be
obtained directly by laying imposts on the miner, it encourages him in
his labors and leads him to undertake explorations which, if he were
heavily taxed he would never contemplate.
At
a general meeting of the Nilgiri and Kotergherry Planters'
Associations held at Ootacamund on the 31st March last, the following
Memorial to the Governor of Madras in reference to Mining Rights was
adopted. We extract the portions of interest to us in Ceylon:—
Humbly
Sheweth.—That your petitioners are land owners and coffee planters on
the Nilgiri Hills and in Wynaad, possessing large tracts of land held
under different tenures. That the development of the mining enterprise
has led your petitioners to examine their titles, especially with
reference to mining rights and having in many cases found that they are
pronounced at home to be unsatisfactory and uncertain, your
petitioners have determined to represent their grievances to your
Excellency's Government, with the earnest prayer that this memorial may
receive your Excellency's favourable and very early consideration. 1.—Government Xotijieation, dated 19th October 1880, re-mining leases. The
terms laid down in this notification have already been found to be a
prohibition of business. Several sales of properties have been hindered
by the restrictive terms, thereby causing loss to proprietors, and a
complete block to private enterprise. The rule restricting applicants
to blocks not exceeding thirty acres is impracticable, considering that
the flatness of most of the Indian reefs gives so small an area of
stone to be depended upon for the large expenditure of machinery, even
if the lode be present under the whole thirty acres of surface. Added
to this is the risk of the stone, from such small blocks, being worked
out before the great expense attached to the erection of such costly
machinery, can be recouped adjoining blocks in the meanwhile being
probably allotted to other applicants.
The
following conditions, laid down in the notifications, are also
rendering the proper development of reefs on Government land
impossible:—
Condition 3.—"
That within three months from the date of the execution of the lease,
not less than five labourers per acre, shall be regularly employed,
during the ordinary hours of labour, on bona fide mining
operations on each block, in such manner as the Government may approve.
Returns of the number of labourers employed per diem, shall be sent to
the Collector or Commissioner at the expiration of each month."
Condition 4.—"That the lease shall not be sub-let or assigned without the Consent of Government being previously obtained."
It
has occurred to your petitioners that terms somewhat as follows might
be found much more advantageous to Government and tend to the
development of the industry by encouraging private enterprise:—
I.—That
prospecting grants be given over a considerable area, say one square
mile, for a period of at least six months. This will enable the
prospector to learn the strike and dip of the reef on the land he has
selected, and whether it is continuous, and it will enable him to
secure such portions as he may have found of value, without the fear
and risk of his losing the reward of his labour, his neighbours taking
advantage of his knowledge.
2.—That
a mining lease may be given on the whole, or such portion of the area
granted for prospecting as the applicant may select within the above
stipulated period of six months.
3.—That
there be no restrictions regarding employment of labour. 4.—That if an
applicant has satisfactorily provided for the working of any block
either by transfer to a Company or otherwise, he may be allowed to
apply for and to take up another.
II.—Your petitioners would now address your Excellency with reference to land held on puttah tenure.
From the notification above referred to it appears that the rules and
conditions apply only to Government waste lands, hereafter to be taken
up and not yet leased to planters, as it is distinctly addressed to
'persons desirous of obtaining permission to mine for gold on Government
