Nov. 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3187

(5.) The application shall be accompanied by a plan of the site of the intended prospecting operations, and a statement in detail showing (a) the mode in which it is proposed to carry on such operations; (b) the amount of money proposed to be expended; (c) the character and value of the machinery proposed to be erected; and (d) the total amount of assistance required. Should mining operations have been previously carried on in the ground proposed to be prospected at deep levels, the applicant shall also state (e) the amount of money already expended on such operations; (f) the character and value of the machinery already erected on the ground; and (g) the quantity and value of the gold extracted from the mine up to the date of application.

(6.) Before any application is granted the applicant must satisfy the Minister or local authority that the applicant’s proportion of the total amount proposed to be expended is available; and upon being so satisfied the Minister or local authority shall, if it be deemed advisable, obtain a joint report of two or more qualified officers of the Public Service, or, in the case of a local authority, one qualified Mining Engineer, and the Inspector of Mines for the district as to the probability of the operations proving successful, and that the proposed site is in the best locality for testing the deep levels in the district.

(7.) The Minister or local authority may grant assistance not exceeding one-half the total estimated cost of the proposed operations, or he may decline to grant any assistance.

(8.) Progress-payments on account of assistance will be made from time to time as the work proceeds, on the certificate of an Inspector of Mines or the Engineer in the employ of the local authority.

Subsidies for Water-races and Storage Reservoirs.

114. (1.) Assistance by way of subsidy may be granted by the Minister towards the construction of water-races or storage reservoirs, and for that purpose the following provisions shall apply:—

(a.) Every application for assistance towards the construction of a water-race or storage reservoir shall be made to the Minister in writing, and shall be accompanied with a plan of the proposed work and an estimate of its cost.

(b.) The application shall also be accompanied with a statement showing the source of supply from which it is proposed to take the water, the area and estimated depth of proved auriferous ground that the proposed work would command, the number of miners actually engaged in carrying on mining operations within such area, and the extra number of miners that could be profitably employed if the proposed works were constructed.

(c.) On receipt of such application, plan, and statement the Minister shall cause an examination to be made and a report furnished to him by a qualified officer of the Public Service as to the extent and character of auriferous ground which the proposed work would be likely to command, the extent to which it would be for the benefit of the majority of the miners in the locality, and generally as to its utility.

(d.) After receiving such report, and upon being satisfied that the proposed work will be for the benefit of the majority of the miners of the locality, and also that the applicant’s proportion of the cost is available, the Minister may grant a subsidy towards the proposed work not exceeding one-third the total cost of construction, or he may refuse to grant any subsidy:

Provided that the subsidy shall not be granted until the applicant has supplied to the Minister detailed plans and longitudinal and cross sections of the ground where it is proposed to construct the race or reservoir, together with the dimensions of the channels, the length of tunnels, open ditching and fluming, and other detailed particulars of the proposed work, and a statement in detail of the cost of the proposed work, and the same have been submitted to and approved by the officer who furnished the aforesaid report.

(e.) No assistance shall be given in the case of a water-race if the carrying-capacity is less than fifteen sluice-heads of water, nor in the case of a storage reservoir if its storage-capacity is less than 1,000,000 cubic feet of water.

(f.) Before any assistance is granted towards the construction of any water-race or storage reservoir the rates to be charged for water therefrom shall be submitted to and approved by the Minister.

(2.) Assistance may also be granted by the Minister to the extent and subject to such conditions as he may impose towards the construction of tailraces which would have the effect of serving to prove areas of ground likely to contain gold or other minerals, and which areas have not been previously sufficiently prospected.

SUBSIDIES IN AID OF PROSPECTING.

115. In the cases, to the extent, and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth the Minister may grant subsidies in assisting prospecting operations for any mineral, and with respect to every such subsidy the following provisions shall apply:—

(1.) The application shall be made to the Minister through the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington, giving the name and address of each member of the party being not less than two men), or in the case of a registered mining company its directors, secretary, and mine-manager, the method of prospecting and the locality in which it is to be carried out, together with such other particulars as the Minister may desire.

(2.) The total amount payable in respect of any subsidy in any one year shall not exceed £500; provided that in no case shall any subsidy be payable unless the scheme of assistance is approved by the Minister and the Inspector of Mines for the district, and is in accordance with these regulations.

(3.) A subsidy at a rate not exceeding £1 19s. per week per man may be paid in respect of each party of not less than two men whilst prospecting in new ground.

(4.) Except where the prospecting operations consist of trenching, no subsidy shall be payable unless the new ground is distant at least half a mile from any place where within the preceding six months more than ten men have been prospecting or mining.

(5.) A subsidy at the following rates may be paid in respect of each party of not less than two men:—

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

Per Foot.
s. d.
From surface to 15 ft. .. .. 1 11
From 15 ft. to 30 ft. .. .. 3 3
From 30 ft. to 60 ft. .. .. 3 11
Over 60ft. .. .. .. 5 2

(b.) For sinking in wet ground where slabbing is necessary, the shaft being not less than 4 ft. by 3 ft., or as to be determined by the Inspector of Mines,—

Double the foregoing rate.

(c.) For sinking in solid rock where blasting is necessary, 9s. 9d. per foot.

Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Mines that the cost exceeds £1 19s. per foot, then 13s. per foot may be paid.

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

Per Foot.
s. d.
Up to 400 ft. .. .. 1 11
From 400 ft. to 700 ft. .. .. 3 3
From 700 ft. to 1,000 ft. .. .. 3 11
Over 1,000 ft. .. .. 5 2

(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, 6s. 6d. per foot.

Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Mines that the cost exceeds £1 6s. per foot, then 8s. 8d. a foot may be paid.

(f.) When, in the opinion of the Inspector of Mines, timbering by sets is necessary, then a subsidy on the cost of timber, in no case exceeding 2s. 7d. per foot of driving or one-half the cost of such timber placed in position, may be paid. No subsidy, however, shall be paid unless the Inspector certifies that the timbering has been satisfactorily done and is of a substantial character.

116. In no case shall any party of prospectors be entitled to assistance, nor shall any subsidy in respect thereof be payable, unless the following conditions are complied with:—

(1.) The party shall apply in writing to the Minister through the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington.

(2.) The party shall send to the Inspector of Mines a monthly report setting forth in detail the value and extent of the work done during the month and the value of any mineral obtained by the party.

(3.) The work shall be inspected from time to time by the Inspector of Mines, and no payment shall be made unless and until the Inspector of Mines has examined the work and certified that it has been satisfactorily performed, and that the amount to be paid has been properly earned.