THE COLLIERY RESERVE.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1150, 13 February 1874, Page 4

THE COLLIERY RESERVE.

[westport evening star ] Tiie intimation contained in the telegram we published yesterday, that the General Government have decided not to deal with the Westport Colliery

"Reserve in any way until surveys for harbor protective works and railway are completed, will, of necessity, stop for a time any speculative dealings in sections on the reserve, and also put an end to the similarly speculative applications made to the Borough Council for rights of occupation. The Council having no authority to grant rights have merely deferred consideration of all applications The Provincial Government some time since wiped their hands of all responsibility as regards the Colliery reserve, and the General Government now very judiciously decline to pledge themselves to any particular dealing with the land until it has been decided, on engineering authority, what portions will be required for public purposes. The right of tenure by present occupants is twofo'd. One portion of the reserve sections hive been allotted by the Nelson Provincial Government as compensation f r losses, and certain yearly rents are paid by the allottees to secure possession ; on the other and older occupied portion possession is the provebia 5 nine tenths of the law, and such title is or is not enhanced by the payment of vearly rent or fees, as the occupants themselves elect. At least t* e Provincial Government have n<;t of late enforced the payment of either business license fees or rent of sections. When the time conies, and it will come quickly if present hopes are realised, it will in all probability be found that notice will be given to o cupiers of sec tions required for public works to clear out of the way, and it will be hardly safe to calculate that any very liberal amount of compensation, or even lengthened notice to quit, will be given. Hence in the present transitory state of the towD, when each resident is most anxious to build permanent premises and settle down uninterruptedly to business, every day's delay in this matter becomes of serious consequence. Any interference with existing erections will, no doubt, as a matter of expediency, be carefully avoided, but so long as doubt remains all efforts towards permanent improvements in the town must be to a certain extent paralysed. The most satisfactory item of news in the telegram referred to is that the prompt arrival in Westport of the Resident Engineer having charge of the protective works may be expected. His dictum in such matters, aided by the opinion of the District Engineer, as to the best line of route for the railway, will no doubt be accepted by the Minister of Public "Works as of definite authority.