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superintendence of the Gold-field or any portion of it, and holding a Commission under the hand of the Governor duly empowering him to have charge thereof.

1. Applications for Leases of auriferous lands must be made in writing, and directed to the Commissioner in charge of the District.

2. The Commissioner shall, as soon as possible after the receipt of any such application proceed to examine the land applied for, and, should he approve, he may direct that the boundaries shall be properly surveyed and defined; he shall also demand that a deposit equivalent to one year's rent shall be paid to the Receiver of Land Revenue.

3. All surveys shall be made at the expense of the applicants, and by a Surveyor approved of by the Government.

4. On completion of the survey, and description, the application will be forwarded with the Commissioner's remarks thereon for the Superintendent's approval or disallowance.

5. In the event of the Superintendent's approval, he will forthwith cause a notice of the application to be published in the Government Gazette, and in one or more newspapers having circulation within the Province.

6. In the event of no objection being raised to the granting of a Lease, it will then be prepared at the Crown Lands Office at Nelson, and thence transmitted for the Governor's approval and signature.

7. Pending the execution of the Lease, the Commissioner will issue a License (to be called an "Occupation License") to the applicant or applicants, authorising him or them to occupy beneficially the lands applied for, and rent will be charged from the date of the issue of such License.

8. Persons leasing lands for Gold Mining purposes shall be bound to expend one hundred pounds per acre per annum in labor or works for each acre of the land demised to them. Proper accounts of the expenditure incurred in Gold Mining, or in purposes connected with it, shall be kept by the Lessees, and shall be furnished to the Commissioner when required.

9. No block shall be leased of a greater area than fifty acres.

10. All rents must be paid yearly, in advance, after the following rates:—

For each block containing one acre and under two pounds (£2).

For each block containing upwards of one acre, and not exceeding three acres, one pound ten shillings (£1 10s.) for every acre, or for any portion less than an acre.

For each block containing upwards of three acres, and not exceeding four acres, one pound five shillings (£1 5s.) for every acre, or for any portion less than an acre.

For each block containing upwards of four acres, and not exceeding five acres, one pound two shillings and sixpence (£1 2s 6d.) for every acre., or for any portion less than an acre.

For each block containing upwards of five acres, one pound (£1) for every acre or for any portion less than an acre.

11. At the expiration of three months after the issue of an "Occupation License" to the applicant he shall prove to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that he has expended at least five pounds (£5) for each acre of the land occupied by him.

12. Any person who shall for three months consecutively delay the commencement, or shall for three months discontinue the bona fide working, of any mine and premises demised to him, or which he shall have been duly licensed to occupy, shall forfeit his Lease, or right to a Lease; and it shall be lawful for the Governor for the timebeing, or for any person appointed by him for that purpose on behalf of the Crown, to re-enter upon any lands and premises so demised or licensed and thereby determine the Estate of the said Lessee or Occupant or his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns therein. Notice of the determined Lease shall be published in the Government Gazette.

13. The deposits received on applications for Gold Mining Leases shall be held for the first year's rent, if the application is approved of; and, in the event of such application being disallowed, the amount will be returned to the Applicant, after deducting such sum as will suffice to cover all the preliminary expenses which may have been incurred.

14. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to apply to Gold Mining Leases which shall have been issued previous to the date of these Rules and Regulations.

Form of Occupation License.

No. In accordance with the Rules and Regulations under which Gold Mining Leases of Crown Lands shall be granted within the "Nelson Gold-fields," I, A. B., (Warden) of the said Gold-field, being duly empowered in that behalf, do hereby license C. D. to occupy for Gold Mining, and purposes connected therewith, all that piece or parcel of Land situated at

containing by admeasurement acres, more or less, subject nevertheless to all the terms and conditions under which Occupation Licenses shall be granted.

Dated at this
day of 186 .

Entered on Record in Reg. F
A. B.,
(Warden).