May 16.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 637

than half a mile from any previously-existing quartz workings.

148. Occupation of Prospecting Claim.—The boundary marks of every prospecting claim shall be maintained, and a notice with the words “prospecting claim” shall be kept posted on the ground until the application is dealt with, and, if granted, the claim must, unless by special permission of the Warden, be fully occupied within seven days from the date of the grant.

149. Assisted Prospecting.—The Warden may, if he think fit, grant a prospecting claim to the actual discoverers of new gold workings conjointly with persons who have assisted them in prospecting either with contributions or otherwise, or with other persons who may be nominated by the actual discoverers, although the said persons may not have been on the ground prior to the granting thereof.

150. Prospecting Area.—The Warden may, upon the application of any person, grant the right to occupy for not more than three months for a “prospecting area” at a distance of not less than two miles from any existing workings in alluvial ground, or, in the case of quartz workings, at a distance of not less than half a mile from any existing quartz workings: Provided that in no case shall any such prospecting area be granted within a radius of half a mile of any other such prospecting area: Provided, further, that such right to occupy shall only continue in force until gold is struck, in which case the discovery shall be reported, or until the holders are required by the Warden to mark a prospecting claim; in either of which cases a prospecting claim shall be marked and applied for as provided in foregoing regulations, and protection shall thereupon cease as to the remainder of such prospecting area.

151. Protection for Prospecting Areas may be renewed.—It shall be lawful for the Warden to renew from time to time the right to occupy a prospecting area: Provided that such renewed right to occupy shall not be granted for more than three months at any one time.

152. Prospecting Areas to be continuously worked.—Every prospecting area shall be continuously worked by at least two men during the entire period of occupancy.

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PART XVI.—REGULATIONS FOR AID TOWARDS PROSPECTING.

153. Upon the Council of any county, or, where the Counties Act is not in force, upon any Road Board, adopting the following regulations for prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, or tin, the Government shall, subject to the following conditions,

subsidize by pound for pound the amounts expended by each County Council or Road Board, as the case may be:—

(a.) Such local body shall submit its proposals to the Minister of Mines for approval before any agreement is made by the Government for subsidizing and prospecting as aforesaid.

(b.) On the application and proposals having been approved of, each payment on account of subsidy shall be made on the certificate of the County Chairman in the case of a County Council, and in the case of a Road Board on the certificate of the Chairman of the said Board, or such other person as may be appointed by the Minister.

(c.) The amounts payable by way of subsidy to any County Council in any one year shall not exceed £500.

(d.) The amounts payable to any Road Board in any one year shall not exceed £200.

(e.) The Government shall subsidize by pound for pound any amounts expended by County Councils or Road Boards in the purchase of boring appliances to be used for prospecting purposes.

Class I.—One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidized at the rate of 15s. per week per man for prospecting new and unprospected country three miles from any main or district road and from any known workings.

Class II.—One party of two or three men in each riding of any county will be subsidized as under while prospecting partially-worked and prospected country within tolerably easy access of road communication:—

Sinking.—Dry ground: 1s. per foot from surface to 15ft., 2s. per foot from 15ft. to 60ft., 3s. per foot from 60ft. to any greater depth. Wet ground, requiring slabbing: Double the above rates.

Tunnelling and Driving.—Through drift or blue reef: 1s. 6d. per foot for the first 500ft., 3s. 6d. per foot for next 500ft., 4s. 6d. per foot for next 500ft., or any portion of 500ft. Through hard rock or cement requiring blasting, or through pug: 5s. per foot. All tunnels and drives to be at least 4ft. by 3ft. 6in.

Prospectors under both Class I. and Class II. are required before commencing operations to send in their names to the County Council or Road Board, who must approve of same.

The locality of prospecting operations must also be stated, for the approval of the Council or Road Board.

Each prospecting party must send in a report, once in every month, to the Council or Road Board to whom a subsidy is payable, setting forth