THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 173, 1 June 1871, Page 5

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

The following is a summary of the business transacted by the Conference f) from the 19th inst. :— The following additional recommenda-tions-have been agreed to :—": — " That the annual rent payable under mining leases be reduced to 20s per acre per annum. That all assignments of mining leases should operate from the day of execution, subject to the condition that the assignee shall prove to the satisfaction of the Warden that all rent has been paid up to the day of such assignment. That bush reserves should be proclaimed within Goldfields, and that the same should be exempt from sale or leasing. That the sum to be deposited by an applicant for a gold-mining lease shall not exceed LlO. That clause 56 of the Goldfields Act, 1866, should be amended by providing for the compulsory establishment of a Mining Board for the province. That goldfields, proclaimed towns, and other centres of population within goldfields, shall have set aside commonages for the use of the people for pastoral purposes. That the Government should grant bonuses to the discoverers of new quartz reefs and other valuable discoveries."

The following report from a sub-com-mittee of the Commission has been adopted :—: — "Your Committee are of opinion that provisions should also be embodied in them giving to the holders of miners' rights permission to use unoccupied Crown land for the purpose of depositing tailings. " They further recommend that provision should be made for relieving gold miners from any consequences they may at present be liable to through the necessary fouling of rivers and streams in carrying on gold mining," On the 22nd inst., the following additional recommendations were agreed to:—

" The advisability of removing the Goldfields Wardens from one district to another, at least once in every three years. That transfers and sales of mining properties should be exempt from the operation of the Stamp Acts. The Commission strongly urges an amendment of the law giving effect to this recommendation : failing which, that a uniform duty •of one shilling should be fixed on all transfers of mining interests. That clause number 14 of the Goldfields Regulations 4)e incorporated in the proposed Consoli■dat'ecf 'Goldfields Act, with such additions and alterations as may be necessary to «arry out the intention for which the «aid regulation was framed. That the Wardens of this province should be required to hold frequent sittings of Wardens' Courts in outlying districts, and where required should fix, at least once in three months, the days on which such Courts shall be held, and shall thereupon report the same to the Superintendent and the Executive Government, who shall thereupon publish such fixtures in the " Provincial Government Gazette " and local newspapers, and the Warden shall, in the event of such Court not l>eing holden as appointed, report the reason to the Executive Government." On the 25th insfc., the following re•commendations were agreed to :—: — " That the fees for registration in the Wardens' Courts should be reduced to a Ainiform rate of Is. That the Wardens or other goldfields officers' quarters should not be alienated from the Government, "but the same should be kept in proper repair by the Government , the Warden or other officer to be charged with onelialf the cost of repairs." The following recommendations were made on the 26th and 27th inst. :—: —

That upon selection of an agricultural area a certificate shall be issued to the applicant, which shall authorise him to occupy such laud for two years, subject to the conditions that he shall fence and improve the same, and put under crop ■with the plough not less than two acres in every ten acres, and pay the annual rent reserved. That no lease shall issue for two years from the date of the certificate, but on the expiration thereof, the holder of same having complied with the conditions, shall be entitled to a lease of same for a term of five years, with the right of purchase at any time after the expiration ■of the first year. That the certificate shall not be transferable.

That every person constructing a headrace or tail-race, or applying machinery for working such claims, may hold and ■occupy (in addition to the claim he may be entitled to) one acre for every L2OO ■expended upon such claim, provided that such extra ground shall not in the whole exceed six acres, and shall adjoin the original claim, and with it form one area or claim, if at the expiration of three mouths from the date of occupation, L2OO ; six months, L4OO ; nine months, L 600; twelve months, LSOO ; fifteen months, LIOOO ; eighteeu months, LI2OO ; shall not have been expended in constructing such head or tail-race, or the erection of such machinery j/such extra ground, or such part of the same as shall be proportionate to the deficiency of expenditure, shall be forfeited. That no lignite beds on the goldfields shall- be sold, but that the same shall be reserved and be leased for terms of years, subject to judicious regulations, in blocks not exceeding five acres.

That the resolution of this Commission as to the advisability of the removal of Wardens shall apply to all Wardens who have resided for three years in any district upon the passing of the Act. That the holder of a mining right residing upon goldfields shall be liable to be summoned +b act .as -an assessor in the Wardens' Courts, and serve without payment once in every six months ; such holder of miners' right so summoned to be taken in alphabetical order from a register to be kept by the Wardens' clerk of the district. That any person investing capital in the construction of machinery for the purpose of opening up any mining inaustry should be allowed to keep a portion, of ground equal in extent to one man's claim for each LSOO so invested. That residence areas should be extended to three acres. That the following alterations be made in the eighth schedule of regulations relating to Wardens' Courts :— Summonses, Ib, instead of 2s-; or original summonses, and five or more copies, 2s; service of summons, if served by Bailiff of the Cotirt within one mUe- of the Court Hbttße,''2s ', heating, 2s, instead of 4s ; no charge to be made, for service of aurumoiiß

when served by the suitor ; adjournment of hearing, 2s ; and swearing witnesses, &C, 2s, each item to be struck out ; summoning assessor, 10s, in place of 24s ; entering up judgment, 2s, to be struck out ; filing notice of ground of appeal, Is, in place of 8s ; serving or executing any writ of arrest, 3s, in place of Bs.