Province of Otago, N. Z., Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, sth Dec, 1865.

Otago Witness, Issue 749, 7 April 1866, Page 14

Province of Otago, N. Z., Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, sth Dec, 1865.

Sir — I do myself the honor to represent that considerable losses have accrued to the Revenue of this Province, consequent on the delay in the issue of gold mining leases, and with the view of obviating this for the future, I beg to suggest the promulgation, by his Excellency the Governor, of the accompanying additional Regulation. I have, &c,

(Signed) Thomas Dick, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Additional Hkguiations. Superintendent to issue Licenses.

When the Superintendent of Otago has recommended any lease for the approval of his Excellency the G jvernor, he shall cause notices thereof to be inserted in the " Provincial Government Gazette," and in one or more newspapers, circulating in the district wherein the land applied for is situated, and shall issue to the applicant a gold mining license, (in the form set forth in schedule F, hereunto attached) to occupy such lands beneficially for mining purposes.

Repeal Section 19 of the Regulations, and

substitute as follows :

The rents received shall in all cases be "at the rate of two pounds and ten shillings per acre p?r annum, and the said rents shall be made payable half yearly iv advance during the entire term ; and the day of the execution of the lease by the Governor, or the date of the gold mining license, if such has been issued by the Superintendent, shall be deemed to be the day upon which the first payment shall be duo. ____

Schedule F. Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, Gold Mining License. I hereby authorise

to occupy beneficially for miniEg purposes, all that land situate

and for which the aforesaid person has applied for a Gold Mining Lease.

And this License shall have efftct only until the decision of Uia Excellency the Governor is made known to the aforesaid person and no longer.

(Signed) Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

Province of Otago, N.Z., Superintend* nts Office, Dunediti, 12th December, 1865. Sir — I do m)solf the honcr to forward the enclosed copy of a. resolution passed by the Provincial Council, en the 23id ultimo, on the subject of the reduction of the amount of rent now charged for Gold Mining Leases, from five poundß ( L 5) per acre to two pounds ten shillings (L 2 10s.), and to n quest that His Excellency the Governor may be advLed to give iff cc to this recommendation. In the event of its being acceied to, I beg thit I may be inionned whether it will be necessary to return the leases which have been recently received, none of which have yet been issued, for alteration, or whether the alteration can be effected here, before the kases are executed. I Inure, &c, (signed) Tiiomas Dick, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Regulations of the Otsgo Gold Fields respecting Mining Leases. That a repectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying him to amend the regulations ot the Otago Gold Fields, with regnrd to Mining Liases, so far as to reduce the amount payable as rent, and tlat His Excellency will be further pleased to authorise the remissiou ot the present rates of rental to the present Jeisehuldeis, Passed the Provincial Council, November 23rd, 18S5. (Signed) J.Riciiardson, Si eaker, Chas. Smith, Clerk of Council.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4ih January, 1866. Sm— l have to acknowleige tie recap; of your Honor's two letters, No. 3493-166, of the 12ch Dec mber kit, and Wo. 3493-160 of the sth December last, on the subject of the issue of gold mining leases. Withreapect to the reduction of the amount of rent adverted to in the former letter, now charged for gold mining leases, the Gjvirnor will ba recommendtd to revoke the present regulation, and to make a new one authorising him to reduce the ront tinder cartain restrictions in past and future cases. I am advised that the additional regulations which your Honor recommends in your letter of the sth ultimo, cannot be issued in acordance with the provisions of the Gold Fields Act. The proposed rcgu'ation referred to in the second paragraph ot via letter, will, I triut, vi hen issued, remove the tvils complained of. —I have, &c , (Signed) G W. Statpohd. His Honor the Suporintendent, Otago.