Shares and Mining

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 707, 16 July 1892, Page 11

Shares and Mining

By Obadiah, the Scribe

The Minister of Mines has just introduced an Amending Mining Bill to his Act passed last year, and although the said bill only contains some six clauses and a few sub-sections, the amount of mischief therein embodied is somethingast"nishing. Why such a nuisance should have ever passed the second reading without a protest from some of the Goldfield members, and especially the North Island ones, is marvellous. Clause 2 says's3 is now to be paid for work formerly done for nothing. Sub section 3 reduces rent from 10.; to Is per acre, but in lieu thereof companies are to take out miners rights for all wages men and tributers that may be at work in their mine. This clause will be found not only unworkable but expensive, as it is well known that the number of hands employed in a mine is continually changing, according to the payable nature or prospects of the mine. A hundred men may be employed on 6 day, and a dozen the next. Who, then, is to bear the nonuse of the rights ? The framer of this clause has evidently got it into his head that all our northern goldfields are on native land and opened to mining on the same terms as the lower Thames. Such is not the case. The greatest portion of the Ohinemuri field is Government land, while the agreement in reference to Te Aroha makes all rents paid local revenue and all miners rights the property of the natives. It will therefore be seen that the proposed alteration not only puts additional burdene on mine owners, but also deprives local bodies of one source of revenue,' which is to a large extent spent in opening up the districts in which it is raised. The present law also gives the holder of a miner's right the right to occupy a portion of the goldfield for residence Does the author and framer of this clause intend to transfer this right to the companies ? C— The Government is to have the right to collar for rent all plant or machinery to whomsoever belonging that may be found on the property - a truly liberal clause. G gives power, if a man's farm is mucked up by tailings, to take possession of the same on paying ihe assessed value of the same. Here is another liberal clause, and one worthy of consideration by all intending settlers on the goldfield : ' No person who holds by lease, license or freehold over 100 acres under any Act shall be eligible to take up an occupation license under pains and penalties for so doing, as we have some settlers on 100 acre sections granted or sold by the Government who cannot make a living on the same. These settlers are to be deprived of a chance of bettering their condition. Clause 3. — The holder of any race license or water right now in existence or that may hereafter be granted is to have no redress fsr the destruction of his property or any right or title to the uninterrupted flow of water therein, as all hands may use the race to deposit tailings or mining debris at their own sweet will and pleasure. Was ever such a stupid clause laid before any House of Parliament, and no objection made to the same? Just fancy any party having the power to go prospecting near the head works or dam of Bny race and blowing the same away and stoping, pumping, winding or crushing operations, and putting scores of men out of employment, and the owners of the property to have no redress against such scandalous proceedings. Truly, tha wonderful Dick mu^st have gone daft when be framed the abortion. The water rao.es in the colony have cost something like £600,000, and with such a clause on the statute book they could all be destroyed in a few days, as a law that would be good for private races would also be good for the Government. If not, why not ?

Clause 6 is especially framed to'further deprive Ohinemuri of certain rights, and I have no doubt but that the local bodies of that district will take eteps to protect themselves, and not allow a repetition of the scandalous proceedings that deprived them of £7000, under the flimsy pretence .that the title was not denned. The bill, as a whole, has few- if any redeeming qualities.