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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1211, 17 May 1895, Page 35

The G-reymouth correspondent of the Canterbury Times, referring to the Midland Railway arbitration, says : —Both parties in connection with this dispute are making strenuous efforts to get evidence from all parts of the Coast —the Government with a view to upholding its contention that the lands selected for bona fide mining purposes are auriferous, the Company with the intention of proving that they are non-auriferous within the meaning of the Midland Railway contract. Messrs W. P. Jones, P. P. Daniel and G. Perrott left town during the week in the interests of the Company. Mr Guinness, M.H.R., journeyed to Kumara and' Hokitika, there to examine witnesses and select mining experts to report upon the reserves set apart by the Government for goldmining purposes; and Messi's Gully, Blow, Hannan, Browning, Gordon and Mueller are busy hunting up evidence in the interests of the Government. As neither side knows on whom the Court of Arbitration will throw the burden of proof, each is preparing for all contingencies, and a mass of evidence and a crowd of witnesses will be the result. The complimentary benefit tendered to Miss Laura Fisher last week in the Opera House netted the handsome sum of <£62 10s after all expenses had been paid. That amount was handed yesterday week to Miss Fisher in a bank draft on Melbourne, whither she returned on Saturday. The hon secretary, Mr Ritchey, and all who so ably assisted, have to be warmly congratulated upon the success of the concert. A well::attended concert and dance, to celebrate the opening of the new Public Hall at Pohangina, took place on Friday night in the hall. It is rumoured in Gisborne that a rich find of gold has been made in that district, but the locality and the names of the finders are not yet disclosed.