CIVIL SERVANTS AND CROWN LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2084, 20 May 1907, Page 4

CIVIL SERVANTS AND CROWN LANDS.

EXPLANATION BY THE MINIS. TER OP LANDS.

The circular recently sent to officers of the Lands and Survey Department pointing out "that it was highly inexpedient that Government officers employed irf that Department should 'be allowed to select sections of Crown lands which are open to public selection,” was brought under the notice of the Minister, the Hon. R. McNab, by a Post reporter. In reply to a question as to the reason for the circular, Mr. McNab stated that it had been issued on account of complaints having been made that officers of the Lands and Survey Department had taken up Crown lands. "I regard the officers of the Lands and Survey Department,” said the Minister, “as officers who occupy positions of trust in conection with the settlement of Crown lands, and I don’s want them, while in the service of thei Department, and while arranging the selection, survey, and putting on the market of Crown lands, to have any part in taking up such lands. So long as things remained otherwise it might give grounds—perhaps undeservedly— for complaint. The complaint might also be urged that the desire of officers to get lands themselves might influence their reports as to subdivision, etc. To keep faith with the public I, therefore, desire that my officers shall have nothing to do with the selection of Crown lands. We have enormous applications for all sections opened for selection.” “Does your determination debar all Civil Servants -from selecting Crown lands?” Mr. McNab was asked.

“No, it is not my intention to do that,” he replied. “The circular refers only to tho officers of the Lands and Survey Department. The other branches of tho Civil Service are not in a position where thoy could in any way influence the putting on tho market of Crown lands, where they might like to get a selection. The public would not consider that they had any grievance in this respect.”

MINERS’ TERRIBLE FALL.

Three men —Wiliam Linn, William Phillips, and Arthur Burton —all 'married, with large families, were killed in an accident recently at the Shirebrook colliery, Derbyshire. • The first lot of colliers on the day shift, to the number of 14, wore descending one of the shafts, which has a depth of lfiODfti, at about Ihalfpast five. When the cage was about half-way down one of the guide-ropes snapped, and the cable, weighing several tops, fell with terrific force on the cage top. The cage, travelling at great pace, was tipped up almost on end, and with increasing velocity commenced to swing from side to side in the shaft. The small compartment was packed with men, and as it dashed backwards and forwards in the inky darkness there commenced a wild scramble to reach the guards. One by one, during those moments of horror, the three colliers named above iyere hurled from the oscillating platform to their death 7Qoft below. The man in charge of tfie maphmei-y at the bottom of the shaft was terrified ,as tfie bodies of the unfortunate victims wpre dashed to pieces almost at his feet, but with admirable presence of mind he brought the cage to a standstill. >Evory moment the men in the cage had expected the ascending cage to catch them as they swung outwards, and dash their cage to pieces.! For two hours they were suspended in that shaft in impenetrable darkness, fearing that every moment would be their last. Pradually the cage was drawn down, and shortly after eight o’clock it touched the bottom. Two of the eleven remaining men in the cage were badly injured, one having sustained a broken thigh. Their injuries werejin the first place attended to by a doctor, who had descended the mine by another) shaft.