THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6239, 16 May 1888, Page 2

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

m Objections and Arguments. Government and Company. Our Special Correspondent telegraphing from Wellington last night. Bays :— As you will see from the Press Association report, there are objections raised by the Midland Company to the contract. I understand that the Company's solicitors recommend a number of alterations, of •which, however, only four are of any importance, and none are regarded by the Cabinet as absolutely vital. One of the chief objections is stated to concern the running powers. The Company's solicitors object to arrangements concerning these being: allowed to stand over to the future, as they fear another Government might not be so friendly to them as this is. The West Coast members say that the reservation of their country under the Midland Railway Act for so long' haa been injuring Westland very severely by stopping all settlement and enterprise. They cay that if the railway cannot be begun forthwith in earnest, then the sooner the whole affair w dropped, and the lands thrown open for settlement, the better. Several of the chief points in dispute between the Government and the Company are said to relate to the land grant due and to be due to the latter. The Company wants to select land all over the statutory area, in blocks of all sorts and sizes, and often in blocks of much Emaller size than the Ministry cares to permit. I am told that the Surveyor" General was struck all of a heap by the terma of an advertisement publisnedin the West Coast newspapers some time ago, inviting applications for ' land in ' the statutory area, and that he viewed the prospect of having to mark off blocks of all sizes and in all. sorts of positions with unmitigated disgust." v I am also informed that the Company objects to the powers proposed to be given to the Minis tei for Mines to reserve auriferous land, as of too indefinite a nature. On the other hand, the Ministry is said to be determined that the Company shall eitber give full powerß to its New Zealand nsident agent, or shall Bend 6ut so'mr; person to the Colony with full powers to m»ke nil needful arrangements. Ministers are said to be sick of doing business with' agc-n^s hera who are subsequently overruled hj the authorities at Home. This is all I can tell you at present, and this information is only hearsay. Though my informauts are fcruetworthy men enough, their Tiuonrledge ia only gained at secondhand. 1 am told, too, that there 13 a possible ex lanation of the alleged difficulty about the selection of land. In a drwffc rf the contract Bent Home some little time ago, this question was specially reserved, as the New Zealand agent of the Company was not satisfied with the Government proposals. Later on he came to an agreement on the tuitter, and a full draft of the settled contract was cent to London. This would only arrive on April 13. Hence, it is possible that the rumour of trouble has reference to the fiwt imperfect draft. ...;..