SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 33, 7 February 1913, Page 6

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegrapn.—ftress Association.) SOUTHLAND COAL LEASE. WELLINGTON, this day. In connection with the Southland coal lease, the Crown Law Department has reported to the Premier. The report draws a distinction between two kinds of leases in perpetuity. The section under which Brighton's land was leased was 121 of the Land Act of 1892 (which is embodied in the Act of 1908) and reserves minerals and the right to enter and take them to the Crown. The lease includes only the surface and nothing below it. The purchaser of the land's, concludes the report, does not purchase minerals.

FIRE AT PAIMERSTON. PALMERSTON NORTH, this day. A destructive fire occurred early thda morning in L. Siefert's Rangitane flaxmill, which had only been finished cix weeks, and was regarded as the most up-to-date mill in the Dominion. The outbreak occurred in the engine-room, which was destroyed, and the engine and machinery were badly damaged by heat. The stripper-room was also gutted. The damage is over £1,000. There is no insurance on the property. NAPIER GAS OOMPAix *. NAPIER, this day. The report of the Na.pier Gas Company states that an interim dividend was declared in June, and there remained a balance to profit of £7,056. It was resolved to declare a further dividend, absorbing £4,611, the balance being carried forward. The chairman, congratulating the shareholders on the success of the year's operations, said, in keeping with the Board' 3 policy of progress, a system had been inaugurated of providing and fixing gas cooking stoves free of charge.