OFFERED AS REWARDS TO

DISCOVERERS OF NEW GOLD FIELDS.

[Extracted from the New Zealand Gazette, No. 41, of the 26th June, 1872.]

£10,000 OFFERED AS REWARDS TO DISCOVERERS OF NEW GOLD FIELDS.

THE following terms and conditions on which rewards will be paid for the discovery of new gold fields are issued in pursuance of the following resolution of the House of Representatives, passed on the 26th September, 1872 :—

Resolved, "That in the opinion of this House, rewards, to the extent of £5000 in each island, should be offered for the discovery of new gold fields, on specific terms and conditions to be notified by the Government, and the House pledges itself to make good the same."

CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH REWARDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE DISCOVERY OF NEW GOLD FIELDS FROM THE DATE HEREOF TILL THE 31ST DECEMBER, 1874.

I. That person will be deemed the discoverer who shall first find gold and notify the same, in writing, either to the Superintendent of the Province, or to the Chairman of the County of Westland, or the nearest Warden or Resident Magistrate. In such notification the discoverer shall state as nearly as practicable the exact locality and the distance from the nearest gold workings or nearest town.

II. If two or more persons simultaneously discover gold in the same locality or in places immediately adjacent, and they each severally comply with the conditions above mentioned, the sum proper to be awarded will be divided amongst the several persons who have discovered the gold field in such manner as shall be determined after due investigation by the Secretary for Crown Lands or his appointee.

III. Rewards will only be given for discoveries made public subsequently to the publication of this notice.

Conditions applicable to North Island.

(a.) The newly discovered gold field must be distant at least thirty miles from the nearest gold workings.

(b.) A reward of £5000 will be given to the first newly-discovered gold field that yields 25,000 ounces between the date hereof and the 31st December, 1874. Should the yield not amount to 25,000 ounces, the reward will be reduced according to the following graduated scale:—

• £4000 if the field yield 20,000 ounces before 31st December, 1874.
• £3000 " " 15,000 "
• £2000 " " 10,000 "
• £1000 " " 5,000 "

(c.) No prospecting to be allowed on Native land without the consent of the Native owners previously obtained and the approval of the Native Minister.

(d.) Prospectors going on Native land without consent of the owners are liable to the penalties imposed by the Acts relating to Gold Fields, and will forfeit all claim to the reward.

(e.) Native owners will be entitled to rewards, provided that, if the discovery be made on their own land, they enter into arrangement with the Government for throwing such land open for mining purposes to the public.

Conditions applicable to Middle Island.

(a.) The newly discovered gold field must be distant at least 10 miles from the nearest gold workings.

(b.) No reward shall exceed £2000.

(c.) Rewards, not exceeding in the whole £5000, will be given in accordance with the following scale:—

• £2000 if the field yields 20,000 ounces before 31st December, 1874.
• £1000 " " 10,000 "

IV. The words "nearest gold workings" shall mean gold workings recognised as such, and on which miners are actually employed in searching for gold.

G. MAURICE O’RORKE,
Secretary for Crown Lands.

Crown Land Office,
Wellington, 12th June, 1873.

Printed by J. P. KLEIN, at the "West Coast Times" Office, authorised Printer for the Government of Westland.