MINING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3995, 7 October 1897, Page 3

MINING.

[Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. The Kapanga reef at a thousand feet is showing strong gold, and a payable run is expected. A meeting of the Goldfields Committee of the Auckland Chamber of Mines was held to-day to consider the proposed Cyanide Bill with regard to the agreement between the Cassells Company and the Government for the purchase of the patent rights by the latter for .£15,000. The Chamber passed a resolution protesting against the clause, which it considers practically gives the CasselFs Company the right to charge any royalty it may think fi>. In regard to the claim for arrears, the Chamber considered that the purchasemoney should include all alleged arrears. With legard to the clause preventing anyone from using the patent rights or a similar process without a license, it was resolved, while recognising the necessity for such condition, to point out that the operation of the clause would be restrictive in character. As to the amount of royalty proposed to be charged, it was resolved that the Chamber considers that clause should provide for royalties not to exceed 1\ per cent of the value of the gold and silver extracted. It was decided to forwarded the above resolutions to the Minister of Mines, with reasons and arguments for their adoption.