NOTHING DOING.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 293, 8 December 1920, Page 8

NOTHING DOING.

WILLIAM GORDOX LOW'S £4,000,000.

A Scotsman named William Gordon Low has announced that he owns a large part of the city of Wellington, byvirtue of a land grant made to his grandfather for services rendered in the Maori wars. He estimated the value of his property at £4,000,000, and has stated that he is taking steps to secure the recognition of his claim by the Xew Zealand Government.

It seems clear (says the "Dominion") that somebody has been joking .with Mr. Low, or perhaps Mr. Low is a humorist himself. He says that his grandfather came to Xew Zealand in the "late sixties," fought in the Maori wars, and was given "a large tract of land" on which Wellington was subsequently built. Wellington was laid out in the early 'forties and had become the capital of Xew Zealand before the Maori wars ended. Xo soldier was given a large tract of land in or around the city. Official records seeem to confirm the statement that Mr. how's grandfather fought in the Ma#ri wars. But the piece of land that was the reward of the service was situated at Tauranga. "A RIVAL CLAIMAXT." It appears from a communication received by the Minister of Lands that William Gordon Low, the Scotsman, is not the sole claimant to a huge area of land in Wellington city. An English lady has written to the Minister, asking bran to see that the estate is not made over to Mr. Low, since he is not the rightful heir at all. She herself is the real owner of the £4,000,000 property, she says.