Timber Floatage in Greeks.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 57, 5 July 1884, Page 6

Timber Floatage in Greeks.

Tiikkk appears to be a good deal of misapprchonsion regarding the scope and purport of the Timber Floatage Bill introduced into the House of Representatives by the Hon. E. Mitchelson, and which we believe was only prevented from becoming law by the untimely dissolution. A letter which we have received from "A Northern Elector" may be taken as typical of the state of feeling among settlers on the subject, a feeling which is entirely the result of a mistaken idea of the purport ot tho legislation in question. " If this bill is made law," vritc our conespondent, "there "will be bloodshed over it, as we Northern settlers are determined to stand firmly* for our rights." He proceeds :—" Many of us have spent years labouring on the banks of these creeks in protecting the soil from being washed away, and in erect ing rough strong bridges at our own expense in order to have access to and ! from our homes. One rush of logs would almost bring ruin in its wake to many of us ; , but what do these men care if it brings money to tluh pockets ?" To show how unfounded are these apprehensions and denunciations it is only necessary to quote the propo?-als of the bill itself, .after making provision for the issuing of licenses to persons wishing to float timber in creeks, and stipulating that owners, b Sbees, or occupiers of land on the banks of the creek may object to the making of dams, etc , it is further provided :—": — " In t^e exercise ef his license, the licensee and his servants or workmen shall not injuriously interfere with the ordinary navigation ot any such river, stream, or tidal creek, and shall do, permit, or suffer, or cause to be done, permitted, or suflered, as little injury, spoil, or damage as po&feible to the lands on the banks or along the course of any such river, stream, or tidal creek. The owner of the timber, or other wood, substances, or materials, rafted or otherwise floated as aforesaid, shall be liable to pay to the owners and occupiers of any such lands compensation in damage for any actual injury, spoil, or damage which shall be done, permitted, or sufl'ored in the exerci.se of the power granted by this Act." These provisions do not disclose any cause tor alarm on the part of settlers, much less do they justify any talk of " bloodshed " and similar nonsense. The fact is that it is proposed to conserve the rights of settlers in every possible way, giving them the fullest power to object to timber lloatage and to recover compensation for all damage done. To facilitate recovery, it is proposed that any claim under the Act may be sued for in the 11. M. Court, though it should exceed tho sum to i\ hich the ordinary jurisdiction of that Court is limited. If the measure also protects the timber merchant and bush contractor from exorbitant claims for consequential damages, it is no detriment to honest settlers who wish for no more than just compensation, assessed by a competent and impartial tribunal.