A BIG CLAIM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 80, 14 January 1928, Page 2

A BIG CLAIM

THE SITE OF CHRISTCHURCH. ALLEGED PURCHASE IN 1839.

("Per Press Association.) V AUCKLAND, January 13 A claim to 20,000 acres ''the site of the city of Christchurch," is made & the family of the late Patrick N K. Byrne, resident in Australia. The eldest claimant is 89 years ot age and {he youngest 75 years. Then- case is outlined in a letter received m Auck£d from Mr George Byrne, of Aimerlev Queensland. . TJis father, the writer asserts, purchased the land at what was then known as Port Levey, from chief "Bogama," in 1839, while «ew Zealand v.-as still administered .by New Suth Wales, the purchase being gazettedL ixi New Sout£ Wales on December 9 1840. The price paid for the land •f not mentioned, presumably it satisfied "Bogama." The late Mr By ne then returned to Sydney, placed the matter before the Government, receded its approval, pad the>pnc<> and purchase was confirmed by Gazette notiC »A few years later," says Mr G. Byrne, "New Zealand was granted separation, and the new Government notified father that it would be necessay to register the transaction, under t Father straightway sent his amplication for registration by his friend rwiin Murray, who was a lepuiar tracer toNew Zealand. He also save Captain Murray. £25 to pay tor the deeds and deliver them to him on his Sn. Captain arrived in New Zealand, but on: his return tup the ship was ost with all hands. Father thus had no evidence that Ins application had been lodged, and his subsequent efforts to get a'satisfactory acknowledgment from the Governmem I>r ilter f advce was received that as the late Mr Bryne had failed to register the land it had been disposed of to others Thirty-five years ago a member of the family who had gone to reside m New Zealand made an investigation, and according to the writer found hi father's application pinned in the deed book of 1840. A Nef Zealand poliSn had promised to bring.the gmatter before the House of Representatives but the war came and nothing Sone S-ce then Mr G Bryne was ■n commun cation with the late Mr Massey >n the subject, the last advice S being that the late Mr Bryne had withdrawn his claim. This the resent writer considers adsurd, se». n g that he had secured the land by Purchase and had no doubts that the deeds were lost in Captain Murray s shib He has suggested the formation of a syndicate to fight the claim.