✨ Gold Fields Regulations
378
For Surfacing, shallow sinking, and deep sinking:—40 feet square.
For Quartz mining, 50 feet along the supposed course of the reef by 150 feet on each side from the supposed centre of the reef.
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The Warden may grant a double claim for all alluvial mining, on ground which has been already worked.
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Every claim must be distinctly marked by pegs driven firmly into the ground one at each corner thereof, and standing at least two feet above the surface of the ground, and all to be kept clearly visible so long as the claim is occupied, provided that when any corner cannot be so marked on account of the nature of the ground, such peg be fixed at the nearest practicable point. All boundaries on forest land to be well marked on the nearest large trees.
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No fossicking or surface digging will be allowed on any other person’s claim. Everything found within the parallels of such a claim shall belong, without restriction, to its owners.
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No person shall remove any peg from a claim in the occupation of any other person, nor deface, destroy, or remove any notice posted in accordance with the Gold Fields Regulations, nor interfere with any mark or boundary.
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Persons who discover available lands for mining shall be entitled to occupy, in addition to their own individual claims, as follows:—
If not more than two persons, one claim.
If more than two persons, two claims.
Any first comer on a new line of reef, or taking up ground one mile ahead on the same line as that already occupied by other miners, shall be entitled to mark out a prospecting claim which shall be confirmed to him by the Warden, on the discovery of payable gold, a fact to be ascertained by the Warden himself.
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In the case of the holders of any claim erecting machinery for pumping or bailing water, and thereby benefiting the claims adjoining or near to such claim, the last named claim holders shall, while working their claims contribute a fair and reasonable sum weekly or otherwise to such water-bailing machinery. The amount to be decided by two assessors, one to be appointed by the owners of the said machinery and one by the representatives of the claims alleged to have derived or to be about to derive a benefit. In the event of the assessors not agreeing in their decision, the question then to be determined in the same manner as is provided by the XVII and XVIII sections of the Act.
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If the owners of any claim by improper management or otherwise shall damage any claim adjacent, the person receiving such damage shall be entitled to compensation for the same; and on the request of the owner or owners of any claim, who shall have reasonable grounds for suspicion that his or their claims is receiving damage from the working of any claim adjoining, the Warden shall grant permission for the inspection of such claim; and on proof that any damage is likely to occur, the working of such claim shall be suspended until the case shall have been decided by the Warden.
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Upon any four or more persons applying for a road or crossing place over any gully, creek, quartz reef, tail race, or other obstruction, and guaranteeing that they will make the same if sanctioned, the Warden shall determine whether or not such road or crossing place is necessary, and shall make such order relative thereto as he may deem requisite; and no person shall in any way resist the making of any such road or crossing race after its formation shall have been authorised by the Warden, Provided that when a road shall have been formed on an occupied claim it shall be lawful for the holder or holders of such claim to work the ground over or through which the road passes, if he or they previously construct another road in lieu thereof, equivalent in value or usefulness in the opinion of the Warden to that proposed to be worked by him or them. If a cart track shall have been formed over any abandoned claim, such track shall not be destroyed or obstructed by any person intending to re-work the ground, unless they shall previously make another equally useful track in lieu thereof.
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No person shall hold any claim in reserve or non-worked beyond the space of 24 hours, and such proceeding will be considered as a relinquishment of right to any claim, however much previously worked: Provided that if sufficient reason, such as sickness, neglect of a hired servant, or some other urgent cause, can be shown to the satisfaction of the Warden, he shall then replace the owner in the occupation thereof. No “jumping” will be allowed. Application must be made to the Warden for permission to occupy any claim alleged to be forfeited. The Warden will then decide in accordance with the merits of the case.
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Every Miner’s Right shall, during the continuance thereof, subject to these Regulations authorise the holder thereof to cut, construct, and use water races for mining purposes, and to divert and use for mining purposes any water which Her Majesty may lawfully divert and use, and to occupy for the purpose of depositing matter remove from such water races to the land immediately adjoining such water races to a distance not exceeding (5) feet on each side, subject to the conditions hereinafter described, that is to say—the XVII and XVIII sections of the Act.
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Any person intending to divert and use water for mining purposes, by means of any water race to be constructed, shall give notice thereof in writing to the Warden and to any person whose interests may be affected by the diversion of such water and copies of
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🗺️ Gold Fields Regulations
🗺️ Lands, Settlement & SurveyGold Fields, Regulations, Mining, Claims
Auckland Provincial Gazette 1867, No 40