REGULATIONS

His Honor James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Province, and by virtue and in exercise of the powers delegated to the Executive Government of the said Province of Otago in this behalf, doth hereby order that all rules and regulations whatsoever, made under the provisions of the said 14th Section of the "Gold Fields Act 1862," and now in force on the Otago Gold Field, under the provisions of the 113th Section of the "Gold Fields Act 1866," shall, from and after the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, be annulled and revoked, and doth hereby make the Regulations following in lieu thereof.

ALEX. WILLIS,
Clerk to the Executive Council of the Province of Otago.

REGULATIONS

I.—PRELIMINARY REGULATIONS.

1. Interpretation.

In the construction and for the purposes of these Regulations, the following terms shall, if not inconsistent with the context or subject matter, have the respective meanings hereby assigned to them (that is to say)—

The word "Warden" shall include Warden and Assessors.

The word "person" shall mean the holder of a Miner’s Right.

The word "claim" shall mean the portion of land which the holder of a Miner’s Right or of a Business License shall be entitled to mine in or occupy, or any share or interest in any claim held or granted under these Regulations.

The words "ground-sluice" shall mean a race constructed for the purpose of saving gold.

The words "block-claim" shall mean the area held jointly by the members of any party of miners.

The words "tail-race" shall mean a race constructed for the purpose of drainage or for the discharge of tailings.

The words "new gold workings" shall mean ground previously unworked.

Words importing the singular number shall include the plural number, and words importing the plural number shall include the singular number; and words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.

2. The Miner’s Right.

Every person residing on a Gold Field and engaged in mining for gold, shall take out a Miner’s Right; such Miner’s Right to be produced for inspection when demanded by the Warden or other officer, or by any person duly authorised in that behalf in writing by the Warden.

3. Miner’s Right to be signed by Warden.

Every Miner’s Right shall, before the issue thereof, be signed by some Warden acting within the Province of Otago.

II.—ORDINARY CLAIMS.

1. Classification.

Ordinary claims shall include all claims except prospecting claims, extended claims, dredging claims, and quartz claims.

2. Size of Claims.

An ordinary claim shall not exceed 100 feet by 100 feet for each holder of a Miner’s Right.

3. Claims to be marked.

Every ordinary claim shall be marked by pegs standing at least two feet above the surface of the ground, or by trenches at each corner thereof. River claims shall be marked by pegs as before specified, or by marks not less than one foot in length, to be cut upon the rocks above high flood mark. Quartz claims, extended claims, and prospecting claims shall be marked by pegs or trenches along the boundaries at intervals of not exceeding 100 feet, and by pegs not less than two (2) feet high by two (2) inches in diameter, or by trenches at each corner; and such pegs, trenches, or marks shall be maintained during the occupancy of the ground; provided that when any corner cannot be marked, on account of the nature of the ground, the peg, trench, or mark may be placed at the nearest practicable point, and from and after the time of such claim being so marked it shall be the property of the persons so marking the same, unless it shall subsequently become forfeited, or shall be, within the meaning of these regulations, abandoned.

4. Form of Ordinary Claims.

An ordinary claim may be of any form, provided that no block-claim shall exceed in length twice the breadth thereof; but unoccupied spare ground that may be situated between two or more claims, may be taken up irrespective of length or breadth.

III.—QUARTZ CLAIMS.

1. Size of Claim.

A quartz claim shall not exceed 100 feet in length along the course of the lode or vein, by a width not exceeding 100 feet upon each side of the course, for each holder of a Miner’s Right.

2. Discovery of New Workings.

The discoverer of new quartz workings shall be entitled, at any time within three months after recording the discovery with the Warden, to re-adjust his boundary, so as to take in his claim along the course of the lode, measuring the same from one of his original pegs; and other claims may be taken up in accordance therewith, according to priority of registration, and of the marking of such claims.

3. Re-adjustment of boundaries.

Any person neglecting to re-adjust his boundaries within seven (7) days after the original claim has been re-adjusted, shall not thereafter be entitled to do so unless the ground shall be unoccupied.

4. Registration of claims.

No person shall be entitled to take advantage of the permission to re-adjust his boundaries unless he shall have properly marked his claim, and registered the same with the Warden.

5. Conditions.

Quartz claims shall be subject to the same conditions as ordinary claims under Regulation XXI., provided that no person shall be entitled to take possession of any quartz claim upon which valuable plant has been placed or laid down, without first making application to the Warden.

IV.—DREDGING CLAIMS.

1. Size of claims.

In dredging claims each holder of a miner’s right shall be entitled to an area of 100 feet along the course of the river or stream, but in no case shall an area exceeding 800 feet in length along the course of the stream be held by any one company.

V.—FRONTAGE CLAIMS.

1. Marking frontage claims.

Any person taking up a claim on a river bank, or