D— 8d

1890. NEW ZEALAND.

MIDLAND RAILWAY: CORRESPONDENCE RE CUTTING AND REMOVING TIMBER ON CROWN LANDS IN NELSON AND WESTLAND.

Return to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, No. 36, of 1890. Ordered, " That there be laid on the table correspondence and papers that have passed between the Midland Railway Company and the Government, and between the Government and the Westland and Nelson Crown Lands Commissioners, in regard to cutting and removing of timber on Crown lands in the Nelson and Westland Provincial Districts, and the amount to be charged for these privileges, either by license or rental per acre."—(Mr. Seddon.)

NELSON. The New Zealand Midland Railway Company (Limited), Greymouth, Sib,— 23rd November, 1889. I beg to draw your attention to the advertisement from the Greymouth paper in the margin. Prom this you will see that the Railway Commissioners are in the market for silver-pine sleepers. This will undoubtedly cause persons without licenses or authority to cut timber in any direction in the forests now reserved for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company. I would therefore suggest for your consideration that an advertisement to the following effect, and signed by you, should be inserted in these local papers, in order to warn people that they will not be permitted to take timber belonging to the Government or the company without first obtaining authority: "Notice.—All persons cutting timber on Crown lands without authority will be prosecuted.—A. Greenfield, Commissioner of Crown Lands." The Government is, I am aware, as anxious as the company to prevent the forests being destroyed, and the proceedings taken last week at Oxford by the Lands Department in Canterbury (see Christchurch papers of the 16th November instant), where fines ranging from £75 down to £2 were inflicted on persons cutting timber on Government lands in the Oxford bush, will no doubt have considerable effect in deterring persons from doing so in future in this district. In order to avoid, if possible, the expense and unpleasantness of taking proceedings shortly against persons who may ignorantly put in tenders for these sleepers on the assumption that they can cut timber without license or payment, I would suggest that some such advertisement as proposed be telegraphed to the local papers at once. So as to facilitate persons getting lands from which they can cut this or other timber, my company will be prepared to deal at once with any such applicants, with your concurrence, under clause 33 of the contract, and I will, if you think it advisable, advertise to that effect. I am, &c, Robert Wilson, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson. General Manager.

New Zealand Railways. — Supply and Delivery of Silver-pine Sleepers at Lyttelton. Eailway Manager's Office, Greymouth, 18th November, 1889. Written tenders will be received at this office up to noon on Saturday, the 30th November, for the supply and delivery of 10,000 silver-pine sleepers at Lyttelton. Specifications and forms of tender to be obtained at the Railway-station, Greymouth, Brunnerton, and Still water. Tenders to be addressed to the New Zealand. Railway Commissioners, Greymouth, and to be marked outside, " Tender for silver-pine sleepers." The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. By order of the Commissioners. W. Stone, District Manager.

Crown Lands Office, Nelson, 26th November, 1889. Proprietor, Grey River Argus, Greymouth. Please insert following advertisement three times : £50 penalty.—Notice is hereby given that proceedings will be taken against any person or persons who shall unlawfully fell, remove, or sell any of the timber growing or being on Crown lands. Alfred Greenfield, Commissioner of Crown Lands. I—D. Bd.