THE STATE COAL DEPOT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 854, 28 June 1910, Page 4

THE STATE COAL DEPOT.

TO BE SHIFTED TO THORNDON. There is to be what must be regarded as an interesting sequel, to . tie longstanding'complaint by the Farmers'. Distributing Company against the State Coal Department over the damage done to business premises held nnder lease by the company in Lower Cuba Street, as a result of the dust nuisance said to arise from the operations in the Depa-rtment'e depot next door. It will be recalled that the company sued the Department in connection with, tire nuisance and were awarded damages, but the Crown Suits Act was then invoked by the Department to prevent the' company from obtaining an injunction and further damages. Then a petition was presented to the House asking that the Act should be waived in the case of the company, or that the dispute should be settled by arbitration, but the proposal was out-voted by 29 votes to 25. When tho State Coal Department's estimates camo up for discussion later, it vras, however, decided by 30 votes to 28, on tho motion of Mr. Field, that one of the items should be reduced by ill as an indication that the Act should be waived or the cafo referred to arbitration. It has now been decided by the Government that tho premises which now form the depot in Lower Cuba Street should be given up,' and a new depot opened on a section of land belonging to the Crown near tho railway wharf. Speaking to a DoimnoN reporter an the matter .yesterday, the Hon. R. ITKenzie (Minister for Mines) stated that the new depot would bo equipped with improved appliances for screening and handling the coal. It would take a fewmonths, however, before the new depot would be open for business, as extensive operations were entailed by the change. Mr. MTCenzie did not. say whether it was intended to make a further monetary payment fco the company in. respect of the heavy loss which it claims to have sustained through not being able to let its premises owing to the dust nuisance originating from the operations of .the Department.