TRANSFER OF LEASES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8348, 7 February 1913, Page 9

TRANSFER OF LEASES

QUESTION OF MINING RIGHT'S. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, February b. This morning, when the Canterbury Land Board was dealing with transfers of leases, an echo of the Southland case regarding the right to mineral wealth on laud converted from perpetual lease to freehold tenure was heard. The transfer dealt with a lease in perpetuity, comprising 1973 acres, Uphir survey district, F. H. Ring and F. tt. Shrimpton to G. D. McFarlane, Formerly tho board granted a certain party or parties the right to mine coal on the property, but it was stated that the mining venture had not proved a financial success, and that the leases had lapsed. Tho board decided to grant tho transfer. The matter was discussed by * reporter with some of tho members of the board when it adjourned. They were inclined to the opinion that it a lessee should convert his holding to a freehold tho mining rights would not necessarily become his property. However, they were by no means certain on th© point. Th© value of tho coal, it was stated, was doubtful. Tt was not of good quality, and those who had worked it had devoted part of their time to making bricks from clay found near the deposit. It would appear that the case is on a par with the Southland one, and that the opinion of the Crown law officers, when available, will cover It.