBJKCTIOXAIiIiK REGULATION'S [PHESS ASSOCIATION.] HOKITIKA, to-day. Meetings continue to be held throughout Westland in opposition to the water power regulations recently gazettt-ecl. It is held that to encourage by drastic mining with hydro-electric- power schemes every encouragement should be given to bring capital into New Zealand without harrassing regulations, necessitating the preparation of costly plans and the production of heavy deposits. It is also thought«that power rights should be rent free till the ventures which involve a Very heavy expenditure prove a success. In. the case of Rimu and Seddon's Terrace gold field, a proposal is afoot to float a company of over £100,000 capital to derive power from the -Te Arolia river to pump water on to the fieldfor hydraulic mining .purposes. Under the regultions this necessitates a deposit of £500, and the preparation of plans at a Cost of £2000, while an annual rent ' of £2200 will ];o required by tho Government for the water rights whence- the power is derived. ' This, in addition to the usual charges • .under the. Mining Act, and local rating as an extra impost, tends to stifle the enterprise, and prevents capital coming in, hence the public meetings of protest, and requests for a modification of the regulations. Other meetings are being held during the week in the country districts.