Minerals Development Act, 1940

Minister to be given notice of shafts and boreholes.

75.—(1) Where a person proposes to sink a shaft or borehole intended to reach a depth of more than twenty feet below the surface, he shall, before commencing such sinking, give to the Minister two weeks' notice in writing of his intention so to do.

(2) Every person who sinks a shaft or borehole intended to reach a depth of more than twenty feet below the surface shall keep a journal thereof and shall retain for a period of not less than two months or such longer period as the Minister may direct such specimens of the strata passed through as may have been obtained in the course of the sinking thereof, either as cores or fragments.

(3) An inspector shall be entitled at all reasonable times to do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) have free access to any such shaft, borehole or core;

(b) to inspect and take copies of journals of such shafts or boreholes;

(c) to inspect all specimens so obtained and kept;

(d) to take representative samples of any such specimens or cores.

(4) If any person sinking any such shaft or borehole as aforesaid gives notice in writing to the Minister requesting him to treat as confidential any copies of journals or specimens of strata or cores taken by an inspector under the foregoing sub-section, the Minister shall not, unless he considers such request unreasonable, allow such copies or specimens to be shown to any person not being an officer of the Minister except with the consent of such first-mentioned person.

(5) If any person sinking any shaft or borehole—

(a) fails to comply with the obligations imposed by this section, or

(b) obstructs or impedes an inspector in the exercise of any of the powers conferred on him by this section,

such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

(6) In this and in the next following section, the word “inspector” mean a person appointed in writing (either generally or for a particular occasion) by the Minister to be an inspector for the purposes of those sections.