CORRESPONDENCE.

NZ Truth, Issue 116, 7 September 1907, Page 6

LANDSHARKISM.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,-— I would Aike to call your attention audi that of the public to the ways and devices of the land shark clement, as exemplified m the manner m which a recently-created township (to wit, Horo-pito) has been placed on the market by some oi those disciples of Annanias. A considerable portion of this alleged township has been sold m Auckland, ar.d as Auckland has discovered that it has been severely had,, and therefore is not taking any more, it is the intc-ntion of A. PI. and Co, River proprietors. Bustle and Wriggle, buil. ders, and the rest of the sharks running this particular swampi, to hoist the remain ing. junks on to the confiding citizens of the Empire City.

The first notification that the public had of the sale of the township section m question was by the medium of highly-colored -maps revealing one of Dickens' description of ihe City of Eden. The maps m rfiiestion showed the sections apparently free from any serious malformation of .the surface, whereas those disposed of m Auckland consisted of dee])" gorgv creek, with scarcely enough'level land for a goat to graze on. Tlie printed matter on the first map pu'bflishod state that the township is only 20 chains from the railway station, whereas it is actually over '30 to the nearest point. It also states that t_.3 land is cleared and grassed m English grass, of which there is only a small portion, and the remainder of the verdure only exists m the . fertile imagination of the swindlec-atc, also there is not the slightest indication on that man of the creek referred 'to. Now that the front sections have been hoisted, on the Aucklanders another map has been prepared for the benefit of Wellington, showing the creek on disposed sections m a very mild sort of way. also the bush is indicated, but, at the same time, a large creek which meanders throu-h the sections for sale has been reduced •m size until it appears of quite a minor consideration instead of a very serious matter. From the printed matter en the plan, . one would gather that is the only available land for a township m the locality. This is not so. as the Government has lately completed tbe cutting up of a township which extends from the swindlecate's land . to and across the MaiH Trunk line. This will be placed on the market at an early date, and will afford speculators the chance of legitimate dealing for which I would strongly advise them to wait.

I enclose you the two maps m •"'.;p.v!ion for your perusal, and think that some remedy should be available against, the surveyors who issue maps of this description. The heathen Chinee is nominated for ways that are dark and tricks that are vain, but tho average land shark m "Wcbbtown" can srive him fifty m a hundred and get home.—l am. etc., AGRTCOLA. ("Agricola" encloses the maps all right, but not knowing the country, we can only say that the maps look pretty, if not convincing.—Ed.)