ALLEGED DUMMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8556, 2 May 1891, Page 5

ALLEGED DUMMY

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington', Friday. An inquiry into a case of alleged dummyism in connection with a section at Mangah:»o, Northern Wuirarapa, was commenced at the Land Board to-day. Mr. Gully, Crown prosecutor, conducted the examination of witnesses, and other parties interested were represented by counsel. Henry Ratsey, who held the section referred to, said it was bordering on Mr. C. E. Beefcham's property at Te Aute. Mr. Beetham advanced him money to pay for the transfer of the property from the original owner, witness giving him security over certain lands at Hastings. Witness took up the land in November, 1389, but he did nob go upon that section until about a monthago. Ratsey swore that he was a bona Ji<te applicant for the land, and thathe still intended to keep it. (J. E. Beetham stated that he had been deputed to look for a good piece of land for Ratsey, and he wanted the section under consideration to complete the block he had arranged to purchase. He looked upon the laud as belonging to Ratsey, but he (witness) was controlling it for him with the ultimate view of seeing him settle on it. Other witnesses gave evidence that the bush on the section had all been felled and burned since Ratsey took it up. After some deliberation the Board passed a resolution declaring that the charges against Ratsey ot having committed breaches of the Land Act had been absolutely disproved.