5. By the holder of a miner’s right or mineral licence, for the purpose of cutting races, conveying water or detritus to any mine, tramway, machine site, smelting works, water conservation, or other purpose connected with mining.
With every application to lease, the applicant, not being the owner of the land, shall deposit for rent for first half year, 10s. for every acre or part of an acre. Fees are required for the survey of the leasehold and road thereto, and also for appraising damage.
The owner may agree with the applicant to lease upon the amount of compensation and the mode of payment of same, otherwise an appraiser appointed by the Government may assess the amount of compensation to be paid by the applicant to the owner. If the applicant fail to pay the compensation awarded within the time specified, the application shall become void, and all moneys deposited shall become forfeited.
VICTORIA.
Miners’ rights are issued at the rate of 5s. per annum, and consolidated miners’ rights may be issued on the application of the manager or trustees of any company agreeing to work in partnership any claims registered under the Act, on payment of a sum at the prescribed rate multiplied by the number of miners’ rights so consolidated. Miners’ rights entitle the holders to take possession of, and reside on and mine, so much of the Crown lands as may be prescribed by the bylaws of the Local Mining Board. Business licences enable the holders to occupy and carry on business on the gold-fields, on lands not exceeding one acre in extent, and are issued at £2 10s. for six months, and £5 for twelve months. A lease may be granted of not more than 100 acres in one lot for such term as the Governor may determine and at a nominal rent, to any holder of a miners’ right who may be desirous to prospect for gold in any place where sinking through basalt will be necessary, and to which no part of any gold workings shall be nearer than five miles, one mile being allowed to be marked off for the prospecting, and the lease of 100 acres to be granted only in case of remunerative gold being found.
Gold-mining leases may be granted under Part I. of the “Mines Act 1890,” of Crown lands, pastoral areas, also lands alienated in fee since December 29, 1884, lands licensed or leased (with right of purchase) since December 29, 1884.
Leases to mine for gold and silver may be granted under Part II. of the “Mines Act 1890,” of lands alienated in fee prior to December 29, 1884.
The rent on gold-mining leases of any lands—except lands alienated in fee prior to December 29, 1884—is at the rate of 5s. per acre per annum, payable half-yearly in advance; and for lands alienated in fee prior to December 29, 1884, the rent is, for any area up to 40 acres, 1£ per annum, payable quarterly in advance in each case. On mineral leases the rent is not less than 3d. or more than £5 per acre per annum, payable half-yearly, in advance.
The amount to be lodged with an application for mining lease is £5, and such further sum as may be required to cover cost of survey.
Licences to cut, construct, and use races, drains, dams, and reservoirs for mining purposes, may be granted for a term not to exceed fifteen years, at a minimum rent of £2 per annum in advance.