[Assented to 13th June, 1898.]

WHEREAS the British Columbia Southern Railway Company has, by its petition, prayed for the passing of an Act to confirm a lease of a portion of the railway of the said Company and for the purposes hereinafter set forth, and it is expedient to grant the prayer of the said petition: Therefore Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:—

1. Section 4 of chapter 36 of the statutes of 1897 is hereby amended by inserting after the word "Company" in the second line thereof, the words "either with or without an option of purchase."
2. The lease to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company of that portion of the British Columbia Southern Railway Company's railway between the eastern boundary of British Columbia and Nelson, with the option of purchase as therein mentioned is hereby confirmed and declared to be valid and binding on each, on each of the said companies parties thereto according to the tenor thereof, and each of the said companies may do whatever is necessary in order to give effect thereto; provided that nothing in this Act, or in the said lease, shall relieve either of the said companies from any of its duties or liabilities under the railway laws of Canada.

2. A duplicate of the said lease shall, within thirty days after the passing of this Act, be filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Canada, and notice thereof shall be given by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in the Canada Gazette ; and the production of the Gazette containing such notice shall be prima-facie evidence of the requirements of this Act having been complied with.