THE SOUTHLAND LEASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1677, 18 February 1913, Page 4

THE SOUTHLAND LEASE.

— ; *- :— L^L'PROCEEDINGS TAKEN. The ktost development la connection with' the coal-bearing lease-in-perpctuity area hi Southland, which has recently '; given rise to a good deal of controversy, is ' that Mr. Gavin Brighton, owner of the lease, has decided to seek, recognition of his, claims in the Supremo Court. ■.'',.-!. An inquiry has been held into the dis,-, ' taken out by Mr. solicitors 1 (Messrs. Hall, Stout, and Lillicrap, of ; jnvercargill) under the Declaratory Judg- " ments Act, 1908, and has been Served • upon the Commissioner of Crown Lands 1 for the, Southland Land District and upon '. the Minister for Lands. The originating ' summons asks for an order interpreting ' certain clauses of the Land Laws Amcnd- [ nient Act, 1912; and defining the rights " of the plaintiff thereunder to the land held by him under a lease in perpetuity. No objections are being raised by the Crown to the hearing of the action, and it will'come on at tne sittings of the Supremo Court*'which commence at, Invorcargillnext week. ■ (Br Asioolatlm.) , t ' Invcrcarnlll. Fubruary IZ r Messrs. Hall,, Stout, Pand Lillicrap have , served''tho Commissioner', of Grown Lands 1 at InvercargilV with a summons in, Mr., Gavin Brighton's lease case. The plain- 1 , tiff s; intention, is that tho case, shall, be 1 in the nature of a friendly suit in order , to. decide th* question of law ot issue. The t case is oited to.be heard at the Supreme Court, at Invercargiirsiitinge commencing I next week, subject to the Crown being i agreeable to this course. \ •■■'''