CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 440

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lowing the

The Promoters, however, admit that the compulsory

powers have lapsed.

It is clear that the Promoters can only grant rights

of construction to a Company "with the assent and approval of

the Governor-in-Council".

The position the Promoters now take up, as I uri-

in of derstand, is that the "assent and approval of the Governor in Council" must be given and cannot be with held, if the grantee

f which

gouent on

ay of the

o

bot. Sec. in

is a person of sufficient means and ability and one who bonâ fide

intends to use the powers granted for the purposes for which

they are given.

Hitherto the position taken up by the Government has been rather that, having regard to the long delay and the

fact that a route once prospectively approved has, by alteration of cirrusstances,become undesirable, it is not unreasonable

for the Governor-in-Council to refuse to give his assent and

approval to proposals to grant rights of construction, especially

now that all the compulsory power of taking lands have ceased,

powers which were only granted to enable the proper construction

of the tramways to be effected.

Soon after the Ordinance of 1882 was passed, steps

were taken to effect the construction of the Peak Tramway No.6.

This was successfully done and the tremway up the mountain

side is successful and useful.

been begun.

As regards the other 5 trawrys, they have never

It seems a Company was floated and registered on 29th.

July, 1884, for acquiring rights of construction, but although

two extensions of time were asked for, the first on behalf of

the Company, the second on behalf of the Promoters, and these

were granted, nothing further was done.

Finally, on the 16th. May 1886, when a further

extension