THE MIDLAND RAILWAY CO.

Inangahua Times, Volume I, Issue 168, 12 November 1891, Page 2

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY CO.

and decide the same at a date fixed and notify the Commissioner of Crowji Lands of his decision.

8. The County Council of the district to be given special notice of such application, if it is prepared to accept I that duty. i 4. When lands are so advertised, their situation to be denned on some public map in the diatriet, to be notfied in the advertisement. 5. In the event of the Company making block selections and holding part unsold, the Company will give miners full acsess and liberty to pros(Continued on Fourth page).

[To the Editor.] Sir, — At the request of the General Manager of the New Zealand Midland Railway Co., I hand you the accompanying correspondence for publication. You will observe that Mr Wilson and the Honourable the Minister for Public Works, differ widely in opinion as to the power of dealing with land that may be reserved for gold mining purposes. I am, &c, Patrick Brennan, Chairman.

[Copy of telegram from Mr Wilson.] The Chairman of the Inangahua County Council, Eeefton, — In the report of the interview between the Council and the Minister of Public Works, which appears in the Times of the Brd inst., the position with regard to timber on the Midland Railway Company's land is erroneously stated. ! Tho Company is prepared to give gold miners the right to take timber off all lands if mining reserves are not made ; also lands once made mining reserves will be precluded from use from all settlement or other mining purposes except gold-mining. See letter to you of the 6th February last, and please republish it with this. Robert Wilson, Midland Railway Co. 6th February, 1891. The Chairman Inangahua County Council, JReefton. Sir, — On his return to Christchurch, Mr Alan Scott has laid before me your letter of 10th January addressed to him and reported fully on your interview with him on the same subjects. After due consideration I have now the pleasure to inform you of the method in which the Company would be willing to deal with lands iv your district if .the mining reserves be not made, and I shall be glad to hear whether it will meet the wishes of Hie district. As to your questions 1 and 2, which are as follows :— l. Should we advise the Government to make no selection at- present of the reserve, then on what terms could miners enter land you acquire or control to prospect for gold, coal, or other minerals ; also what would be the terms of rental of such land if they desired to work it." "2. Would you allow mining timber to be taken off land held by your Company, or the Crown, at a nominal consideration." 1. In the case of applications to purchase or lease particular pieces of land in different localities, and not already selected by the Company, such applications to be advertised for one month in the local paper whenever the Commissioner^ of Crown Lands for the district thinks necessary so to do. 2. Objections to dealing with lands so advertised to be lodged with the Warden of the district, who shall hea r

pecfc any of its lands so held on application for a license which will be issued on payment of a nominal fee. G. If after so prospecting a miner wishes to prove any piece of ground so held by the Company he will be given temporary protection for a reasonable area on which he wishes to work, on his defining such area on a public map in the district (to be arranged) and lodging at the same place an application for protection for three months. This protection to be issued at a nominal charge. 7. As soon as the three months elapse all rights of the miner under such application to absolutely cease a i become void, unless he applies for ;. :enewal for % (say) another three Lionths, which should be granted on certain conditions as to working, and which also will lapse at the expiration of the time. 8. If a miner thus proves any ground to bo worth taking up he must apply for a lease or license, which would be granted by the Company on similar terms to those at present issued by the Government under the Mining Act of 1886. Drafts of the necessary documents to be prepared if these proposed arrangements are carried out. 9. All gold miners to be entitled to cut and use timber required by them for bona fide gold-mining purposes from unsold lands free of royalty, so long as they cut it themselves or by their paid workmen, but, if they buy timber from a sawmiller, or by contract, such exemption from royalty will not apply to the sawmiller or contractor. As to your question 3, which is as follows : — " 3. Would you agree to issue licenses or leases to work coal at the same rental or royalty as hitherto charged by the Government; also allow mining privileges, such as tramways, races, dams, machine sites, to be granted on land in your possession, or under your control." The Company will be prepared to issue licenses or leases for working coal on substantially the same rates and terms as those of the Government — any alterations which may be made will not be such as to impede the profitable working of coal mines. Mining privileges will also be granted so far as may be within the power of the Company to do so. As to your question 4, which is as follows: — "4. Has your Company control over coal or other mineral deposits or timber on auriferous land ; if so, can you state terms on which it can be taken." As you have already been informed by Government officers, coal and other minerals, also timber, within the area reserved for the railway cannot be dealt with without the Company's conBent. The Company will be prepared to facilitate the issue of leases or licenses for working all such on the terms above indicated. In conclusion, I may state that the Company has already commenced to open an export timber trade, and has placed considerable orders for that purpose. It is also most desirous of facilitating the working of coal and all minerals or other industries, and will give every assistance in its power. It recognises the value of gold mining, both as a source of traffic and a means of promoting other settlement and enterprise ; and the best security the Company can offer is the fact that the development of settlement, industries, and population is of the highest importance to the success of the railway, and therefore the prosperity of the district is identical with the welfare of the Company. I am, &c, Robebt Wilson, Engineer-in-Chief and Gen. Manager.