THE IRON SAND QUESTION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3401, 10 June 1868, Page 3

THE IRON SAND QUESTION.

The following dis-jussion took place at the sitting of the Taianaki Piov:ncial Council on the 2nd inst. :—: — Mr. I'pjoun, in mjving, "That the correspondence relative to the granting of the fore-shore to this proviuce be taken into consideration, with a view to the province obtaining the same," said the iron sand question was one of long standing, and he thought that it was time ib was solved. We had been digging into the bowels of the earth to trj and find pebroleum; experimentalising with beetroot, without knowing whether it would answer or not ; and spending money on rarioufl things of a speculative character, when there was lying at our very doors an krticle which had been practically tested and found Valuable, and which, if it could be worked, would be found of the greatest importance to this province. He had moved for the correspondence which wai now in their hands. [The speaker then read the correspondence, commeuting on each letter separately.] The one dated 18th October, 1866, was the pith of the matter; it authorised the Commissioner of Crown lands to prepare the grants for signature, and in the other dated October 22, 1866 (four days after), to the (Superintendent stated that the grants were being prepared. This he presumed should hare finished 'the correspondence, but there was another letter, dated 22nd November, 1867, acknowledging one of 30th August (which they had not got), informing them " that Government is advised that there are legal objections to grant of large tracts of foreshore in front of private property" being given, in fact rescinding all they before had said, and we did mot get the grants. And what was the reason ? Why ! tbe sole reason was an old gentleman oalled Dr. Samuel, who he believed had more influence with 'the General Government than the Superintendent,' the Provincial Council, or the whole put together. Suppose now a letter had been sent to that individual. He did not say it out of prejudice, he had no causo to say ao, but he believed that the only way to settle the matter was to get at it through Dr. Samuel. He had heard that a gentleman from England had been making inquiries about the iron sand ; but what 'was the good of iheir trying to do anything till they were free to sell ? He believed that nothing could be I done until Captain Morshead's and Dr. Samuel's claims were settled, and if either of these gentlemen 'had any just claim they should be considered with : impartiality. He would move that the Council reaolve itself into a committee and take the corresp ondence into consideration. Mr. Tatton seconded the resolution. The Provincial Secretary moved as an amendment, " 1 hat a respectful address be presented to hisHonor the Superintendent requesting him to renew the application for a erant of the toa. beach, and, in the event of the Colonial Government not being inclined to give such grant, that an application be made for a long lease of the said beach from high to low-water mark for the purpose of dealing with the iron' sand." The difficulty that stood in, the w»y of getting the iron sand worked he thought was the difficulty of getting, men of capital to come into the place— it wa» capital they wanted. The legal difficulties, it was true, were not stated in the letter, and he thought it would have been injudicious for them to have done so, but he could see no difficulty in their obtaining a lease for a long period. They, did not want ijae ground, but the ore that was on it. Then as to what the hon. member for the Grey and Bell had said about Dr. Samuel having more influence with the General Government than the Provincial [Government, it was down right nonsense; Dr. Samuel had no weight with tha Colonial Government. With regard to the original, motion, he thought they should renew the application for the grant, and, if they could not get it, then they should apply for a lease for a long term of time^ What Dr. Samuel wanted was compensation, and thoi oourse for him to pursue was to get an injunction in the Supreme Court to prevent the working of the. iron sand. If Dr. Samuel and Captain Morshead could show cause, it would settle the question. Mr. Gledhul thought that, if it could be shown that the iron sand could be converted into iron, there would be no want of capital in the place. Then as to what had been said about Dr. Samuel, he did not believe he had so much influence as some people imagined, nor could he be persuaded to think that the Hon. Mr, Stafford had written to that gentleman. as the hon. member had implied, after the evidence that had been laid before the General Gorernment long ago. The committee that sat on this question, decided that Dr. Samuel had nothing to do with the iron sand. He differed with what had fallen from the Provincial Secretary about want of capital They could produce £10,000 or £20,000 in the place, if the difficulty of working the iron sand was solved. (Hear, Mr. Upjohn then epoke to the amendment. He said he wished to Bee the question settled. H© thought the Government had not given them all thq information they could have done, for there wore letters referred to in the correspondence which hwj not been sent down. He did not believe in % amendment, for the Government might go from their word again, and, after promising to give a grant, refuse to do it. He was not at all sanguine that they should get any satisfaction from the Government^for he believed that there was some outside influence always brought to bear on them. If Dr. Samuel bad a claim, and it was a just one, he thought it should have their consideration and be settled for good, so that they might have the foreshore handed over to, them at once, and not go on for two or three years, more frittering away the time. He thought they should go at once into committee and sift the matter to the bottom. ._ Mr. Glbdhh.l. : Is the hon. member aware that, « the present claims were §ot rid of, there were two others who have prior claims ? ....... Mr TJpjohn knew of no other claims than those before them. The only claimants mentioned in the correspondence were Dr. Samuel and ' Captain Morshead. The speaker complained of the cOMespondenoe sent down being far from complete. „,... The Pbovinoiai. Secretary explained that tno reason fornot sending down the remainder of the letter , from which the extract was taken was that it did not bear on the subject. The Council was anxious to get the correspondence, and the clerk h«dnqt time to copy it. It did not affect the question. The present Attorney-General held different views from, ' his predecessor on other «abjeets besides the one i under discussion. • After a few words from Mr. Tattow, the amendment was put, when a division, being called for, • resulted as follows : Ayes, 4 ; noes, 7.