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104
GOLD.
" fat is in the fire," and that actions and cross-actions are pending. If this rumour prove true, work will of course be brought to a deplorable stand-still, and the general high opinion formed of the field at home will suffer. Nothing could exercise a more deterrent effect upon the minds of English speculators than to hear that the legal title to the land was doubtful. For this, and indeed for every reason, the best endeavours will no doubt be made to settle ground-right disputes by arbitration, and to preserve " peace with honour" among the various claimants.             '
I am tempted to add the following extract from the Pioneer also, which illustrates the shortsighted policy of the native landholders, and the manner in which they can in India—unrestrained by such regulations as exist to limit the powers of landed proprietors in Australia—effectively cripple mining enterprise :—
The Ootacamund paper learns that "the Nellambur Raja is determined to make those who want the mining rights on their coffee estates pay well for them, and all this comes out of the Alpha lease having been extended for a large sum of money, some Rs. 10,000, for ten acres of land, the vein stone of which, it is expected, will be worked out before the present lease, some eight years more, expires. It appears also that the mining conces­sions lately acquired by the trustees of Messrs. W. Nicol and Co. limit them to the selection of fifty acres within a certain area of his territories, and that owners of estates within these boundaries are not to be interfered with. The Raja has offered to grant mining rights to all desir­ing them, but upon terms which will simply drive away capitalists. We certainly think a deputation of the Raja's tenants should wait upon His Highness and impress upon him the folly of demanding such exorbitant and prohibitive rates, or making them sign agreements which can never be fulfilled."