CINNABAR MINING LICENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21133, 16 March 1932, Page 7

CINNABAR MINING LICENCE.

CLAIM FOR FORFEITURE. FINE IMPOSED BY WARDEN. ["I'EOJt OUR. OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 WHANGAREI, Tuesday. Judgment lias been given in tile. Whangarei Warden's Court, by the warden, Mi-. G. N. Morris, S.M., on an application for the forfeiture of a mineral licence lield by Christopher Thomas Mitchell, made by Benjamin John Dunsheath, on the ground that defendant had failed to comply with the working conditions. The licence was granted in August, 1915. to mine for cinnabar over an area of 100 acres in llic W'henuaroa mining claim in the Puhipuhi district. Hi a defendant Mitchell subsequently transferred the licence to T. A. Black, who was •trustee for a syndicate. In December, 1926, part of the area was surrendered, leaving a balance of 20 acres, and in ~ February, 1928, Black transferred back to Mitchell. An application made by tha Mercury Mine Syndicate to be joined as a defendant was granted, it being shown that when Black transferred to Mitchell in 1928," Mitchell signed a declaration that he held the licence in trust for the syndicate. In his judgment, the warden stated the syndicate was formed in May, 1922, and over £2OOO was spent in mining, of which £I7OO or £IBOO was on buildings which were still on the ground. In December, 1922, an analysis revealed tha ore to bo of low grade. Mr. Black admitted that the retort installed had never been used, and that production pn a large scale was the only possible. method of making it payable. He estimated it would take £IOO,OOO to finance the undertalcing, but plaintiff considered it could, be done for £40,000. Owing to the difficulties of obtaining money at present it was obvious that little or no work could be done on the area meantime, and that nothing of any importance had been done since 1922. As the suit was filed on December 1, 1931, it was necessary to consider the work done during the statutory period of six months prior to that date. In-the period 70 tons of cinnabar ore were removed, and in addition 200 tons of ironstone ore were removed. "I do not consider the work can be held to bo adequate," said the warden. "The condition that active mining operations should be continued during the term of the licence bound the holder to instal a plant and work it. It is clear that the plant now *on the ground is useless, and consequenly has not been worked. I find that the working conditions have not been complied with and I have to consider the question of fine or forfeiture as ajjerialty, I consider that the position as set out is sufficient to justify me in fining the defendant on this occasion." The defendant syndicate was fined £25, from which plaintiff was allowed a sum toward his costs.

PRODUCTION OF GOLD. AUSTRALIA'S LARGE OUTPUT. FUTURE PROSPECTS BRIGHT. Gold produced in Australia during 1931 aggregated 591,742 fine ounces, an increase of 125,1630z. compared with 1930. The output was h'ghcr in each State. Western Australia headed the list with 510.570 fine ounces, this yield being the highest since 1922, when the production was 538,246 fine ounces. Victoria contributed 43.637 fine ounces, which is the highest return since 1926. Operations aro expanding throughout Australia, and companies, notably in 'Western Australia, have adopted a more vigorous, working policy in view of the high price obtainable " for gold. Prospects of a further increase in production during the current year are bright. In the following table, production figures for 1931 arc compared with those for the two preceding years:— 1929. ' 1930. 1931. Fine oz. Fine oz. Fine oz. Western Australia . 377,170 416.369 510,570 Victoria . . . . 26.275 *24; 110 43,037 New South Wales 11,0% 12.493 19,673 Queensland . . 9,47(> 7,521 Tasmania . . 5.597 4.466 4,709 South Australia . I.QP9 1,311 -,782 Totals . . 430.629 460,579 591,742 The Western Australian gold yield in February was 44,673 fine ounces, valued at £189*758. This is the highest output for February since 1920. NEW ZEALAND LAMBS. JUDGING IN ENGLAND. BEST FRANKLIN EXHIBITS. Advice from London has been received by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board that of the New Zealand lambs shipped from seven districts in the North Island to Britain, wlrtne the board's London manager arranged for special displays and judging, the Franklin group was judged separately for the best individual pen of lambs from that district. The following awards were made llolmes, 1 and 2; E. L. Koose, 3.