Licensee to
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18. Every prospecting licence shall be in the form in Schedule II and shall work subject convey to the licensee the right to undertake and continue such work only as may, in
to Govern-
ment direc- tion.
Application How made.
Rights and conditions
of a pros-
pecting licence.
the opinion of Government, be reasonably necessary to enable him to test the qualities of the land in respect of the metal or mineral specified in the licence, and in accord- ance with the mining regulations where applicable.
19.-(i) Any person wishing to apply for a prospecting licence shall lodge in the land office of the district an application together with the prescribed fee and plan set- ting out the position, approximate area and boundaries of the land in respect of which the application is made and stating the metal or mineral for which it is proposed to prospect.
(ii) The Land Officer shall thereupon mark such application with a distinctive number and shall file the same in the land office according to the order in which they are received, but so that priority of application shall give no claim or priority of claim to a prospecting licence.
20. (i) In the absence of an express provision therein to the contrary every prospecting licence shall convey to the licensee the exclusive right to prospect within the area specified within the prospecting licence for metals or minerals specified there- in and the prior right to apply for a mining lease over any area specified therein upon proof that the licensee has done a sufficient amount of prospecting work.
(ii) No other application, whether for a prospecting licence or mining lease, in respect
of
any land specified in a prospecting licence shall be considered, and no por- tion of such land shall be leased for any purpose until all rights of the licensee in respect of such land shall have been satisfied.
(iii) If before the expiration of any prospecting licence the licensee shall prove to the satisfaction of Government that he has good and sufficient reason for not hav- ing completed prospecting, the period of such licence may be extended by Govern- ment in respect of the whole or any part of the area comprised therein. Such ex- tension shall be effected by endorsement on the licence for such period and fee as Government shall determine.
(iv) A prospecting licence may at any time after the expiration of three months from date of issue thereof be cancelled by Government if the licensee shall have failed to make a bona fide commencement to prospect the land under licence, or if he shall have altogether abandoned prospecting for a period to be fixed by Government and set forth in the prospecting licence.
(v) Upon completion of prospecting under any prospecting licence the licensee shall fill in all pits, shafts or excavations, unless the licensee obtains authority in writ- ing from Government exempting him from this obligation, and Government may call upon the licensee to provide security not exceeding one thousand dollars for the due fulfilment of such conditions.
(vi) It shall be lawful for the licensee to remove from the land and dispose of all samples of metals and minerals raised in the course of prospecting operations with- out payment of royalty, provided the amount shall be such as may, in the opinion of Government, be reasonably necessary to enable him to test the qualities of the land.
(vii) The licensee shall compensate any occupiers of the land under licence for any damage sustained by them as the result of prospecting operations.
(viii) Every licensee shall
(a) permit any person duly authorized by Government in that behalf at all
reasonable times to inspect any prospecting operations.
(b) render to the Land Officer, within one month of the expiry of the licence or completion of the prospecting work, whichever event may first occur, a full, true, particular and just report and plan of the result of his pros- pecting operations.
(ix) Every prospecting licence shall be liable to be cancelled by Government upon proof of the breach of any of the conditions of this part of the regulations or otherwise where applicable,