RIPARIAN RIGHTS ON GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6090, 17 August 1881, Page 2

RIPARIAN RIGHTS ON GOLDFIELDS.

[By Telegraph.]

(FROM OUB OWN COBHE3PONDKNT.)

Wellington, August lG'.h,

The Goldfislds Coinmitlea to-Jay presented an important report on the subject of riparian ights on goldtwldg. Tut report is very ■^ngthy. The Coumiitt».e of opinion that I'uo GoldfieWs Act, 1875," does not provide a ■<mody for miners agsiost the arbitrary •mforcemeut of riparian,right* by'landowners 'incuuso (J.) it takes 180 days to enforce the Act; (2) it provides thai, any person injured :>y such action shall receive compeuea:ion on arbitration ; (3) the Act doss uot define what constitutes '• injury," and kavea the widest ecope for claims. Cha Committee do not nee why unconditional compensation should be paid to landowners in cases where the public interest demands resumption of water-rights io. order to develop the goldfielda. The casea of Taieri and Clutha are instanced. The Committee therefore recommend that all riparian rights affecting rivers in proclaimed goldfleldu be resumed wherever required for public purposes; and if compensation is allowed, it Bhould be only on two conditions :— (1) That damage be computed on the actnal injury to the land by beirjg deprived, of water in its natural state, and to the owner by his oomestead being deprived of watur. (2) That the increased value of the property,- through pnblic works on goldfieldp, ha assessed as a setoff in awarding compensation for damage sustained. The Committee adviss that outlets '" tailings be preserved from sale where possible. Th,e Committee further express regret that successive Ministries have devotad v) little attontion to tbe many reports th»t we been referred to them—a neglect that can hardly encourage the Committee to persevere m endeavouring to ameliorate the condiiion of the mining inJuatry, under difficulties unequalled in a country which owes kb pronperily so Jargely to tha development of its mining resources-