MINING ON PRIVATE LANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 25

MINING ON PRIVATE LANDS.

A somewhat important decision was given by Mr Warden Stratford at Gore (says the Ensign) in the case of John Aitken's application for a special claim at Maitland village settlement. Objections were taken by the lessees, who held the land under a lease in perpetuity, •that they would suffer serious damage if a grant were made; that the land was not marked • out as required by law; that a mining privilege could not be granted over the land; and that objectors had received no notice of the application. Mr Inder appeared for the applicant, and Mr Bowler for the objectors. The Warden, after some consideration, said he was satisfied that Mr Inder's contention that »• holder of a miner's right can mark out and apply for Crown lands was correct, and that he was al6O satisfied that the land of the objectors was, for the purpose of the Mining Act, Crown land; therefore the applicant had a perfect light to enter upon, peg out, and apply for the ground. He was satisfied further that the objectors were person's whose rights were not only visibly affected, but that they had certain ■well-defined rights under section 166; also that they should have received notice. They had, however, lodged objections and appeared in support of them, thus showing that they were cognisant of the application. He did not think Hiat, although the objectors had not received formal notice, he should be justified in depriving applicant of the priority, he had obtained

in pegging out and applying for the ground in question. The hind of the objectors, he was satisfied, came within the definition of section 166 of the act, and the objectors were entitled to compensation. He would, adjourn the application to enable the parties to arrive at a settlement of the amount to be paid, and if they could not agree before August 3 either party might apply to have the amount assessed in the manner prescribed by the regulations. As each party had been partly successful in the suit no costs would be allowed. HARTLEY & RILEY BEACH DREDGING COMPANY. The annual report of the directors, though dated July 5, may be said to be ancient history, so great has been, the change through heavy returns since that date. The Directors say: — In handing to shareholders the second annual report, they think that there is room for congratulations on the past working and present prospects of the claim. On the 22nd December the contractors completed the dredge, and active operations were at once commenced under the management of Mr George M'Lay," one of the most experienced dredgemasters on the river. A great many necessary additions have been made to the dredge and plant, and stores kept well up. The directors were 4 of opinion that, owing to breakages and wear and tear, which of necessity must take place on all dredges, it was advisable, in ordei* to prevent loss of time incurred by such breakages, to procure duplicates of the most necessary parts of the machinery, and to this end have obtained, and are getting sent forward as fast as possible, materials to repair possible damages. From the balance sheet it appears that £329 14s 2d has been written off the dredge account and plant and stores, and that we have a satisfactory sum at our credit in the bank. Your board are pleased with the prospects, and, before the meeting takes place, hope to be able to declare a dividend. The retiring directors are Hon. Thomas Fergus and Mr William Foreman ; both are eligible, and offer themselves, for reelection. Mr Thomas Callender, the auditor, also offers himself for re-election. Since the report was completed shareholders have had half the capital returned in dividends. NOTES FROM ARROWTOWN. ' ARROWTOWN, July 19. j The old Sew Hoy Company's claim, at Big j Beach, on the Shotover River, has been pegged | off by the principals of the Electric and Mag- ' netic Companies, they being of opinion that the ground will be more payable at a greater depth than originally worked. Several individual miners on the Shotovef have been doing handsomelj' during the frosty season. i * DREDGING RETURNS. i The Hartley ana* Riley Beach Gold Dredging Company (Limited) washed up on Friday for a. return of 380oz 7dwt gold for a week's dredging. The secretary of the Inch Valley Dredging Company report a return of 260z for the week. The Tuapeka dredge washed up lOoz last week. Mr J. D. Buchanan, secretary of the Unity Dredging Claim, reports a return of 137£0z for four and three-quarter days. The Clyde Dredging Company obtained 320z last week. The river is 22in above normal mark. The Matau Di edging Company report a re- ; turn of 1440z. j Mr Jabez Burton reports that the Ettrick i ! Dredge obtained 260z for eight days. j The Stock Exchange report the following returns for last week: — Golden Treasure Company, 16oz 6dwt; Otago Dredging Company, I 15oz. ! 1 The Waimumu Gold Dredging Company got j 16oz of gold for 125 dredging hours. The Dredgemaster of the Golden Gate reports a return of 16oz 17dwfc for six days. River steady. The Magnetic return was 83oz for five days 16 Jiours' dredging last week. The Enterprise leports a return of 58oz 13dwt for 132 hours' work. j The Sunlight return was 16oz lOdwt for the , week. J The Secretary of the Manorburn Gold Dredg- j ing Company (Limited) reports no return for j the pact week, owing to the dredge \mdergoing [ her periodical overhaul. Dredging will be ; started again this week. j Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs that the return from the Alpine dredge (Riley' s Beach) for last week was 530z. The secretary of the Vincent Dredging Company reports a return of 50oz 6dwt for 122 hours' dredging last week. The Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging , Company (Limited) obtained last week 390z of gold for 128 hours' dredging. The Jutland Flat (Waipori) Goia Mining Company (Limited) obtained last week 12oz 4dwt of gold for 144 hours' wages time, 129 hours actual dredging. The Macraes Flat Gold Dredging Company (Limited) washed up on Friday for 4oz 18dwt ' 21gr of gold. The prospects are improving, and tha ground deepening. j I The Empire Gold Dredging Company (Limited) obtained 31oz 3dwt foi last week's dredging. ' The return from the Evans Flat dredge last •week was 24 0z 17dwt; Tuapeka dredge, Boz lOdwt; and Success dredge (Waipori), 19oz. The Chatto Creek Dredging Company obtained lloz while opening out on the lead. The dredge will be headed up stream about t Wednesday next. I Tho Golden Point dredge did not Wash up on Saturday. It will be some time yet before she gets through the worked ground, j The return from the Golden Run pipes is ' 560z of gold for 12 days, j Alpine return, 1790z amalgam from 240 tons. I THE WEEK'S DREDGING RETURNS. J For the week ending on Monday (24th inst.) ' returns were reported from 23 dredges, the total gold yield being 1201oz ldwt 21gr, or an • average of slightly over 620z per dredge. The returns reported were: — Oz. Dt. Gr. Hartley and Riley, Cromwell ..380 7 0 Matau, Clyde 144 0 0 ' Unity, Alexandra (4J clays) .. 137 10 0 Magnetic, Cromwell (5 day 316 hours 83 0 0 Enterprise, Alexandra (132 hours) 58 13 0 Alpine (Riley's Beach), Cromwell 53 0 0 Vincent, Clyde (122 hours) .. 50 6 0 Clyde, Alexandra .. ... .., 32 0 0 Empire, Waipori .. .., 31 3 0 Inch Valley, Palmerston .. « 26 0 0 Ettrick, Moa Flat (8 days) .. 26 0 0 Evans Flat * r . 24 17 0 Upper Waipori, Waipori (128 hours) .. .., .. .. 19 0 Q. Success, Waipori 19 0 0 Golden Gate, Island Block (6 days) 16 17 0 Sunlight, Beaumont .. .. 16 10 0 Waimumu, near Gore (125 hours) 16 0 0 Golden Terrace, Miller's Flat .. 15 6 0 Otago, Miller's Flat 15 0 0 Jutland Flat, Waipori (123 hours) 12 4 0 Chatto Creek , 11 0 0 Tuapeka, Tuapeka ,«, 8 10 0 Macraes Flat, Tuapeka M «. 4 18 21 Total ,t „, „. 1201 1 21 ALEXANDRA TO COAL CREEK TO THt EDITOR. Sir, — As mj letter ha 3 already attained the object it was written for, which, was not to cau«

