THE SUPPOSED £300 GRANT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XX, Issue 166, 18 July 1884, Page 2

THE SUPPOSED £300 GRANT.

With a view to elicit all possible information upon this subject, Mr Dodson yesterday sent the following telegram to Colonel Header :— ■

" Did your department promise £300 to Seymour previous to election 1881 for drill shed here. Please reply to-day."

Mr C. A. Huinfrey (for Colonel, Header) yesterday replied by telegram :—. '■_: " It has always been customary to grant a £ for £ subsidy m aid of erection of drill isheds, and it is possible Mr Seymour may have been so informed, but there is no trace :of any communication giving such a promise as mentioned m your telegram."

With reference fcb the question of the :aite, Mr Dodson yesterday sent the following telegram, to Mr Q..Y. O'Connor, iUnder-Secretary for 'the i' Public Works : Department ; —

: Is there any record m the office of section 101, abandoned railway lino, being promised previous 'to- election 'lßßl "to Blenheim Volunteers for drill shed site. •Please reply to-day.

To this Mr O'Connor to-day sont the following reply :— .

I In reply, ro drill shed site, I find that :a correspondence, commencing m .Sept■ember and ending m Nbvombcr, 1881, ; has taken place on this subject. It oora- ! meneed by a letter from Mr Eobinson to ' Major Baillie, asking! qr uss.of . section 101, ; beingportionof land takenfororiginal route !of railway, .to build adrillsheduppn,. This was recommended to the Minister by Col. Reader,' and tho correspondence ended by consent being given on- 19th November, m the same year, for the spotiou in' question boing so used on the basis of a memo . from Mr Knowles to the '. Minister, to the effect that if not .wanted for railway purposes it would be placed at tho disposal of the Defence Department, subjeot to resumption . without : compensation ; -whenever ■ required, So far as I know the seotion la nob required ■ for railway pnrpoaea. • ■/••