Nelson Provincial Gazette – 1868 – No. 29

Page 143

✨ Nelson Gold-Fields Regulations

NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLD-FIELDS. 5

VII.—PROSPECTING.

DISCOVERY TO BE REPORTED.

Any person discovering new gold workings, and being desirous of obtaining an increased area thereon, shall mark off an area of ground according to the subjoined scale, and shall immediately report such discovery, with full particulars, to the Warden, and the ground so marked off shall be protected until the Warden, or Mining Surveyor, shall have visited the ground, and finally refused or granted the claim. The claim so to be marked off shall not exceed a double area where the distance is not more than three miles from existing workings, and shall not exceed a treble area where the distance is more than three miles, provided that the increased grant be not given to more than six persons comprising the party.

DOUBLE AREA.

For 1 man ... 7,200 square feet = 120 feet x 60 feet.

" 2 men ... 14,400 " = 170 " x 85 "

" 3 " ... 21,600 " = 208 " x 104 "

" 4 " ... 28,800 " = 240 " x 120 "

" 5 " ... 36,000 " = 268 " x 134½ "

" 6 " ... 43,200 " = 294 " x 147 "

TREBLE AREA.

For 1 man ... 10,800 square feet = 147 feet x 73½ feet.

" 2 men ... 21,600 " = 208 " x 104 "

" 3 " ... 32,400 " = 255 " x 127½ "

" 4 " ... 43,200 " = 294 " x 147 "

" 5 " ... 54,000 " = 328 " x 165 "

" 6 " ... 64,800 " = 360 " x 180 "

PROSPECTING AREA.

The Warden may, if he shall think fit, grant protection for a prospecting area, in ground not within one mile of existing workings, or within half a mile of any other such protected area, not exceeding 100 feet per man frontage by a depth of 400 yards; and such protection shall continue in force until gold be struck or the ground abandoned for twenty-four hours, provided that such certificate of protection shall be brought to the Warden for renewal monthly.

PROSPECTING AREAS TO BE MARKED.

All such areas shall be marked at each corner by posts, six inches through and four feet above the surface of the ground, and a notice shall be maintained upon each post with the words "Prospecting Area" legibly written upon a board; and upon payable gold being struck, the party shall mark off a prospecting claim, and proceed as directed by Clause 1 of this Section.

NOTICES TO BE POSTED BY THE WARDEN.

Notices of all prospecting claims and areas granted, with full particulars of locality, yield of gold, and description of workings, shall be posted by the Warden on the outside of his office, for public information.

VIII.—TUNNELLING.

DEFINITION.

Hills where the sinking exceeds twenty feet shall be considered tunnelling ground.

FRONTAGE TUNNELLING CLAIMS.

Persons engaged in tunnelling to strike a lead, shall be protected in the occupancy of a claim of a depth of 600 feet from the mouth of the tunnel, and a frontage for each person of the length allowed in ordinary claims by Section II., Clause 1.

REGISTRATION AND MARKING.

Claims under the preceding section must be registered (without the previous posting of notices), and the boundaries marked and maintained by rows of pegs placed not more than 50 feet apart, and such pegs shall be at right angles with the frontage of the hill along the entire depth allowed.

PDF — Nelson Provincial Gazette 1868, No 29

The Nelson Provincial Council Buildings (depicted) were constructed beginning with the laying of the foundation stone on 26 August 1859, with the first Council meeting held there on 30 April 1861.

The buildings served Nelson for over a century before being demolished on 12 September 1969.

✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🌾 Regulations for Prospecting and Tunnelling in Nelson South-West Gold-Fields (continued from previous page)

Domain🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
KeywordsGold mining, Prospecting, Tunnelling, Nelson, Regulations, Mining claims

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