M Elliot
This despatch supplies the regulations which have been
adopted for working the gold. They appear to be:
1. That for the present, licences shall be issued
at 21/- a month, which shall confer a claim to the following
spaces, viz 25 feet of the bank of the River, 25 feet of
each bank of a creek or Ravine or 20 square feet of table land.
2. That these licenses shall extend only to alluvial gold
and not to matrix gold combined with quartz or other rock.
3. That special application is to be made for permission to work
the quartz veins;
the![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_01/co_60_01_00135r.jpg)
the applicant giving security to the amount of £2,000
for the payment of a Royalty of 10 per cent on the actual produce. The
claims to consist of half a mile of the course of the river, and to last
for 3 years, renewable at the end of that time if HM's
Gov should
approve, and to be forfeited if the holder shall fail to find the
requisite security, or shall not employ at least 20 men or shall neglect
to pay the royalty. Regulations are also laid down with regard
to access to the river, the right to cut timber, and the course
to be followed with respect to any machinery which may be erected.
4. In the case of draining ponds or water holes application is to
be made as above. But instead of a royalty, Licenses are to be taken out
by the applicant for the number of men which such water hole or pond may
afford work for. This number to be decided by the Gold Commissioner.
The distinction made between alluvial & matrix gold appears
judicious, but it may be a question whether the Gov has not
made the latter too inaccessible by the large capital which would
be required to work a claim under his regulations.
Approve, however, in reliance on his judgement?
The Harbor regulations might be sent to the B of Trade?