530 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
At the present time there are two or more companies in 
London, one in Glasgow and several in India, which have for 
their object the working of mines in the Wynaad, and it is said 
that already favourable news has been received of the preliminary 
operations, and the shares are now quoted at a high premium.* 
As I ventured to predict in my recently published work, 
“Jungle Life in India,’ when speaking of mining enterprise 
generally in Jndia, some of the undertakings seem destined to be 
hampered seriously on the threshold of their operations, by 
vexatious litigation which is in part due to the absence of 
definite mining laws in India. 
The following which I extract from the Pioneer Mail, of the 
22nd April last, is the very latest information I have received 
on this subject :-— 
‘Since public interest in the gold mining prospects of Southern India 
waxes stronger day by day, both at home and in this country, and men 
have made up their minds that the development of vast mineral wealth 
is merely a question of time, capital, and machinery, it is discouraging ° 
to hear that enterprise is likely to be checked in certain parts of the 
Wynaad in consequence of litigation. This has been anticipated for 
some little time. It was known that the right of ownership of certain 
blocks was challenged, and that the dispute was likely to culminate in 
legal hostilities. It is now currently reported that the ‘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 
Jandholders, and the manner in which they can in India—unre- 
strained 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 Rajah is deter- 
mined to make those who want the mining rights on their coffee estates 
pay weil 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 
* Extract from William Abbott’s Monthly Price List dated 6th May, 1880. Indian 
Glenrock Gold Mine—Capital £100,000, Share £1; Paid all; Price £13-18. South 
Indian Gold Mine—Capital £100,000, Share £1; Paid all; Price £1}-2. 
