A DIFFICULTY AS TO TITLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 20

A DIFFICULTY AS TO TITLE.

A difficulty ha* arisen in connection with the title to mines which lie within blocks in Auckland held on lease by the Kauri Timber Company. It is stated that tho Government are about to cancel these mining leases. It is held that the proclamation extending the boundaries of the (oldfields issued in 1886 simply gave Hie right to mine within tho area on lands which belong to the Crown, but not on Native land subjee to lease. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs that the Herald, in commenting on the difficulty, states that some of the mining- leases which are threatened with cancellation are on the London market, and those interested will be deeply aggrieved when the news reaches them The paper thinks botbjthe survey and goldfields ~ officials an to blame in issuing leases over lands ' wh«re 'there was any question as to tbe power to grant the right to mine. ' It suggests, that the question should be dealt with at once by the Government making some fair and equitable ' arrangement with the Kauri Timber Company for the cession of all their rights, in the various leaseholds. ' If cable after cable has to be sent to London that a difficulty has arisen and that the Government .have virtually cancelled mining titles that have been, issued" by the warden, there will be immediate distrust. Capital is sby under tbe most favourable circumstances, but under advqrte conditions it will simply go away to other countries.