WESTPORT COLLIERY RESERVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 322, 4 December 1875, Page 4

WESTPORT COLLIERY RESERVES.

A Westport telegram to the N. Z: Times dated Tuesday last, says:— The Colliery Reserve Commission was formerly opened on Monday and resumed to-day, when the first cases were taken. Though little understood elsewhere, the matter is one of great interest here, involving, as it does, the right to the whole town of Westport, which is situate upon what is known as the coal ' rasar ve. The reserve was set apart in ! 1863, shortly after the discovery of the Mount Bochfort coal mine by Dr. Haast. The importance of the mine j being recognized, the coal reserve was i pegged off by Government as a site for wharves, but when Nelson south-west j goldfield broke out a portion of the reserve became the township, and was speedily bailt upoa under business licenses. The persons so .occupying were oae by one " washed out," until at the present moment there remains but one business place as a relic of the Westport of seven years Hgo. In lieu of sites washed away the Nelson Government granted other sites on the upper part of the coal reserve, and generally banded over the reserve upon which the township stands as security, under the Immigration and Public j Works Act, for the construction of the ; Mount Rochfort railway, The in- | habitants have built upon the strength of their agreement with the Provincial Government. Rights to the extant of £60,000 have grown up, and they are discovering now the insecurity of their tenure. The people feel greatly aggrieved. It is alleged that the Provincial Government has acted ultra vires ail through in dealing with the reserve. The General Government 8i in ply desire to to take possession of their security, or to allow the occupiers to remain at fair rental. Tbe Commission is instructed to recommend explicitly in what way each claim or liability should be dealt with, in accordance with justice to the individual concerned and to the interests of the colony. The whole thing is a pretty *• kettle of fiah." the story begins in the somewhat familiar refrain, " This is the house that Jack built." Then goes on till the investigation is landed in hopeless confusion. This is the web the Commissioners have to unravel. The sitting will occupy from a fortnight to three weeks. Tte residents have confidence in tbe ability and impartiality of Judge Weston and Warden Baetbam, whose decision will, according to ge serai opinion, be accepted to a fiaal settlement of the matter, whatever it may be.