The Nelson Evening Mail.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 160, 4 July 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail.

"/ Upper Moutere 'Local- Committee.-. At the annual meeting of householders of this.flistrict, Messrs C. Sixths, H.XKdrta,* ahd C. Stadia were elected in the room of Messrs Wilkins," Dencker, and Sixtus, whose" terifl of office had expired. Mr Charles Kelling was afterwards appointed to represent the district at the Central Board. : Railway Compensation. ~We give to-day the evidence taken in the case of White w Brunnef, and, to make_the report complete, repeat the judgment "which we,* published yesterday. As other cases pf i a . nalure may. arise it is r .as. well -that the manner in .which "costs are allowed-should-be. thoroughly understood. .The 34th clause of the "Immigration and Public-Works. Act Amendment Act ,? says — "^Fhe costs oi every subh ■ inquiry shall, subject to the provisions, hereinafter contained, be in the, discretion of the Judge o\\ Magistrate, and he shall settle the amount thereof * If the amount awarded as aforesaid be not greater than the amount offered, the owners or persons, -.claiming compensation shall not be entitled to any costs of the inquiry,; and if the amount, awarded be less by one-sixth of the amount claimed,' the owner of the land or person claiming compensation shall pay to the Minister or such person as aforesaid "on behalf of'the" Governor the cost of, and . occasioned by,. the - inquiry; such'" costs to be „6eUled s /,.by, the. Judge . qr T ;Magiatrate holding the inquiry." Anything more glaripgly^ubjds/t; than this it is, difficujt to : 'CohceivWX Take, for instance; the. case decided yesterday. , HadMr White- been ■iwai-ded £270 instead, of tbe. £i§o offered by-MrXßrunner,he; would iStill-have had to pay the whole costs -of).- the inquiry, because -the amount received <;would have been less /by-oner-sixth tthatn t that claimed, the fact of its being^more. than. -double the sum offered being/, completely/ignored. It "is well' that the Government 'should ' protect themselves against . extravagant .and unfair valuations, being placed on 'the lands required for railway purposes, but it is exceedingly unjust, where a bona fide claim- for compensation is made land granted, that the claimant should be called upon to pay the costs. ; -- '; \TT" ' ' ■— wiii jm.— T, ■"■—»■«—■'■