a controversy, I can afford to treat your " Special's " rather bitter explanation with a magnanimity which he, great gun though he may be, was evidently unable to extend to such "small potatoes" as myself. Permit me ao a "finale" to say that there is no claim or mine named Excelsior in the gorge referred to, nor in any other gorge in the neighbourhood.—l am, etc., July 23. F. W. GRAY. MINING REGULATIONS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —ln your recent leader and comments on the above subject, and more particularly with reference to the labour clauses, you appear to look at it from a one-sided view — that is, as it affects the holders of large special claims only. You do not appear to think that the working miner has also an interest in. the matter, although doubtles3 the labour clauses originally were inserted for the working miner's protection, so that no man could take up and hold with impunity, as has been done, large areas of ground, say, 75 to 100 acres, and only employ four or five men, and a very small outlay for working plant. AVhy should any man be allowed to monopolise ground that will take him 10, 15, or 20 years to work out? Talk about gridironing land for settlement, I consider there is quite as much of this kind of abuse connected with mining. From the way you speak of the " jumper," one would think he was doing sometliing most disreputable, but there is another sido to the question. If a practical miner, controlling a water svipply, able and' willing to work ground according to the regulations, finds another who is holding ground he has, according to the regulations, no right to hold, where is the disgrace in his trying to secure it? He only wants what the other has no rie;ht to hold. In early mining days, when a miner was allowed a few feet of ground, any other miner could measure off his ciftim and at ence commence to work any surplus ground, and it was done quite as a matter of course, and nothing else expected. In the present day the interests of the "fat man" are most considered; the working miner piays a very subordinate part. —l am, etc., Old' Working Mineh. THE STOCK EXCHANGE. Business on the 'Change was brisk on Friday. The sales at the morning meeting included the following:—Central Electric, 6s 3d premium; Dunstan Lead, 5s 9d premiunj; Golden Link, 6d premium; Hartley and Riley, 745; luch Valley, 37s 6d; Second Magnetic, 3s 6d premium. At the 3.30 meeting the following sales took ■plzaa: —Central Electric, 6s 9d premium; Crolden Links, 3d premium f Golden Points, 35s 6d, 35s 3d; Hartley and Riley, 7os 6d, 755, 765; Inch Valley, 38s 6d; Macraes Flat, 20s 6d; Magnetics, 645, 64s 6d; Second Magnetics, 3s 9d premium. A fair amount of business passed on 'Change on Thursday. Sales took place of Golden Points, Alpine Consols, Second Magnetic, Halfway House, Central Electric, and Hartley and Riley, transactions in the last named being at 74s and 73s 6d. Business was only moderate on 'Change on Monday. Sales took place of Central Electrics ; at 6s 3d and 6s 6d premium; Alpine No. 2, • 3d premium; Spec Gully, Is premium. ! ! I | 1 I I ' | . i ;