The Herald. Alexandra, Thursday, Feb. 5, 1903. THE OTAGO CENTRAL.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 352, 5 February 1903, Page 4

The Herald. Alexandra, Thursday, Feb. 5, 1903. THE OTAGO CENTRAL.

A good deal of dismay and indignation has been caused in the district by the statement reported by the "Daily Times" to have bepn made by the Hon. Minister of Public Works, in Dunedin recently, to a deputation representing the Catiins River Railway League, The remarks reported to have been made by the Minister have been construed to mean that he has no intention of immediately proceeding with the construction of the line when the Ophir section is finished, and, naturally, the people are up in arms and are combining to bring under the notice of Parliament the justice and reasonableness of their demands that the railway shall be completed to the Molyneux Valley as speedily as possible. As, however, some doubt has been expressed as to the correctness of the report referred to—for it is inconceivable that the Minister, in view of his recent promises, could harbour any such evil designs regarding the Otago Central Railway as those attributed to him—we wired to the hon. gentleman asking if he had been correctly reported on the occasion of his meeting with the Catiins River deputation, as the words attributed to him were construed to mean that he intended to "call a halt" at Ophir. The Minister replied as follows:

" I have not seen the report referred to: but as I have no intention to stop the line att Ophir, the railway must be continued to Alexandra. I desire to have the line completed to Ophir early, so as to meet the convenience of settlers at your end.—W. Hall-JoNES." The Minister's reply speaks for itself, and seems to confirm the belief that his remarks on the occasion in question were either misreported or the meaning he intended to convey was misinterpreted.

THE MOUTERE RUNS, We learn that a petition is being circulated in the Clyde portion of the district, protesting against the re-leasing of the Moutere runs for such a lengthy term as fourteen years. Evidently, a mistaken impression has got abroad that this land (much of which is eminently suitable for agricultural purposes) will be absolutely locked up during the term for which the runs are to be released—viz., 14 years But such is not the case ; as the leases come under the class that is subject to Section 192 of the • Land Act 1892/ which says, inter alia:—"The • Governor may at any time and from time •to time resume any pastoral-agricultural ' lands by giving to the 'essee thereof twelve ' months' notice in writing of his intention ' to resume the whole or any part of the land ' comprised in any such lease, and at the • expiration of 6uch notioe the lease of the ' land specified in such notice shall deter- • mine and be void." In order to make ourselves perfectly clear as to the position, we wired to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, asking if nower was not reserved to resume Moutere runs at any time wher required for settlement, and the Commissioner replied as follows:—" Moutere runs resumable on • twelve months notice, as per Section 192 ■ Land Act 1892 " It therefore seems to us that no good object can be served in reducing the term of the new leases to a less number of years than that proposed.