Gold Mining Regulations




392

  1. Size of claims.

Ordinary claims shall not exceed 45 feet by 45 feet for each holder of a Miner’s Right, but in cases where the depth from the surface exceeds 50 feet, Ordinary Claims may be extended to 60 feet by 60 feet, and where the depth from the surface exceeds 100 feet, such claim may be extended to 75 feet by 75 feet. Ordinary Claims may be of any form, provided they do not exceed in length twice the breadth thereof. River Claims shall not exceed 45 feet measured along the course of any stream by a width of 30 feet for each holder of a Miner’s Right employed thereon. The width of the stream always to be included in measuring the width of the claim. In cases where the river exceeds 30 feet in width, the breadth of the claim shall be measured from bank to bank. The banks to be defined when necessary by the Warden, and in cases where the width of the river exceeds 50 feet, each holder of a Miner’s Right shall be entitled to hold 60 feet along the course of the stream. Provided that there be not more than 12 men in a party in Ordinary or River Claims.

  1. Claims to be marked.

Ordinary River and Quartz Claims shall be marked by pegs standing at least two feet above the surface of the ground, and by trenches a yard long at each corner thereof. River Claims may be marked by pegs as before specified, or by marks not less than one foot in length to be cut upon the rocks above high flood mark, and such pegs, trenches, or marks shall be maintained during the occupancy of the ground: Provided that when any corner cannot be marked on account of the nature of the ground, the peg, trench, or mark may be placed at the nearest practicable point. Every person shall mark off his claim according to the depth at which it is supposed the bottom will be reached; and if it is afterwards proved that the person so doing has marked out more ground than he is entitled to, the surplus shall be forfeited. In the event of any claim being worked by means of a tunnel, the size of the claim shall be determined by the average depth of the ground from the surface.

  1. Surplus ground to be forfeited.

If any person shall occupy a larger area of ground than that to which he is entitled under these Regulations, he shall forfeit the surplus, and the claim shall be re-marked from any two pegs at the option of the party claiming the ground: Provided that if any shaft, face, or works shall come within the area of the ground so marked out, the party claiming the ground shall pay compensation to the original holder.

  1. Shepherding forbidden.

No person shall be deemed to possess a valid title to any claim unless the same shall be fairly worked during the entire period of occupancy, and any claim unworked beyond the space of one clear day shall be deemed to be forfeited, unless sufficient reason, such as sickness or other urgent cause, shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Warden.

  1. Right of servant vested in employer.

If any person being the holder of a Miner’s Right shall hire himself for wages to an employer, the right to hold and occupy any claim by virtue of such Miner’s Right, and to any gold therein, shall be vested in such employer. Provided always that in the event of non-payment of such wages, any person so employed shall be deemed to have a lien upon the claim whereon he has been employed to the extent of the amount of the wages due to him.

  1. Claims and business sites not to be forfeited by neglect of hired workmen.

No claim, business site, right, or privilege shall be deemed to be forfeited through the neglect or absence of any hired servant thereon. Provided that if after seven days’ notice in writing of such neglect or absence shall have been given to the owner or holder thereof, or to his agent (by delivering the same to such owner, holder, or agent, either personally or by leaving the same at his abode, or last known place of residence), such neglect or absence be continued, any such claim, business site, right, or privilege shall be deemed to be absolutely relinquished and abandoned.

III.—PROSPECTING.

  1. Discovery to be reported.

Any person who shall discover any new gold workings, and who shall be desirous to obtain a Prospecting Claim, shall mark off an area of ground as provided in Clause 2, and shall immediately report such discovery, with full particulars thereof, to the Warden, who shall not grant the same until he is fully satisfied that the applicant is entitled to such claim, and the ground shall be protected until the Warden shall have granted or refused the same.

  1. Area in alluvial ground.

Any person who shall have discovered new gold workings not exceeding three miles distant from existing workings, may have allotted to him an extent of ground not exceeding double the area of an Ordinary Claim; exceeding three and not exceeding five miles distant from existing workings, an area not exceeding treble an Ordinary Claim; and beyond five miles, an area not exceeding quadruple an Ordinary Claim. Provided that the increased grant shall not be given to more than six persons comprising any party.

  1. Prospecting areas.

The Warden may, upon the application of any persons forming a party of not less than four for a prospecting area, register an area not exceeding 600 yards by 400 yards in ordinary ground, the same not being within a radius of one mile of any existing workings, or within a radius of half-a-mile of any other such registered area, and shall grant protec-



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Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa PDF Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1867, No 82





✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🌾 Proclamation of Rules and Regulations for West Canterbury Gold Fields

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Gold Fields, Rules, Regulations, Canterbury, Mining

🌾 Size of Mining Claims

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Mining Claims, Gold Fields, Regulations, Canterbury

🌾 Marking of Mining Claims

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Mining Claims, Marking, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Forfeiture of Surplus Ground

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Mining Claims, Forfeiture, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Shepherding Forbidden

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Mining Claims, Shepherding, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Right of Servant Vested in Employer

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Mining Claims, Employment, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Non-Forfeiture of Claims by Neglect of Hired Workmen

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Mining Claims, Workmen, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Discovery Reporting for Prospecting Claims

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Prospecting Claims, Discovery, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Area Allotment for Prospecting Claims

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Prospecting Claims, Area, Regulations, Gold Fields

🌾 Registration of Prospecting Areas

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
Prospecting Areas, Registration, Regulations, Gold Fields