POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3262, 17 August 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.]

(fhom oub own correspondent.) Wellington, August 17.

The Eailway Construction Land Bill provides that the Governor in Council may enter into contracts with railway companies:—(l.) Providing for construction of railways wholly, or partly through Crown lands to be worked by the company either for a specified term of years or otherwise. (2.) Providing for a like line to become the property of the colony. (3.) Providing that such railway shall be well and faithfully constructed at the expense of the company. (4.) Setting forth terms upon which railway shall be handed over to the colony. (5.) To be worked and maintained by the company, stating the time within which the railway may be purchased or taken over by the Government. (6.) Providing what area of Crown land shall be set apart on either side of the line to be dealt with, and the mode and time of selection of such land provided that when a contract has been entered inlo the Governor shall cause a sufficient area of Crown lands for a distance not exceeding fifteen miles on each side of such proposed line of railway, or, if there shall not be sufficient land on each side, then upon one side of the proposed line of eueh railway, to be withdrawn from sale and set apart for the purpose of giving effect to any such contract; such lands to be surveyed in convenient blocks of not more than 20CO or less than 1000 acres. The maximum total areas of Crown lands to be granted to any company shall not exceed in value 30 per oent. of the cost of Bueh line. Power of purchase is given to the government of any line after the expiration of 10 years from the date of the opening of the entire line upon giving 12 months' notice, the price to bo decided by arbitration.