MIDLAND RAILWAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2039, 17 January 1889, Page 2

MIDLAND RAILWAY

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Hokitika, January 16. . At a meeting of the Land Boatd to-d»y, adeputatton oonslstlog of Messrs* Duncan and Robinson, representing iutend'ng se. tiers, brought nnder the notice of ibe Board the serious hindrance to settlement owing to the Midland Railway reservation. The Company has practically six million Qores from whioh to select. It was stated they wait till an application was made for land and a valuation pat m, when they put their price upon It, generally more than double the valuation. If the settler bay, they m^ko a profit of 100 per cent ; if aot, they don't select. It i« prob>ble the country will be looked ap m this way for ye»rs, Settlement is almost at a standstill, and those who do settle are compelled to pay exorbitant prices. Tho reservation has already bean In force five years, and settlers cannot t*ke ap land. Tbe speakers condemned the Government for granting the oonoe»ioa without consulting the districts iotmeatoti. I; was thought the Idj try cow being sustained was for a mytb, the Company apparently having no intention of com* plating tbe railway, and it was doubtful if they were able to raise the money if they desired to do so. It was monstrous that the evil should be perm t'-od to exist. Tbe feeling of Indignation was Intense. The Board promised to bring th& representations before the Government, and passed a resolution asking permleslon to be allowed to deal on the old footing with applications. One hundred and twenty settlers are wanting 10.000 to 12,000 acres. One of the deputation said, out of fifty applications before tbe Company, only three would complete owing to the exorbitant prices asked.