THE LAND SALES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 72, 18 December 1880, Page 2

THE LAND SALES.

DEFEBBED PAYMENT LAND.

There were not so many persons present at the sale of deferred payment land, held on Wednesday last, && when the ihsfc block was offered at auction. That may be accounted for by the fact that a large number then came out of mere curiosity, and only With a desire to. see what prices the land would fetch. When the Commissioner commenced the sale, there were about 150 people in the Town Hall, and eager groups were discussing the probable prices. It was generally felt that a higher figure would be realised than at the first sale, as the land was thought to be of better quality. From the fact of BOrne of the sections only fetching the bare upset price, it was pretty evident rthat~tfie"applicants had made some "arrangements" between themselves previous to the sale. We have all along set our faces against " fancy pricea," and have endeavored to prevail upon applicants to avoid giving way to the excitement of the auctionroom. At' the same tune, it is well to point out that " arrangements " are contrary to the letter and the' spirit of the Land Act, and parties entering into them, are subject to heavy penalties, if forma out. The framers of the Act foresaw that speculators would apply for land, in order that they might be able, by some " arrangement," to fleece the parties for whom the Act intended that the land should be laid off— namely, the bona fide selectors, with small means, who did not happen to be in a. position to \>ny $or cash. .Looking at the result of the auction of deferred payment land on Wednesday last, we think it will be clear to the minds of all unprejudiced people that the bulk of the land has not got into the hands of those for whom the Act provided— the bona Me selector, with limited capital. He has not much chance in the auction room : he cannot bid against men with long purses. Therefore, we are disposed to sympathise, rather than condemn, some of the " arrangements " entered into before the sale took place ; and if the speculator could be provided against (which -it is almost impossible to do), to our mind, the system of balloting adopted by the Government for village sections, as provided in the Act, is by far the best plan. Then the bona fide selector, with limited capital, would stand a fair chance of getting a section ; under the auction system, the odds are greatly in favor oi ihe capitalist. We do not wish to say one word against the capitalist ; but it was not the intention of the framers of the Land Act, nor is it in accordance with the spirit thereof, that he should be able to thrust aside the man with limited means. We want plenty of men with capital in. tfavj part of the country — the more the better. It is only a fool who would say, " We do not want capitalists ; we can do without them." But the deferred payment land was never intended to be given to them ; fthat is what we wish to point out. If, therefore, the Government wishes to give the " small man " , a fair chance, some other and better system will have to be devised. The total amount realised from the sale of deferred payment land was about ; the average per acre being nearly £6. The upset price for all ike land offered was £5 nee acre. The following are the details of the sale : —

Block I.

Section 1, 105 a. Or. lip. — Four applicants : Kenneth Fraser, farmer, Palmerston; O. Knuekey, farmer, Hew Plymouth ; W. P. Kendall, laborer, Hawera ; George Mair, iartner, "Waikato. Kenneth Fraser was the only bidder, at £5 Is., v &t which price he became the purchaser.

Section 2, 105 a. Or. 34p.— Three applicants: Robert Coxhead, farmer, Waikato ; Thos. Holroyd, laborer, Hawera ; Nicholas Knuekey, farmer, New Plymouth. Knocked down to Robert Coxhead, at £5 Is.

Section 5, 72a. 3r. 19p. — James Crawford, farmer, Waitotara, was the only applicant.

Section 6, 73a. — James Wilson, platelayer, Waverley, was the only applicant.

Block 11.

Section 2, 104 a. — Four applicants : William Borrie, laborer, Hawera ; Bobert Clements, Queenstown, Otago; William Fraser, farmer, Waverley ; Thomas Kennedy, farmer, Hawera. The only bidder was* William Borrie, at £5 Is., at which price it was "knocked clown to him.

Section 6, 98a. — Five applicants : Wm. Adainson, butcher, Hawera ; G.Glenn, settler, Greymouth ; M. J. Joll, farmer, Waitara ; Daniel McLdowie, farmer, Hawera ; William Wallace Wallis, settler, Auckland. -It was knocked down to George Glenn, who was the only bidder at the upset price- •

Section 8, 90a. 2r. 33p.— Three applicants : Johnston McCarty, settler, Patea ; Olivia Anne McCutchan, musician, Hawera ; Bobert Wilkie, farmer, Waitotara. Knocked down to J. McCarty at nps^t price.

Block 111.

Section 6, 50a. — Four applicants : Abraham Barke, Bettler, Kakaramea; Hermann Knauf, laborer, Otago ; Andrew Petersen, laborer, Hawera ; Edward Speckman, laborer, Hawera. The bidding for this section was very spirited* E. Specfcmau becoming the purchaser at £8 Is.

Block V.

Section 6, 60a. — J. W. Barnes, laborer, Blenheim, yr&s the only applicant.

Section 7, 60a. 2r. 16p. — Two applicants'. Frederick Brown, laborer, Blenheim ; W. B. Prossei*, coach proprietor, Hawera. The latter became the purchaser at the upset price.

Block VI.

Section 11, 81a. 2r. — Ten applicants: James Bourke, laborer, Patea; John Brvson, farmer, Wanganui ; B. L. Knight, carpenter, Hawke's Bay; John Kearin, laborer, Hawera ; R. E. Mcßae, farmer, Kakarainea ; J. S. Oughton, settler, Hawera; J. F. Robinson, laborer, Waverley ; Charles L. Siau, settler, Wanganui; Charles Tait, settler, Hawera ; W. Murray Thomson, auctioneer, Huwera. For this section there was the largest number of applicants, and the bidding was very brisk, commencing at £8 10s., and advancing up to £11, at which figure it was knocked down to B. E. Mcßae.

