1160 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 52

(4.) Under Class I. a subsidy at a rate not exceeding 10s. per week per man may be paid by the Minister in respect of each party of not less than one man nor more than four men whilst prospecting in new ground: Provided that, except where the prospecting operations consist of trenching for lodes or reefs, no subsidy shall be payable unless such new ground is distant at least three miles from any place where within the preceding six months more than ten men have been prospecting or mining.

(5.) Under Class II. a subsidy at the rates and in the cases next hereinafter mentioned may be paid by the Minister in respect of each party of not less than one man nor more than four men whilst prospecting partially worked and prospected ground within reasonably easy access of road-communication.

(6.) Such rates and cases are as follow:—

(a.) For sinking in dry ground, the shaft being not less than 4 ft. by 3 ft.,—

s. d.
From surface to 15 ft. 0 6 per foot.
From 15 ft. to 60 ft. 1 6 "
Over 60 ft. ... 2 0 "

(b.) For sinking in wet ground where slabbing is necessary, the shaft being not less than 5 ft. by 3 ft.,—

Double the foregoing rate.

(c.) For prospecting for dredging purposes by sinking shaft in bed of stream—

Double the rate under (b).

(d.) For tunnelling and driving through drift or blue-reef, the tunnel or drive being not less than 5 ft. by 3 ft.,—

s. d.
Up to 300 ft. ... 0 9 per foot.
From 300 ft. to 700 ft. 1 9 "
From 700 ft. to 1,000 ft. ... 2 3 "
Over 1,000 ft. ... 3 0 "

(e.) For tunnelling or driving through hard rock where blasting is necessary, the tunnel or drive being not less than 5 ft. by 3 ft.,—

For the whole distance 3s. per foot.

116. In no case shall any party of prospectors be entitled to assistance from the local authority or association, nor shall any subsidy in respect thereof be payable by the Minister, unless the following conditions are duly complied with:—

(1.) The party shall apply in writing to the local authority or association for assistance.

(2.) The application shall set out the name and address of each member of the party (being not less than one man nor more than four men), the class of the prospecting, and the locality in which it is to be done.

(3.) The application shall be approved both by the Minister and the local authority or association.

(4.) The party shall send to the local authority or association a monthly report setting forth in detail the value and extent of the work done during the month, and the amount earned by the party.

(5.) The work shall be inspected from time to time by a person appointed in that behalf by the local authority or association, and no payment shall be made to the party by the authority or association, nor by the Minister to the authority or association, unless and until the person so appointed has examined the work and certified that it has been satisfactorily performed, and that the amount to be paid has been properly earned.

(6.) The subsidy may be discontinued by the Minister on one month’s notice to the authority or association, and in such case the assistance to the party may be discontinued by the authority or association on notice expiring simultaneously with the Minister’s notice.

(7.) Irrespective of the foregoing provision for discontinuance, the authority or association may discontinue its assistance at any time on one month’s notice.

117. (1.) Where the subsidy has been paid by the Minister in aid of the purchase of boring appliances, the appliances shall not be lent or sold by the authority or association except with the previous consent of the Minister, and in case of sale a duly proportionate part of the proceeds (having regard to the total cost and the amount of the subsidy) shall be refunded to the Minister on behalf of Her Majesty, and the sum so refunded shall be paid into the Public Account as part of the Consolidated Fund.

(2.) In every case where any subsidy has been paid by the Minister in respect of the construction of any shaft, tunnel, or adit-level, the Warden may, upon such terms and conditions as he thinks equitable, grant to any person being the lawful holder of any claim adjacent thereto the right to use the same for the purpose of working the claim.

Rewards for the Discovery of New Mining-fields.

118. With respect to rewards payable by the Government or any local authority for the discovery of new mining-fields, under sections 297 to 299 of the Mining Act, the following provisions shall apply:—

(1.) The person claiming the reward shall make application therefor in writing to the Minister in the case of a Government reward, or to the local authority in the case of a reward offered by such local authority.

(2.) The application shall set forth briefly but clearly the date, nature, and site of the discovery, and the circumstances under which it was made.

(3.) The Minister or local authority receiving the application shall forward it to the Warden exercising jurisdiction nearest to the site of the discovery, where the site is in a mining district, or if the site is outside a mining district then to the Commissioner of Crown Lands of the land district in which the site is situate.

(4.) The Warden or Commissioner, after making full inquiry into the matter, shall report thereon to the Minister or local authority, stating whether and to what extent the statements in the application are true, and, in the case of a genuine discovery of a new mining-field, the number of miners bonâ fide engaged in mining operations thereon at the expiration of twelve months after the date of the discovery.

119. The amount of the reward (in no case exceeding £500) shall be computed at the rates here-