' The Hon. Julius Yogel to the Hon. Colonial Secretary.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 41, 15 February 1873, Page 1

' The Hon. Julius Yogel to the Hon. Colonial Secretary.

Sir— I have carefully considered the papers handed to me by you respecting the Brunner Coalmine. I am not able to recommend that the Government should comply with, the request of his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson (Mr. Curtis), that an advance of five. thousand pounds (£5000) should be made, for the purpose of constructing a wooden tramway from the mine .to the mouth of the Grey River. It appears tome that, if the request were complied with, the result would be the expenditure of a considerable sum—the amount, asked for would probably not be sufficient to complete the work—in a manner which might result in retarding the development of the mine ; because it is clear tbat the Nelson Government desire to construct the tramway on that bank of the Grey which is, according to the information in the possession of the General Government, the wrong one for developing the mine to the best advantage. lam of opinion that the mine cannot be .properly developed.andeffectuallyworked, .unless a substantial railway is constructed. A railway cannot be undertaken, until an arrangement has been made with the or owners of the mine; and it is with the Superintendent that, at present, such an arrangement would have to be made. A conditional agreement with the Superintendent was arrived at, last.year; by which, upon terms specified therein, the General Government were to coustruct a railway. It was understood that the Superintendent intended to urge the Provincial Council to authorise; him to assent to the terms of the Conditionali Agreement; instead of which, in transmitting the document to the Council„he almost-. suggested amendments, and veryfconsiderable alterations were made in it by the Council. I believe that, under that altered agreement, the General Governnieot.wbuld not be warranted..in constructing the railways in compliance with the terms of the Railways Acts, because such an agreement would not afford sufficient security;,for the rail waybeing remunerative. I am-of- opinion however that the Conditional Agreement might be advantageously modified iti 'a7diirepiiori'oppositeWthatof^ theJ'alterafcibns ; made by'the-ProvinciarCouncil; that is to say,

that arrangements might possibly be made with persons (or with a company) 'posVcVini: ample means to work the mine as a whole on both sides of the, river, in a manner best calculi d to make it yield the largest possible supply of coal, at the least cost of-working. Nevci-ilu-ie-**-, if the Superintendent is prepared—or can obtain from the Council power —to'carry'out'the Conditional Agreement, I am of'opinion the General Government should not, refuse io perform their share of that agreement; but that the modifications made by the Provincial Council should hot be assented to. I repeat my conviction that, until au arrangement other than that proposed by thePiovincial Council of Nelson has been made with the Superintendent —or with the person or company to whom a lease way be granted by him—the General Government are, by the terras of" the Railways Acts, prohibited from constructing a railway from the Brunner field to the mouth of the Grey; and that the wooden tramway proposed by the Superintendent would not tend to the development of the field. I'recommend that the Superintendent be requested to state as soon as possible whether he will move the Provincial Council lo ajrree to the terms of the Conditional Agreement.; and if not, to state what other course he will adopt with a view of co-operating with the. General Government in their desire to develop the Brunner Coalfield. Possibly his Honor may be prepared to state terms upon which he would hand over the whole property to the General' Government ; whereupon it would become the duty of the Government to make arrangements for having the whole field properly worked. In conclusion, I have to state that it is with-very great regret I find myself unable to coincide with the recommendation of his Honor the Superintendent as to the construction of a tramway; and I trust his Honor will be informed that, notwithstanding the refusal to make the suggested advance of five thousand pounds (£5000), the Government did not fail to recognise the interest which his Honor has shown with respect to the development of the valuable property in question. I have, &c. Julius Yogel, For and in the absence of the Minister of Public Works. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, December 7, 1872.