Section 20, 71 a. — Six applicants : Hugh Boyle, farmer, Hawera; Charles John* etoac, laborer, Waitotara; Biohard Kelly,

settler, New Plymouth; Felix McGuire, agent, Hawera ; Geo. Bobinson; butcher, Waitara ; Andrew Young, grazier, Manutahi. There- was very spirited competition for this section, -which is close to the Kaupokonui bridge, and fronting:- th« main road. Mr. Young becauiQ thepur« cdaser at £12 ss.

Section 23, 76a. — Three applicants: Henry Gordon, miner, Hawera ; Harry T. Joll, butcher, Waitara ; C. H. McCutchan, jnn., commission agent, Hawerav Knocked down to H. T. Joll at the upset price.

Section 24, 84a.— Three applicants : C. W. Broadbent, settler, Hawera ; Samuel Joll, butcher, Waitara.; Hugh McDevitt, contractor, Hawera. Spirited competition, the bidding, advancing in crowns up to £8 10s., when it was knocked down to H. McDevitt.

Section 36, 73a, 2r. Bp.-—Three-appli-cants: Charles Barrow, laborer, Waihi; Catherine L. Falconer, settler, Dunedin ; James Graham, saddler, Patea. . .C. L, Falconer (who is the second lady to get a deferred payment section on the Waimate Plains) became the purchaser -at. the upset price.

Section 37, 75a. Or. 32p.— Two npplicnts: John Campbell, settler; Waikari, Otago; John Graham, settler,. Pates. Knocked down to' the former at the upset price.

Section 40, 75a. Dr. S2p — Two applicants: J. B. Murray, iarmer, Urenui; William Sutton, settler, Normanby. The latter became the purchaser at the upset price.

Section 41, 73a. 2r. — Two applicants : Isaac Bayly, settler, Hawera ; Jane Murray, settler* Hayrera. After sob&b hnsk bidding, the section was knocked down to I. Bayly, at £8 lOs. '

Section 43, 70a. Or. Bp.— Four applicants: Harry .Bayly, former, Hawera; James Day, former, Blenheim ; . A. B, Duggan, settler, Wellington;' Hugh Shanks, contractor, Hawera. Brisk bid' ding, advancing in crowns up to £8 55., at which figure H. Bayly became the purchaser.

Section 44, 68 a. lr. 3Sp.— John Bentley, settler, Wellington, was the only applicant.

Section 50, 75a. Or. «2p. — Two applicants: H. M. Bayly, farmer, Hawera; J. J. "Campbell, settler, Onehunga. Knocked down to the former at .the upset price.

Section 61, 50a. lr. 19p. — Four applicants : C. H. Emmett, farmer, Hawera ; John Johnston,, settler, Patea; Joseph Bins, gardener, Patea ; Daniel Wilkie* sen., farmer, Waitotara. Brisk competition. J. Johnston became the purchaser at £7 10s.

Block VII.

Section 8, 75a. 2r. 22p. — Four applicants : J". Gr. Buckthought, farmer, Kaka-. ramea ; John C. Martyn, junior, firmer, Waikato ; J. C. Sutherland, settler, Wellington ; J. B. Tait, laborer, Featherston. Knocked down to J. C. Sutherland at the upset price.

Section 9, 75a. 2r. 22p.— Five applicants : George Buckthought, 'farmer, Kakaramea; W. L. Martyn, farmer, Waikato; Christopher Tait, contractor, Wairapa; J. F. Pease, settler, Hawera; T. C. Sutherland, settler, Heaton Park, Turakina. Knocked down to the latter at the upset price.

Section 15, 76a. 3r. 17p. : — Five applt* cants : John Adamson, settler, Patea ; T. Bayly, jun., farmer, Manutahi ; Maurice Kerin, laborer, Whakamara; T. Lloyd, settler, Hawera ; Frank MoGovern, settler, Patea. Very brisk competition, F. McGrovern becoming the purchaser, at £10 Bs.

Section 17, 100 a. — Eight applicants : J. IX F. Christie, farmer, Manutabi ; Woa, Dingle, former, Hawera ; Daniel Hughes, fanner, Patea; John Hartland, farmer, Hawera; John Muir, settler, Hawera; Gerald O'Beilly, farmer, Wanganui; A. Sutherland, settler, Wellington ; Benjamin Vickery, contractor, Wanganui. This section had the second largest number ot* applicants, and was more eagerly sought after than the others. It was at length knocked down to A. Sutherland at £14 5s — the highest figure that has yet been given for land on the Waimate Plains.

Section 19, 60 a. — Five applicants': Cornelius Casey., settler, Normanby j . Harry Dennis, laborer, Hawera ; C. H. Harwood, settler, Wangaehu; Arthur Newell; former, Hawera ; Alexander O'Donnell, carter, Patea. This section was also hotlycontested for, the first bid being £10 per acre. It advanced in crowns up to £13 ss, at which price it waa knocked down to C. H. Harwood.

Section 20, 82a.— Six applicants : H. B. Carter, butcher, Inglewood ; Thos. Collins, laborer, Hawera; Patrick McLoughlin, carter, Patea ; J. L. Perry, farmer, Hawera ; Elizabeth A. Sutherland, spinster, Wellington; W. B. V. Pwirca, farmer, Kakaramea (whose application was infor* mal, on account of holding deferred payment land at Whakamara, conjointly with his father). There was very brisk competition for this section. £1 was the first bid, followed by £8, £d, £10, and then advancing in crowns up to .£l4, at which- price E. A. Satherlimd (tas thivd successful lady applicant) became the purchaser.

Section 107, 50a. 2r. 2p.— Two applicants : Baymus Butler, laborer, Hawera ; Bichard Diqgle, farmer, Hawera. Knocked down to the latter, at the upset price.