THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1770, 3 June 1895, Page 3

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

(By Telegraph.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 2. A letter has been addressed by Mr Robert Wilson, engineer-in-chief and general manager and secretary of the Midland Railway Company, to Mr Gully, the Crown Solicitor at Wellington, stating, in response to the latter's request for forwardingany plans and specifications in his possession, that these were the result of the appointment and work of persons selected specially for their professional skill in such matters, and were therefore valuable property ot the company. It could not be expected that he (Mr Wilson) would part with them without the authority of his directors. Mr Wilson writes to His Excellency the Governor, stating that the act of taking possession and assuming the management of the company was one which the company protests against as being oppressive, improper and unjust, the company not being guilty of any "wilful breach of contract," as contemplated by section 123 of the Land Act, 1881; nor had any "wilful default or neglect " on the part of the company, occurred within the meaning of clause 42 of the contract, so as to justify the step referred to, which he, of course, recognised as taken on the advice of His Excellency's responsible advisers. It would be out of place for him to discuss with His Exce))ency the serious question thus raised, but he might be permitted to point out that all disputes, differences, and questions, touching the construction, meaning, or effect of the contract previously, had been referred, in terms of the contract, to arbitration Any delay that occurred in the proceedings of the Arbitration Court had not been due to any wish or conduct on the part of the company. The company desires to respect the Arbitration Court thus set up, and will, as soon as opportunity offers, take the sense of the Court on the serious step to which His Excellency had been advised. In the meantime the company necessarily submits, but under protest, to the control imposed upon the company by the Executive's step, which cannot but redound to the discredit and damage of the colony.