UNIWORKED MINING LEASES IN OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8793, 1 May 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

UNIWORKED MINING LEASES IN OTAGO.

TO THE HDITuIi. Sis,—t think you wou'd ba doing justico to this bona fide miuer if attentionfwere drawn to t!ie fact that through tho ru3h to Henthoru goldlield and surrounding districts a great number of leases have been applied for, nnd granted upon condition that prospecting should be done, and that each lease should be manned by so many men for this purpose. There are numbers of these leases that have never had a day's woik put on them. It would not be far out to state that there aro over 70 in this condition of being locked up. This is a sad state of affairs, and as you are an exponent of public opinion would you kindly ventilate the matter through your columns. A similar request is mado to the newly installed Chamber of Mines to communicate with the Minister of Mines to eradicate this evil, which only suits tho share gambler, wailing till a greenhorn buyer comes along to be gulled to part with hia money upon tho strength, probably, of a borrowed specimen. In a month or so, before the Warden's Court, these leaseownors will havo the audacity to make application for protection again on the grounds of iuclenK-ney of the weather, waiting for machinery (that never intends to be placed), and other paltry subterfuges, and then locking up the ground for another six months or more. This pernicious system is doing more to ruin our mining industry than is hnagiued. Why not compel the holder* of these leases to prospect and send in minthiy reports to tho wardens of the amount of work done ami number of men employed, and if any auriferous ground U found to work it out? Hy thU mean 3 capital will come forward. But to adopt the present 'plan of doing no work, keeping ground looked up and preventing others ihut are willing from working is rcilly preposterous, and ought not to be tolerated. The cause of this letter being written was, namely-two prospecting parties (whose expenses were paid) were sent out to prospect, and the)' agree-! to look up gronn.l in the Waihemo and Wailtomiti c unties, including the and during that period, at some places, fair prospects' were obtained, which e.icouriiged the partk-s to proceed further in the matter. Tho upshot wae in neai ly every instince the ground Wil9 locked up, and leases applied for months previously, and compnratively no work done, only a few shaltow holes here and there, and no one on the ground. The prospecting parties, dugusted.eamelolowu stating Itwas no good as the whole cr.u-itry was locked up. Those who found the money were out of pocket over the affair. This h the encouragement given for mining enterprise in New Zealand.

If you will pleasa lnnort this I shall feel much obliged.—lam, &o, April 30

Disgusted Pkospeciob,