BURNT TITLE DEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1931, Page 9

BURNT TITLE DEEDS

A STATEMENT RESENTED

At a meeting of the Hastings Borough Council, a letter was read from the District Land Hegistrar of Hawkcs Bay, taking exception to the remarks reported to have been made by Councillor Loach at the meeting on the 25th iult., whereby it was made to appear Ithat the records of the Deeds and Transfer Office were'destroyed because the doors and shutters of the office had not been closed, and inquiring whether the report in tho Press was a. fair and accurate report of the proceedings of the'council in this respect., , The letter went on to state that tho actual facts were that tho assistant land registrar and a member of the staff closed and locked the fireproof door and shutters within a quarter of an hour after the earthquake, and tho same remained fast when he (the writer) tried, the doors before quitting the building in the afternoon, when there did not seem any probability of fire reaching the: building. He asKed that the same publicity be given to this denial as had been given to Coiiii--cillor Loach's statement. ■'.'■- In making an explanation, Councillor Loach gave the following statement:—"l regret that the whole of my statement in regard to the Deeds Eegistratiori Office was not published. Tho bald statement which appeared gave a different impression than I desire*- to create. It-was far from my. mind to accuse any person or officer of neglect under such circumstances. :l • "I said I> understood, that therowas time to have closed the doors between the time of the earthquake an.d.,:tho outbreak of fire, and that even if t£at [were not done my information.was that tho books were smouldering at the edges for two days after the fire,was extinguished. . ' _ "I also made it plain to your Worship that whether it was ; right- or wrong that neglect on the-part. of the Department had occurred, it did not alter the prineiplo that: the Department had no right to make the. mdi: vidual (our ratepayer) pay for tlio;preparation of declarations to cover tne destruction of the Laud-Transfer Office records. - - . . -. . "I have to accept, the District Land Registrar's statement , that the doors of the strong-rooms were closed -immediately after the earthquake. Evidently then the strong-rooms wore.not build to stand the fire, and the individual has on that account to pay for the declarations his solicitor, is called upon to furnish to the Department." ■■.-.' ~ ■' ' ■ . " '