MINING ACT AMENDMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 28

MINING ACT AMENDMENT.

g6g 6 GOVERNMENT LOANS FOR MININGS y ASSISTANCE TO PROSPECTORS. ;• (FEoa Oub Cvs Correspondent.) d . ... WELLINGTON, August 22. -' A Mining Act Amendment. Bill has been c introduced by the Minister of Mines. An. :s amendment is proposed in section 3 of the It act; of 1900 as to the amount of stream or 3 foreshore in claims, the limits being- ex11 tended Irom " two miles" and "aO acres" c to "three miles" and "75 acres," '"pro- ?■ .vided also that, in .the case of. an liydraulio j* elevathtg- claim the limit may, with the consent of the Minister, be extended to a. total of not more than two miles where he £ is satisfied —(a) that, with the original limio a the area, available is too small to justify f the ■expenditure d bringing in a [i water supply jind erecting hydraulic plant s with which to profitably work the claim; (b) that tho total area of the claim does not exceed 100 acres; and (c) that theground has been previously worked." 6 A section of the bill provides for the J better protection of discoverers. Where a •' person discovers a nev.; quartz lode, or allu- ? vial lead, or other mineral deposit, he f shall, on application to the warden in the) prescribed manner, have a prior right to a license for a quartz claim not exceeding- 50 T acres, or an alluvial claim not exceeding . 30 acres, without survey and free of all . rents for a period cf two years from tho , date of the granting of the license, provided l that the person who makes such discovery s shall follow up the same by an application within a reasonable time. Further provisions are to be marlo as to 1 business and residence sites, and where ' there has been erected on any business or residence site any building of the value of £50 or upwards, such site shall not be liable to forfeiture or deemed lo be abandoned unless it is entirely unused by the licensee for any continuous period of two years. The following iw,r provisions - are la apply: —As to priority cf applications— Where two or more applications are filed in. respect cf the same subject matter, tho prior applicant shall in all cases have the fupcrior j r>ht, and priority of application shall L-a ' determined in favour of tho person wLa first marks out in the prescribed manner thn privilege applied for, provided "that sucht marking out is diligently prosecuted by th<j making and filing of an application withina reasonable time of such marking- oui. Wardens aro to decide the question of whas constitutes "reasonable time." The following new provisions regarding forfeiture are important: —(a) If, iv the> caso of a race or dam held exclusively for other than mining purposes, it is entirely unused for its proper purpose far any continuous period of 12 months; or (b) if, mi the case of a race (not held exclusively for other than mining purposes) constructed! for the continuous flow of water, the water fails to flow continuously therein during j any continuous period of not less than seven days or during any continuous period of not less than three months such race is not used for its proper purpose; or (c) if. in the caso of a race (not held exclusively for other than mining purposes) constnieted! for any other purpose than mining, the continuous flow of water in such race is nofc Use - for its proper purposes during any continuous period of not less than fix months; or (d) if, in the case of any race, it is so damaged or out of repair gs to be unfit for its proper use, and so continues for nofc leas than two consecutive months without steps being bona fide taken to repair the damage and render the race fib i for its proper use with the least possible j deJay. It is also provided that in any ease where the licensee of a race fails toi construct within the period prescribed in] i that behalf a race of sufficient capacity to* carry the number of sluice heads registered, then forthwith, on tho expiration of snch> period, the license so far as it relates to all sluice heads in excess of the number: which the race is then capable of carrying, shall be Jiable to forfeiture by decree of%ie "Warden's -Court. In regard to tribute agreements, where a quartz claim is lot on tribute, tho amount; of tribute- money payable ie the owne.- shall not be more Hum 10 per cent, of the value of the gold 'yon, and the tribute agreement; &hail not be for a less term than 12 months. In every tribute agreement there shall be expressed or implied a provision that no tribute money shall bo payable in any case where the value of the gold v.tra docs no* exceed half tho currant rate of wages. Further clauses are to be enar-ted for the protection of miners from danger, andl there is -lo bo more searching inquiry mi regard to accidents in mines. If a majority of miners # .*o decide, wages must be paid at tho mine or at some place not morel than two miles from the mine. , The bill provides for Orovernment advances to companies for the development of mining at 4£ per cent? interest, the company to 1 execute a first mortgage to the Colonial! Treasurer over the mine. Payments to the Colonial Treasurer are to form a first charge on the company's profits. The Government is safeguarded in various ways. In regard to pioneer mining a subsidy ofi 5s in tho £ is provided, but not mor« than £500 shall be paid under this section) to any person, nor more than £10,000 in| the whole in any one year. The bill contains provisions for the issue of gold dealers' licenses. Under this heading; " gold" includes gold bullion, retorted! gold, sold ores, gold amalgam, gold alloys, precipitates containing gold, slag, concent fcratos, tailings, and residues, but 'does nofiinclude alluvial gold or coin, or things manufactured of gold.