The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 11 February 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1875.

We observe from recent articles in our cotemporaries that" public opinion is at present m favor of the Ohinemuri Goldfield being opened under the " Goldfields Act," rather than under , the " Goldmining Districts AcV 1873." We expressed a somewhat similar opinion in a* former article. The principal argument used is .that a new goldfield will be better prospected where the miner's right is an element of title than where it is not. This is the main difference between the Goldfields' Acts and the GoldminingDistricts Act, 1873. In now presenting a .different view of the subject, and without expressing a final opinion, we will call attention to a few points in the consideration of this matter wjiicb. seem to have been averlooked. Our readers know fu 1 well what an endless amount of litigation existed upon this field under the Goldfields Acts and the Eegu'ations framed thereunder. They also know that litigation in the Warden's Court has. been practically abolished under the Act now in force. It is needless to remark that those who benefited by the incessant law pro-

ceedings were not the 1 miners. Now, as regards the question of prospecting Ohinemuri, it may be that the fear which has been expressed about large claims being, taken up under the Goldmining Districts Act, and thus putting an effectual stop to prospecting, is but a mere bugbear after all. Those who are of this opinion have perhaps not fully realised the fact that the Act in question possesses great elasticity. Fpon this field more vigorous administration of the Act by the Mining Inspector would produce general discontent. The Talue of the ground is now pretty wdt "knOwn^ and so long as the public demand—that is, the wants of miners—are satisfied, there is no need for more stringent measures on the part of the officials charged with the administration of the Act than are now adopted. But in a new district like Ohinemuri a very different state of things would prevail. It might at once be made known by the authorities that the, Act would be severely administered from the commencement, and such severity might be gradually relaxed should circumstances permit. If miners be convinced of this they will not be so likely to take up large claims; which they cannot work, because they would soon find that others requiring the ground would be able to obtain it by simple process in the Court in a few days. As regards application for license we can scarcely suppose that any one "would be mad enough to take up thirty acres (paying, we will say, ten pounds for the survey, eighty- seven pounds on application, and five pounds deposit for expenses, making in all one hundred and ten pounds) without the intention of fully manning and. working it, if he be informed at the time of making his application that the Act will be rigorously administered, and that proceedings for forfeiture of a license may be taken by the Mining Inspector within less than two months from the date of the claim being pegged out.