TIMBER LICENSES.

Oxford Observer, Volume VI, Issue VI, 29 June 1895, Page 3

TIMBER LICENSES.

Mr Barron, Under- Secretary of Lands, has informed Mr Meredith, who waited on him m reference to the matter on Friday, that instructions £ had been given to Mr Marchant, Commissioner 1 of Crown Lands m Canterbury, to issue licences to cut timber m Oxford bush. This "will give employment to between thirty and forty men who have, owing to the complications between the Government and the Midland Bailway Company, been out of employment. Bailway Sleepers, A deputation consisting of Messrs Meredith, Buddo, Maslin, Flatinan, M'Lachlan and Montgomery waited on the Minister of Bailways on Saturday morning to impress on him the suitability of Oxford, Alford Forest and Peel Forest timber for railway sleepers. It was pointed out that the quality of the birch from Canterbury forests was equal, if not superior, to birch grown m other parts of the colony. A protest was made against the importation of timber for sleepers from other provincial districts, considering that the Canterbury sawmills were able to supply the railway requirements within the provincial district. The Minister, m reply, stated that the Department had twelve thousand birch sleepers on hand m Canterbury, which would be sufficient for the requirements 1 of the present year. There was also some doubt as to the durability of Canterbury birch for sleeper purposes. The y deputation assured the Minister that the quality was undoubted, and they were prepared to submit the question to any fair and reasonable test. They also suggestei that the contracts for next year's requirements might m part be executed this year, m order to relieve the unemployed difficulty. The Minister informed the deputation that Mr Lowe would report witbin ten days on the quality of Canterbury birch, and the Minister would then be able to give a definite reply to the deputation. Messrs Meredith and Maslin are to interview the Minister on Friday night to further consider the matter.