RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1024, 15 July 1871, Page 10

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Mr G. F. C BROWNE moved, " That in the opinion of this Council, the following recommendations of the late Mining Conference should not. be given effect to in any legislation during the ensuing session of the General Assembly, viz :—: — " Water Eights.— That this Commission recommend that section 10 of c! iuse 21 of the ' Goidfielus Act, ] 800,' be struck out ; but such resolution shall in r,o wayaffect or be a&sumed to affect any existing rights. Resolved — That thi=« Commission recommends that Clause XXIV. of the 'GoldtieldsAct, 1800,' should be amended, providing that no land shall be sold wi t hin twelve feet on either side of the centre of any ditch or race now constructed or hereafter to be constructed, and that all Agricultural leases shall contain such reservations. "Miners' Rights.— Resolved— That this Commission is"of opinion that no mining interest should be forfeited by reason of the holder not holding a Miner's Right ; nor shall any person not holding a Miner's Right be prevented from suing or being sued in the Wardens' Court. _ r ihat any one mining, or holding a mining interest without being possessed of a iliner's Right, shall be subject to a penalty of Ten Pounds. "Advertising Agricultural Leases — Tiesolved, Thatthia Commission recommends that the system of advertising applications for agricultural leases be abolished, and in lieu thereof that notice of such applications be posted on a board, to be kept specially foe that purpose in the Wardens' Court. " Mining Leases. — Your Commissioners aro of opinion that, to further encourage the investment of capital in mining enterprise, the Governor should have the pov^r to grant leases of auriferous and mineral lands to an extent not exceeding 40 acres in each lease. They are also of opit.i ,n that in this province, afc least, the rout of L 2 10a per acre per annum is excessive, and ought to be reduced to LI per ncre par annum. This couudt;ratiu:i weighs with them the more because mineral land, or whsJ; may hereafter prove to be such, is freely alij:u>tt?d L>v ever afc the price of LI per acre. The provisions of the Victorian Statute, subject to the restriction as to the area, and the givhii: of section twenty-eight a ri.ore general applicability to 'the discovery of deeo leads, under all circuius'ances, accord wit n the views of your Commissiuin-rs. " Assesso 1 . s. — Resolved— That this C >mniission recommends that tho holders <& a ji.incv's right, n-idi g oo th" CoM-fi-lds, shall bo liable to be summoned as an assets >r iv the Wardc-iio' Court, and serve without payment once in every s:x mouths, such holders of miue-rs' riyht.- so auinmoiuid to be Uikui hi alphJ.oiic.ii order from a register to be k->pt by Uiu Wardens' clerk of the district " The honourable mom'ior bxnlnli.e'l that the resolution was the a ime as 'he one no h.'A brought forward and withdr^n on a previous occapsion for the purporo _ of bringing it forward in iib i-V'-^nt specific form. Mr MBRVYX fcccondc!. Mr HAUGrIITOtf thought tho s-iVjeei brought before the Council was such as> wouid require a much lonaor tirm- t'.hvn the Council could devote to its proper consideration. To avoid placing liie Council in a position of Living to decide one way or an o» her, he would mow the previous question. The previous question was carried on the voiceß, and the motion was therefore shelved,