Otago Central Railway.

Otago Witness, Issue 1910, 29 June 1888, Page 16

Otago Central Railway.

Editor, WiTNBSs."~Sir : I , cannot under* take to answer, anonymous" letters — usually the last v refuge _of cowards— which may, and probably bare b(«n, written bj ' persons who, are interested in preventing the settlement of Central Otago. But as an antidote to such malevolent, effusions,, and in order to allay possible at the effect of the operation of the bill now before, the House, I ask' you as » matter of fair play" on a aubject of infinite importance to tho future of Otago Tfo .'teprint the enclosed extracts from the contract appended* tothebiU:— . ■ - - 25. The laud so a?t apart < shall- be surveyed br direction of the Surveyor-general into , convenient blocks for the purposeo of selection m herelnsfUr provided, and in making the surveys the following rules and conditions shall be complied with ;— (1.) No block shall contain less than 1000 acret, nor be laid off in such a' manner as would prejudtce the sale, disposition, or occupation of v •_ any other Crown land. contiguous or adjaceDl . thereto: • ' \! ' - " l^ c /' (2.) Every block shall extend back to the watershed when wlthln.ls miles, and shalf be reot- * angular except as hereinafter.provided : (3,) No .block shall have' a greater frontage to tne railway than one-half of its depth : „ . W.) When it is desirable ; to^ oecure, a natural , boundary, or attain any other object of mutw ' ■ advantage to the'Queen»and -the contractor!, - t , the' Governor-in^Oouncil may authorise tw rectangular form to be departed from fc snd an/ other advantageous alteration r6 bemadeintnj 'shape' of .a -block/prbvided.'no block shall h»v« s ' ' " a greater frontage to a-' river, .'creek, or water- ■ • > course than one-half *of its depth :- ' . / (5.) , No land in me for mining purposes, or whicn » , " knoum to have gold or. silver thereon or we* ' under, or which, in the opinion ofrihi Goverm - , is or may be required for mining purposes, orm • j any of the ' several purposes connected thereum ■ '.•or incidental or conducive thereto,' shall wjs- '<■• • apart- or surveyed for selection or' be suea* ; f- under mis contract:' ..: r : ->~ ■ < - ■ (6.) No land shall be- included In any anrvey «« r , selection, that 'has been set apart or reierved either permanently or temporarily under «y law for the time being in force for any pumw purpose^ or which is- required? for .any vm \ ■purpose; nor any land subjeoji'' to anyngM"' ■ private ownerahipf nw 'subject to ftny tenancy „ ',' -or cccupaooy pf/any. kind "except, leases or-, licenses for pastoral piurposes : IT,, r ■ „„.-" (7.) When- any land open for selection !• in »• °^ f - clipation or any pastoral tenant; of the Otom j ' under lease or licence; it phall' be c"?rapefcw« ,f. , for the contractors, If therv^Kink fit, to ieIM r

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such lands, subject"£o^ihe i i-]gatr6f v thgleslee i ' ! , or licensee, which shall be deemed to remain ' unaffeoted thereby:' -'• *' 'Si 'l'" 1 (8.) The cost of surveying blocks for selection shall be borne one-hslf by 1 the Queen, and the other _ half by the contractors, and the -certificate of the Surveydr-general as to the cost shall be . binding and conclusive on both parties : (9.) All divisional surveys made by ihe contractors , shall be in conformity with the Government regulations for the time being in force, and Bhall be made at the sole expense of the contractors. ' ' . , ;..-,'-} It will be seen from the above 'that, the Surveyor-general has absolute power of aefection of the land to be granted ; that blocks may be of only 1000 acres' in efctent ; and that, under subsection 5, auriferous lands and lands required for outfall, &o. are absolutely excluded from being granted to the contractors. Under subsection 7 the pastoral tenants are also protected, and under subsection 1 the " disposition and occupation" of contiguous lands are conserved. — I am, &c., " . ( ": Vincent Pyke.