West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Wednesday 22 September 1886, page 3


THE GOLDFIELD REGULATIONS.

We give below a précis of the goldfield regulations, approved by the Governor inCouncil, to come into force on the 1st of

October next.

General Regulations.

The following are the sizes of protection areas Beyond the limits of a proclaimed field, 400 yards by 400 yards. Within the limits of a proclaimed field, and more than three miles from the nearest workings, 300 yards by 300 yards ; not more than three miles and more than one mile, 200 yards by 200 yards ; not more than one mile, and more than 400 yards, 150 yards by 150 yards. A miner searching for a new reef from any reef being worked, may mark off and hold a protection area of 150 yards by 150 yards. The areas to be marked at each corner with a post standing 3ft. above the ground, and 4 inches in diameter, set in a trench 3ft. long and 6 inches deep. Such marking shall be deemed a sufficient title for seven clear days, subject to the condition that every such area must be worked continuously every working day within two clear days after marking, with at least half the number of miners whose names appear on the notice as the holders of the area. The prospector must report to the Warden finding of the gold in apparently payable quantities within such protection area, within seven clear days of such finding.

A minor may take up and work any un-occupied Crown land as a claim by marking it in the manner already described, and making application to the Warden two days after such marking. Non-registration will not, however, be deemed a breach of the recentlations if caused by neglect of the Mining Registrar, etc.

Application may also be made for possession of an unoccupied claim, or share liable

to forfeiture.

All rules and agreements entered into by majority of at least two-thirds in number and interest of the shareholders to be binding. Such rules and agreements are to be registered at the Warden's office.

Taking forcible possession of any claim after the right to possession has been disputed involves a forfeiture of rights.

Claims are to be continuously worked, otherwise they will be forfeited, unless sickness, attendance at courts of justice or other satisfactory cause of cessation from work,

can be shown.

Claims, leaseholds, business, residence, and machine areas to be marked at each corner with a post 4 inches in diameter, fixed firmly in a standing at least three feet above the ground, and the owner or shareholders shall point out the boundary lines and corner posts to any person requiring to know the same.

The owners of a registered claim may have it registered as exempt from work for a period not exceeding six months provided it has been continuously worked for the preceding six months and is not then payable.

Shafts and holes within 20 feet of a public road in ordinary use to be securely fenced and logged.

Claims will not be forfeited through absence of hired men without due notice has been served on the owner or his agent

Any miner having forfeited or abandoned his claim, or share in a claim, shall be at liberty to retain possession of all substances containing gold that may have been raised at the time, provided it be stacked on ground not interfering with the working of the

claim.

No person shall cause or permit sludge tailings, or water to accumulate in or flow from his claim, leasehold reservoir, dam machine area, or other authorised holding so as to cause injury to claims or roads.

All accidents are to be reported to the

Warden

Props or timber in claims not to be removed nor ventilation obstructed without the consent of the owner of any claim or lease hold affected thereby. The owner of any claim or leasehold in which water has accumulated to the injury of any adjoining claim of

leasehold shall, on receipt of complaint tothat effect from the party so affected, bail their claim or leasehold or in some other manner effectually remedy the injury.

Mining plant will not be forfeited with a claim or leasehold provided it is removed within one week from the declaration of the

forfeiture.

Applications for machine areas, marketgarden areas, and also for areas for stacking tailings, with full particulars, must be made in writing to the Warden, and if no objection has been lodged, permission to occupy an area not exceeding five acres may be granted.

A business of residence area is not to exceed one quarter of an acre, the frontage of which to any main thoroughfare, creek, or water hole shall not exceed 65 feet by a depth

of not more than 165 feet.

A claim or leasehold shall be considered as effectively worked when eight hours bona-fide work is performed thereon by the comple-ment of men required by the Regulations, or every working day except Saturday, when four hours' work shall be considered sufficient.

Alluvial Claims.

The size of reward claims which shall be given for the discovery of payable gold in any creek, river, or ordinary alluvial ground shall be in proportion to the distance from the nearest occupied gold workings of the same description, and as follows: if distant over 400 yds., 2 claims of one man's ground ; if distant over half-a-mile, 8 do.; if distant over one mile 4 do ; if distant over two miles, 6 do ; if distant over three miles, 10 do and if beyond the limits of a field, 20 do. Such reward shall be in addition to the number of claims to which the party would be otherwise entitled in ordinary alluvial claims, and may be marked off in any rectangular shape at the option of the prospectors. Provided that no side of the block shall be less than 50 feet.

Ordinary alluvial claims shall be-for one man, 50ft. by 50ft ; 2 men, 100ft. by 50ft.; 3 men, 150ft. by 50ft ; 4 men, 200ft. by 50ft. And so on for any number of men without restriction as to the number of party or shape of the claim. Provided that the claim of each party shall be a rectangular block, no

side of which shall be less than 50ft.

