INDICATIONS OF COPPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13031, 23 November 1905, Page 6

INDICATIONS OF COPPER.

APPLICATION FOR A MINERAL ] . s ; , LICENSE. ; '" | OBJECTION LODGED.— j [l)Y TELEGRAPH.OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] I Whangarei, Wednesday. j At the .Warden's Court, before Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., Donald McLeod applied for a mineral liccnse for section 1, Block IV., Kailiu survey district. Robert Bruce Thompson lodged an objection to the application. Mr. Peacock appeared for the applicant, and Mr. Killeu for the objector. The evidence of the Commissioner. of Crown Lands, which had been previously given in Auckland, went to,show that Me-; Leod had obtained a prospector's license on November 25, 3904. A prospector's warrant had been issued by inadvertence to Robert Bruce Thompson for the: same section of land on September, 25. The issuing of the warrant ' was an ; oversight. McLeod's license was still valid. ; Mr.' Peacock stated . that indications of copper had been discovered on the section mentioned, and application for a mineral license had been made that McLeod might conduct mining operations. A prospector license gave the holder exclusive right of priority of claim. A prospector's warrant did not. Thompson received the prospector's warrant through a . misunderstanding at the Crown Lands Office, and was actually a trespasser on the land. ■ Donald McLeod said that the surface of the land had been examined;' and) samples of copper ore had been assayed. The sum of £150 had . been expended in prospecting. A company would be formed, and %», necessary funds subscribed ;• immediately the title was secured. The cost of proving the mine payable would-be'fully £5000. All legal requirements had been complied with in making the application. Mr. Crichton had acted as his working manager. Mr. Crichton stated that ho had carried on prospecting operations on the section named since October, 1904, and that lie had discovered what lie considered to he a portion of a lode ; outcropping' in the creek. He had placed a peg at each corner of the section on June 28" of this year, unci had posted a notice oil the section on the Btli instant.

Mr. Ivillen contended that Thompson's warrant held good, as the applicant had not held a miner's right when pegging oft'. - The notice had practically been concealed in the bush,, and 110 distinctive marks had been placed on'the pegs. Robert Bruce Thompson said that lie had been positively assured at the Crown- Lands Office that tho section had not previously been taken up, and lie had procured a miner's right and prospecting warrant. He had worked for some time 011 the section, but had not noticed any indication of other recent prospecting work having been done. •J.. D. Collins, who had resided on the section since September 20 last, gave corroborative evidence. He had not discovered McLeod's notice unfcfl some days after he (Collins) had pegged off a section. v ' After hearing the evidence 'of .-.Waiter Moslem, who resided on. an adjoining section, "and . the., addresses of Messrs. Killen and' Peacock, Mr. Dyer stated that lie would reserve his decision