Mines and Minerals Act, 1931

PART VIII.

Miscellaneous and General.

Facilities to the Minister and his officers.

50.—(1) Where a person proposes to sink, for the purpose of searching for or getting any minerals, a shaft or borehole intended to reach a depth of more than thirty feet below the surface, he shall, before commencing such sinking, give to the Minister notice in writing of his intention so to do.

(2) Every person who sinks, for the purpose of searching for or getting any minerals, a shaft or borehole intended to reach a depth of more than thirty feet below the surface shall keep a journal thereof and shall retain for a period of not less than six months 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 specimens of any such 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.