THE GOLDFIELDS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 26 August 1881, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

(Wellington correspondent Christchurcb

Press.)

Wellington, August 16.

Tbe goldfields committee to-day presented an important report on the subject of riparian rights on goldfields. The re» j port is very lengthy. The committee are of opinion that tbe Goldfields Act, 1875, I has not provided a remedy for miners against arbitrary enforcement of riparian rights by landowners, because (1) it takes 180 days {o enforce the Act ; (2) it pro Tides that any person injured by socb action stall receive compensation on arbitration ; (3) tbe Act does not define what constitutes ' injury,' and leaves the w>d est scope for claims. The commit'ee do not see why unconditional compensation should be paid to landowne.s in cases where the public interest demands the iesumptioo pf water rights in order to develope goldfields." Lands are increased in value by public woks and tbe development of goldfields, and if the mining population is large, landowners cannot hope to claim freedom toesercise riparian rights. Tbe cases of the Taieri and Clutba are instanced. The committee therefore recommend thai all riparian rights affecting rivers in proclaimed gold field" be resumed, wheoerer lequireJ for public purposes and if compensation is allowed it should be only oo two conditions :— (1) Tbat damage should be com» puted on aclual injury ;o land by being deprived of waier io ifs natural slate, and to the owner by bis bomes'e.d being de* prived of pore watei'. (2.) That tbe ia» creased value of properly through pablie wo* k* on goldfields be assessed as a set off in awarding compensation for damage sustained. Tbe commWiee advise that cutleis for railways be preserved from ssle where possible. The committee further expressed regret that successive ministries have devoted so little attention to Ibe many reports tbat haye been re> ferred to tbem, a neglect that can hardly encourage tbe committee to persevere in endeavouiiog to ameliorate the condition of mining industries under difficulties unexampled in a country which owes its prosperity so largely to lbe development of mining resource?.