GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 208, 18 October 1859, Page 3

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Crown Lands office, Auckland, 6th October, 1859. The following Rules and Regulations relating to the terms and conditions upon which Miner's Rights shall be granted for the Massacre Bay Gold fields have been issued by the Governor in Council nnder the 11th clause of the f< Gold Fields Act. 1858." Henry John Tancred. Issue of" Miners' Bights.1' By whom Miners' Rights shall be issued.—l. " Miners' rights" shall be issued by an officer specially authorised in that behalf by the Governor on payment of a fee of One Pound. Extent and position of Claims. Extent allowed for each claim.-^2. The extent of ground that shall be occupied by any holder of a Miners' right in respect of such Miners' right, shall be, whether for sinking, surface, digging, river working, tomming, or cradling, or for sluicing on ground or plank, or for mining on quartz reefs. In new ground fifty feet square. In old ground one hundred feet square. Claims to be staked out.—3. Every claim must be distinctly marked by pegs, driven firmly into the ground, one at each corner thereof, and all to be kept clearly visible, so long as the claim is occupied. Provided that when any corner cannot be ao marked, on account of the natnre of the ground, such peg be fixed at the nearest practicable point. Space left between-claims.—4. A space or wall of two clear feet in breadth must be left between the boundaries of adjoining claims. Rewards for prospecting. Additional claims granted for discovery.—s. Persons who discover available land for mining shall be entitled to occupy, in addition to their own individual claims, — If not more than two persons one claim. If more than two persons two claims. Association. Diggers may work in parties.—6. Any nnmber of persons holding Miners' rights and working together in parties or association shall be en-, titled to hold any number of contiguous claims not exceeding their own number. Employer's rights. Rights of servants vested in employers during service.—7. If any person or persons holding Miners' rights shall hive himself or themselves to employers^ for wages, the right to occupy the claim or claims of such hired servant or servants shall vest in the employers during the period of such service. Reversion ot right on close of service.—B. If the claim so worked on hire by any servant shall have been occupied by himself previous to the commencement of service, it shall, on the termination thereof, at once revert to him j but

if uotr then'tie shall have no title to occupy zt, unless the employer fail to engage another holder of a Miners' right to occupy; it within one week. ' forfeiture of wavin m Fourteen "days absence to.torfeit claim;-r9. Any person discontinuing the working ot his claim for fourteen consecutive days shall be con^ered to have forfeited such daim. except as hereinafter provided. -■■''•■ • i Notice of intended absence*, to be given.—lo. Any person intending to discontinue the working of his claim may do so after giving notice 1 of such intention to hia nearest neighbors, nor shall any other person be permitted to occupy the claim in his absence. Provided that such protection shall not continue longer than one month. Claim/during absence may be registered.—ll. If any person shall satisfy the Resident Magistrate that he has reasoanble cause for longer discontinuance than one month, the Resident Magistrate may register his claim, and such protection as aforesaid shall be granted to him upon such registration for a term not exceeding three monthtx. Provided that no person so discontinuing undeir , this or the preceding regulation shall have any right to occupy any other claim during such absence. Claim not forfeited by neccessary suspension of working.—l 2. If any person shall find it impossible to continue the working of his claim, from flooding of rivers, or other natural causes over which he has no control, he may register his claim with the Resident Magistrate for a term not exceeding three months, during which time he ehall.be entitled to occupy a claim elsewhere. "Jumping," or taking' possession of forfeited, claims.—l 3. Any holder of a Miners' right may take possession of a' claim legally forfeited by its last occupant. Provided that if it shall be found upon reference to the Resident Magistrate that the claim had not been legally forfeited, the Resident Magistrate shall replace such occupant in possession. > Road and water rights to be respected. Tracks not to be obstructed.—l 4. If a cart track shall have been formed, over any abandoned claiui, such track shall not be destroyed or obstructed by any persons intending to rework the ground, unless they shall previously make another track in lieu thereof. Tail Races not to^ be obstructed.—ls. If any person shall take possession of unoccupied ground over which water escapes from unoccupied claim, lie shall not obstruct the flow thereof so as to throw it back upon the claim from which it escapes. Water courses may be diverted.—-16. Any person may, by consent of the Resident Magistrate divert any stream or part of a stream from any place where it is not at the time required, to some other place where it may be required, by the conj etruction of a dam and race, or otherwise; and if the water shall have been diverted for a distance of ! not less than twenty chains, or at an expense of not less than Fifty Pounds, he shall be entitled to sell such water at a fair valuation. Fourteen days preference to works already constructed.-17. If any person shall have led water previous to the issue of these Regulations, he shall have a preferential right for twenty-one days next after the publication in the Government Gazette of the Order in Council to register his claim in respect to such water privileges. Water works not to be injured wilfully.—lß. No person shall injure any race or dam, or do any thing to obstruct the Water, or to deprive the person who has diverted the water, of the use thereof. Nor by carelessly falling timber.—l 9. If any person shall fell any tree, log or timber, either intentionally, or by undermining, or other means, he shall remove them beyond the reach of floods^ so that it may not be drifted down any stream. River Mining. Beds of Streams may be laid bare.—2o. Any person, with consent of the Resident Magistrate, may lay bare the bed of any river, either by diverting the stream, or by other means; but.ground intended to be so laid bare must be marked off by stakes, and the stream returned into its natural channel below the workings. Such Works not to be obstructed.-—2l. No person shall obstruct, or in any manner interfere with such work, either in progress or completed; nor do anything to prevent the object proposed to be accomplished thereby. . r Rights to Surplus Ground.—22. If morejground shall be laid bare than the number of miner's rights held by the party shall entitle them to occupy, they shall be allowed one week from a notice thereof by the Resident Magistrate to place thereon as many holders of miner's rights as they shall think fit; after which time any iiolder of a miner's right may occupy the surplus ground if there then remain any, paying to the party who constructed the works a fair proportion of the expense incurred in diverting the stream.