Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1901. MIDLAND RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 8 June 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1901. MIDLAND RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Oub telegrams the other day intimated that what was practically a new phase of the enquiry into the claims in regard to the Midland Railway had cropped up. We now find from further particulars to hand that the Government has enlarged the Commission, and it is prohahle that a good deal will bo said about the change before the Commission closes its sittings. Under the original Commission, the Commissioners had to find what the company had properly spent upon construction, and what had been contributed by the Crown for that purpose. Then it was to be determined in what proportions the Crown, the company, and the debenture holders were to share the value of the line. The division of the selling value was, to be on the basis of the proportion that each party had contributed to the construction value. By the new Commission, the Commissioners are directed to find the selling value, but they are further directed to deduct therefrom the whole amount derived from the sale of land granted to the company and its successors. In arriving at the selling value, the Commissioners are not allowed to estimate what the line is worth to the Government, or what it would be worth to a syndicate which was empowered to complete it. They have to suppose the lino sold as it stands. From this restricted selling value, fcho new Commission says the whole amount derived from the sale of land is to be deducted.