THE MINISTER'S TERMS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7872, 25 May 1891, Page 5

THE MINISTER'S TERMS.

, (FUSSa ASSOCIATION VBUEaBAM.) ,<' The following; telegram from the Htm. 3$ Beddon to Mr Wileon. of the Midland £fe& way Company, wm Written site? thb d& etiwioa J« Cabinet yesterday:— !, v '

, "Robert Wilson, Esq.,. &E,, GeoeJjp Manager Midland railway, CSurtetchawfe, ■>

"Sir,-—Be Branner deviation. 'M &M Govenanient understand that your CpmpaajF has given the assurances inentictied hsreuader, end the other providionsof thsl^w in reference to the matter having besn complied with as far as possible at present, and on the provisions oi paragraphs 4 and 6 hereof being duly complied with, the Government will thereon bo prepared to advise Bis Excellency the Governor rto authoriee the making of the deviation ha accordance with the provisions of th« Midland Railway Contract Aflt, JB9O, if your Company will signify ita concurrent Lα the Government's understanding of tbt matter as hereinafter stated.

•' :~-(l) That thr Gangway will fot tenders for the oonstniction of the Kotuku eeotioa of the deviation line ixnmedlately the Governor's aaaent to the deviation fa aotified to them, ac promkosi in your tekgjsam ol ytasterday, ttad will also let tiiocontrac* for the earnsm due course, and will farther procesd without tmy avoidable delay with ike- construction of the remaining portions of the said deviation line.

" The Govemmeat afeo enderotands (2} -the* the Company undertakes thai th« , yuHamcm cost of toe deviation lino shall b< -within about .51000 of the amount for vrhidk the original lino between the and terminating palate of the deviation could have been eonateucted, as expressed it yoor telegram of yesterday already refsrree to. , *' 3?he Ghmsraxaent further underetaaoa (3) tkatfche Company cn<J<»ta|:#e t<? flatty thegrade on the goiostrocted portion of »ta railway between , 3Braii»crtoa «id Kaknata to an uiclinatloa aowb®" , steeper than I in 60, ac stated in your letter of the sth ins*., and tSattbia will be oaorjbef line ie ogocwd for .traffio *° "*«• wtoe& ! «» wid«aij« of tie

PoTxn&mu-Lake Brume? road, a&d the maintenance of a steamer upon the lake, the Government is advised that the power of attorney which you hold from your Company docs not empower you to execute the contract which has been entered into between the Company and the Grey County Council No doubt a contract hasueen entered into, bnt the Act contemplates a legal obligation, capable of being enforced at law, and the Government is advised that in this respect the Act has not been complied with. With the view of furthering the work, however, the Government thinks that if you would agree to deposit the £2700 before (he deviation ia assented to and would also obtain from your Company a ratification of Che contract with the Grey County, and would also deposit a further sum of £9000 in some bank in the colony in the name of the Minister for Public Works, to be forfeitable in the event of the- contract not being ratified by the Company within six months; that the difficulty might perhaps be got over in that way.

" (5) Aβ regards the running of the steamer, the Government accepts the assurance contained in your letter of the sth inst.

" (6) The Company to at once make a cash deposit of £5000 in the name of the Minister for Public Works as security for the due completion of the Belgrove contract on or before 31st December, 1893, as already arranged.

R. J. Seddoit."