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_ Spot audits..", Conte sald. Discover your Transit System! Be an explorer and let

mess

by Michael Kelly : gee -

B.C. Gold Commissioner Rick
Conte is determined to sort out
who gets to claim what in the
Eskay Creek gold area by the end
of September. Conte was out on
the ground there last week to take
a first-hand look at how his in-
spectors are making out in the
confusing situation.

"There are claim lines and flag-
ging everywhere," he said Monday,
back in his Vancouver office. "I’ve.
never seen that many helicopters in
one place before except at an air
show." |

A non-staking reserve — a mora-
torium on further claim staking —
was established by Conte in the [| oy :
15-kilometre square area on which [°° she MOSS
Eskay Creek is centred at the
beginning of April. By that time, -
Conte said, there were 45 disputed
claims, some of the disputes "five
or six deep". Although he couldn’t
comment on individual claims, |
Conte summarized the situation
through analogies. "Suppose you
were driving to Smithers and knew ©
for a fact that there would be no’
radar traps. You would probably
drive as fast as you thought would
be safe, but not necessarily in
conformance with the speed limit.

"The level of staking and dispute
to me is indicative of lack of en- .
forcement. No enforcement, no
compliance."

The Eskay area attracted intense
interest early this year when
Vancouver stock promoter Murray
Pezim's Calpine Resources, half
owner of the claim, announced | ‘th
spectacular gold drilling results. A
fury of claim staking activity
ensued, much of it done very
rapidly. Arguments over claims
followed, and now even a portion
of the Calpine-Consolidate Stikine
claim is being disputed.

"If you're going to have a phy-
sical staking system, you have to
have enforcement. To inspect
every title would be physically
impossible, but there should be

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Ab Baths

Two people were injured and taken to hospital in this single vehicle accident that happened Saturday on the airport hill. Witnesses
said the south-bound vehicle went out of control, crossed two lanes of traffic and roiled down the embankment. The rescue team
had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the victims, one of whom was later flown to Vancouver with head injuries.

_ The Terrace Regional Transit Service
celebrates its 10th anniversary. providing free
: a rides on August 18th..

On Friday, Aug. 17th, join in the celebrations
at 12:30 pm at the Skeena Mall. Goodies will
be available for the children. On Saturday,
Aug. 18th, join CJFW's Ron Langridge-on

board from 10:00 am -. 12:00. noon.

The problem with even a spot
audit system is that, despite the | our drivers sbow you around.
frantic claiming activity that has | _ Pg ETHER
consumed the entire Iskut River - :
watershed, the nearest permanently
stationed claim inspector is in
Quesnel. Conte sent four inspec-
tors to the Eskay area in July, and
they put in a total of 60 inspection
days just in that relatively small '
area, There are only three per- > ! | ee eee ees
manently stationed claims inspec- —_ SS —
tors for all of B.C., and Conte says
they are stretched beyond any
reasonable level to keep up with
the exploration industry.

Conte’s team of inspectors was
scheduled to pull out yesterday,
and he said, "I could keep six guys:

— Continued on page A14