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I.—4a

(4.) After receiving such report, and upon being satisfied that the proposed work will be for the benefit of the majority of the miners in the locality, and also that the applicant's proportion of the cost is available, the Minister may grant a subsidy towards the proposed work not exceeding one-third the total cost of construction, or he may refuse to grant any subsidy: Provided that the subsidy shall not be granted until the applicant has supplied to the Minister detailed plans and longitudinal and cross sections of the ground where it is proposed to construct the race or reservoir, together with the dimensions of the channels, the length of tunnels, open ditching and fluming, and other detailed particulars of the proposed work, and a statement in detail of the cost of the proposed work, and the same have been submitted to and approved by the officer who furnished the aforesaid report. (5.) No assistance shall be given in the case of a water-race if the carrying-capacity is less than fifteen sluice-heads of water, nor in the case of a storage reservoir if its storagecapacity is less than 20,000,000 cubic feet of water. (6.) Before any assistance is granted towards the construction of any water-race or storage reservoir the rates to be charged for water therefrom shall be submitted to and approved by the Minister. Subsidies to Local Authorities or Miners' Associations in Aid of Prospecting. 103. In the cases, to the extent, and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, the Minister may grant subsidies not exceeding pound for pound in respect of moneys expended by any local authority (being a County Council or, where " The Counties Act, 1886," is not in operation, a Eoad Board) or any miners' association in assisting prospecting operations; and with respect to every such subsidy the following provisions shall apply :— (1.) The local authority or miners' association desiring the subsidy shall make application to the Minister, setting forth in detail its proposed scheme of assistance. (2.) The total amount payable by the Minister in respect of subsidy in any one year shall not exceed, in the case of a County Council or a miners' association, £500, and in the case of a Eoad Board, £300 : Provided that in no case shall any subsidy be payable unless the scheme of assistance is approved by the Minister, and is in accordance with these regulations. (3.) The scheme of assistance may comprise the purchase of boring appliances for use in prospecting operations, or the payment of money to parties of prospectors under the hereinafter mentioned Classes I. or 11. (4.) Under Class I. a subsidy at a rate not exceeding 10s. per week per man may be paid by the Minister in respect of each party of not less than one man nor more than four men whilst prospecting in new ground : Provided that, except where the prospecting operations consist of trenching for lodes or reefs, no subsidy shall be payable unless such new ground is distant at least three miles from any place where within the preceding six months more than ten men have been prospecting or mining. (5.) Under Class 11. a subsidy at the rates and in the cases next hereinafter mentioned may be paid by the Minister in respect of each party of not less than one man nor more than four men whilst prospecting partially worked and prospected ground within reasonably easy access of road-communication. (6.) Such rates and cases are as follow : — (a.) For sinking in dry ground, the shaft being not less than 4 ft. by 3 ft., — s. d. From surface to 15ft. ... ... ... ... 0 6 per foot. From 15ft. to 60ft. ... ... ... ... 1 6 Over 60ft. ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 (b.) For sinking in wet ground where slabbing is necessary, the shaft being not less than 5 ft. by 3 ft.,— Double the foregoing rate, (c.) For prospecting for dredging purposes by sinking shaft in bed of stream, — Double the rate under (b). (d.) For tunnelling and driving through drift or blue reef, the tunnel or drive being not less than 5 ft. by 3 ft., — s. d. Up to 300 ft. ... ... ... ... ... 0 9 per foot. From 300 ft. to 700 ft. ... ... ... ... 1 9 From 700 ft. to I,oooft. ... ... ... ... 2 3 Over, I,oooft. ... ... ... ... ... 3 0 (c.) For tunnelling or driving through hard rock where blasting is necessary, the tunnel or drive being not less than 5 ft. by 3 ft., — For the whole distance ... ... .... ... 3s. per foot. 104. In no case shall any party of prospectors be entitled to assistance from the local authority or association, nor shall any subsidy in respect thereof be payable by the Minister, unless the following conditions are duly complied with : — (1.) The party shall apply in writing to the local authority or association for assistance. (2,) The application shall set out the name and address of each member of the party (being not less than one man nor more than four men), the class of the prospecting, and the locality in which it is to be done. (3.) The application shall be approved both by the Minister and the local authority or association.