THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY'S LICENSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10129, 12 May 1896, Page 6

THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY'S LICENSES.

THE WARDEN'S PROCLAMATION.

THE CHAMBER OF-MINES. , A meeting of the committee of 'the Chamber of Mines was held yesterday to consider the question forwarded by Mr. J. Macky as to action of the Government in issuing a proclamation from the Warden's office, calling in licenses granted over the Tairua Block. Mr. S. T. George, chairman of the Chamber of Mines, presided at the meeting;, and the members present were Cdlonel Burton, Messrs. H. Brett, W. Gorrie, W. S. Wilson, A. Kidd, J. D. Gray, W. R, Bloomfield, G. Aickin, J. M, Lennox, J. Chamber?, and A. Clark, and a number of other members.

The letter to the Chamber, as already published, ,was' read, pointing out the damage which the cancellation of leases mr likely to cause on the English market by disturbing titles. The Chairman said they were called together to consider this letter. A similar letter had been sent to the Brokers' Association, and the Miners Union had the matter under consideration. Mr. George read Mr. Cadman's telegram to tho Miners' Union, as published in yesterday's Herald, as follows" Legislation dealing with such matters generally has been ready awaiting Parliament for some time.—A. J. Cadman."

The Chairman said that this matter was now under consideration by the Miners' Union, and the question for the Chamber of Mines now was wjia t action they should take. If they were to make an alarming statement as to the insecurity of the'titlo just now, as the mail was going out, it would have a bad effect at Home, and the question was, what action the Chamber could take ?

At tha request of Mr. J. M. Lennox, Mr. Cadman's reply to the Thames Miners Union was read.

Mr. Bloomfikld asked whether the Warden's license gave a secure title? The Chairman said he could not give an opinion. He read a long report from Mr. James Mackay on the question of the Pakirarabi block. This detailed the lease to the Union Sash and Door Company for 99 years, and it also provided that if, during the term of lease, prospecting or mining for gold was carried on, all fees shall be paid or deemed to belong to the covenanters (the natives). This had attached the seal of the Union Sash and Door Company. In 1875 a proclamation was signed by the Governor and Colonial Secretary, including any portions of the Pakirarahi block not included in tho original proclamation. Regarding some freeholds the Government had secured by agreement the righb to the Kauri Timber Company being in possession. Mr. Mackay had a long discussion on this subject of the position of the Government with regard to the minerals if persons or companies had the right to the freehold. Sir P. Whitaker (Mr. Mackay says) replied: The agreement is very full, and tho Government has the right to mine until the Government gives notice of relinquishing that right, and that no deeds by other persons or companies would affect the right of the Crown to the gold. Mr. Mackay suggested that in all grants issued by the Crown to natives within the goldfields a clause should be inserted securing such rights to tho Crown. Sir Frederick Whitaker replied that ib was not neoessary, but ib would do no harm, so that In any cases in which Mr. Mackay 'was present he gob the judged to insert such a clause.

Mr. Brett suggested that ib would be better to adjourn this meeting. There were communications now between the Thames Miners' Union and the Minister of Mines, and they had better adjourn for a few days to ascertain the result of these negotiations. Mr. W. S. Wilson said if the Government would give an assurance that those men to whom leases or licenses had been granted would be protected, it would be all right. The Chairman : By protection or compensation.

Mr. J. M. Lennox said the question was a very serious one. Il jnce the question of the insecurity of title was established, they could hardly convince the English investors that it only referred to a very small corner of the goldfields. He disagreed with those who urged that this was a matter to be left to the Miners' Union, for this Chamber should see to ib that the rights of vested property were protected. Mr. Brett said the Warden, in granting licenses, often told them they had to take the risk. Mr, Macky's letter said the Warden's grant was an indefeasible title, unless it was shown that it was obtained by fraud, and he quoted from Mr. Macky's letter the Warden's Ruling. Colonel Burton pointed out that the question of title could only be settled by the Supreme Court, and no decision of the Warden could divest the Kauri Timber Company of their title, if they had one, but the new people coming in were entitled to compensation. They were not in a position to dofond their rights. They were poor people, and were not in a position to defend actions in the Supreme Court, but he thought that those who wore in possession should bo allowed to remain in possession and have their rights secured. Mr. Clark said there was no question the rights of those to whom mining areas had been granted should be maintained, and if any question of compensation arose it should be between the Timber Company and the Government, not between either and the license-holders.

Mr. Bloomfield asked whether they had got; the true position, and ascertained who were the conflicting claimants ? The Go vernment had granted mining leases over certain lands, and now the Kauri Timber Company claimed ownership of the land. The Government should see that those to whom mining leases had been granted should be protected. Mr. Brett said he was not authorised to make any statement on behalf of the Kauri Timber Company, but he believed that an arrangement would be come to with the Government which would bo satisfactory to all parties'. Mr. Lennox said he could not understand, if such a feeling existed, why notices of cancellation should have been issued. If Mr. Clark put his suggestion into a resold tion, he would support it. Mr. A. Clark then proposed, "That in the opinion of this Chamber of Mines, all titles granted by the Warden should bo indefeasible, and if any other rights exist with other parties, the Government should satisfy those other parties." Mr. Lennox seconded the motion, and it was carried.

Ib was agreed, on the motion of the Chairman, to forward the resolution to the Minister of Mines,

The Chairman announced that a letter had been received from Mr. C. A. Harris, calling attention to the danger of driving through the foreshore slide at the Thames, and letting water into the mines. It was referred to the mines committee.