In wet ground, when water other than surface water exists, and necessitates stabbing throughout, or in rocky ground requiring blasting for 30ft. in the sinking of the shaft, the size of claim shall be as follows: one miner, 50ft. by 100ft. ; 2 miners, 100ft. by 100ft. ; 3 miners, 150ft. by 150ft. ; 4 miners 200ft. by 100ft. And so on in the same proportion for any number of miners. Provided

that no side of the claim of more than one minor shall be less than 100ft. All claims taken up under this regulation to be registered.

Quartz Reefs.

The term " reef " shall be taken to mean gold seam or quartz or any substance containing gold other than alluvial.

The reward claim which shall be given for the discovery of gold in apparently payable quantities on any new reef, or the re-discovery of the same on any reef previously occupied and abandoned, shall be in proper| tion to the distance from any reef being worked, and as follows: If distant less than 400yds -. 100yds. along the line of reef. If distant more than 400yds. and less than a mile: 150ft. along the line of reef. If distant more than one mile and more than two : 200ft. along the line of reef. If distant more than two miles and less than ten ? 300ft. along the line of reef. If distant ten miles or more : 500ft. along the line of reef. With a width of 400ft. The above reward shall be in addition to the number of claims the party would be otherwise entitled to in ordinary quartz claims. The measurements of distance to be on the surface of the ground by the nearest practicable water. Claims to be measured on the horizontal plane.

The extent allowed for each miner in any ordinary quartz claim shall be 50ft. along the supposed line of reef by a width of 400ft. The width of all quartz claims must be marked off at right angles to the base line, but the whole or any part of such width may be marked on either side of such line at the option of the shareholders

Only half the number of miners to whom any quartz claim has been allotted need be employed thereon until it has been proved payable or when it ceases to be payable again.

A claim on a quartz reef shall be deemed to be payable when the quantity of gold obtained from it shall be equal in value to the sum which has been paid, or at current rates would have been payable, for wages, to all the miners actually employed thereon, during the time occupied in extracting and crushing quartz, together with the other necessary working expenses. Provided that no quartz claim shall be deemed payable until a crushing has been obtained.

River and Creek Claims.

Fifty feet frontage in the general direction of the course of the stream will be allowed to each miner in the creek or river with a width from bank to bank, unless such width shall exceed one hundred yards in which case the excess may be claimed by any other

miner.

Any holder of a river or creek claim may construct dams within his claim on condition that the natural level of the stream above his claim is not interfered with.

Water-Rights.

Miners intending to divert and use water for mining or general purposes, or to cut a race, or construct dams or reservoirs in connection therewith to give notice thereof with full particulars to the Warden, and if no valid objection be lodged at the expiration of seven clear writing days, the Warden shall grant the required permission.

A race or draw may be cut through any claim, or over or under any other race or drain, provided no injury be done to such claim, race or drain.

Without the consent of the owner no timber is to be cut within ten feet of any

occupied race.

Tunnelling Claims.

Tunnelling ground shall mean any portion of Crown Lands containing hills or plateaux in which the superincumbent stratum shall be at least 100 ft. above the roof in any part of the tunnel). The protection area allowed on such ground shall be 800 ft. on each side of the tunnel, with a length of half a mile across the hill or plateau. The boundary lines to be marked with posts.

The reward claim for finding a payable quartz reef in any such tunnel shall be double the area of the reward claims already particularised as allowed for the discovery of quartz-reef, and in addition 50 ft. along the line of reef for every 100 ft. beyond 200 ft. comprised in the length of the tunnel.

The size of ordinary quartz claims in tunnelling ground shall be double the area of the ordinary quartz claims already particularised, provided the reef be at least 200ft. from the month of the tunnel ; otherwise the size shall be the same as ordinary quartz claims.

A space of 200 ft. will be allowed at the mouth of every tunnel, or for every claim using a common tunnel, for the purpose of depositing quartz or rubbish.

Puddling Claims.

A puddling claim may be taken upon abandoned alluvial ground, the size to be 100 ft. by 100 ft. per man employed.

Goldmining Leases.

Area, not exceeding 25 acres ; term, not exceeding 21 years; rental £1 per annum for each acre or part of an acre.

Applications to be accompanied with a deposit of the first year's rent, together with the survey fees. In all cases in which no objections have been lodged within 30 days from the date of the application being lodged with the Warden, the ground may be worked half handed pending the decision of the Government. The ground to be worked by not less than one man per acre or fraction of an acre. Leases surrendered conditionally upon a new lease being granted to be worked full handed until the surrender is accepted. Leaseholds may be wholly or partially exemplied from work for a period not exceeding one month, upon such conditions as the Warden may deem necessary. Exemptions for a longer period not exceeding six months may be granted by the Commissioner of

Crown Lands.

Rewards for Discoveries of New

Fields.

For the discovery of a new gold field distant more than 20 miles from any place where payable gold has been found previously, and on which there shall be employed 4 months after the report of such discovery not less than 200 miners, a sum not exceeding £500. For a similar discovery more than 20 miles distant, and on which there shall be employed 6 months after the date of such discovery not less than 500 miners a sum not exceeding £1000,