Oct. 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2711

128. 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 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 two 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.

129. (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 His 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 Discovering of New Mining-fields.

130. With respect to rewards payable by the Government or any local authority for the discovery of new mining-fields under sections 385 and 389 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 the 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 bona fide engaged in mining operations thereon at the expiration of twelve months after the date of the discovery.

131. The amount of the reward (in no case exceeding £500) shall be computed at the rates hereafter specified for every full number of ten miners bona fide engaged in mining operations on the new field at the expiration of twelve months after the date of the discovery.

132. If the reward is offered by the Government such rates shall be as follows:—
     (1.) £50 where the new field (whether of gold, silver, tin, copper, or diamonds) is distant not less than three miles from the nearest known similar field at the date of the discovery, whether such similar field was then worked or not.
     (2.) £37 10s. where such new field is distant less than three miles and not less than one mile from such similar field.
     (3.) £25 where such new field consists of (a) the discovery of a new lead or lode, distant less than one mile and not less than half a mile from the nearest known lead or lode at the date of the discovery, whether such known lead or lode was then being worked or not; or (b), the recovery of an old lead or lode which, at the date of the recovery, had been lost.

133. If the reward is offered by a local authority such rates shall be those hereinbefore specified, or such modification thereof as, with the approval of the Minister, the local authority thinks fit to make.

EXAMINATIONS FOR MINE-MANAGERS’ AND BATTERY SUPERINTENDENTS’ CERTIFICATES.

The Board.

134. With respect to the Board of Examiners for Mine-managers’ and Battery Superintendents’ Certificates the following provisions shall apply:—
     (1.) At all meetings of the Board the quorum shall be four, and the Chairman appointed by the Governor shall preside:
     Provided that if at any meeting the Chairman is absent, the members present may appoint one of their number to act as chairman at such meeting in his stead, and, whilst so acting, the person so appointed shall have all the powers of the Chairman.