Daily Circulation. 1500. The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1888.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4202, 1 September 1888, Page 2

Daily Circulation. 1500. The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1888.

A sale of runs and township sections took plaoe in Danedin yesterday, when several runs were disposad of at ridiculously low upset prices. Bun 243, containing about 12,900 acres, suituated in the Waitaki County, was purchased by Mr R. B. Martin (as agen ), at 1.250. This run was in the possession of Mr Rntherford till reoently, but be was permitted to surrender h!s lease. How the price at which it was I t to Mr Rutherford compares with that to be paid by tbe new lessee, we aTe unable to ascertain, nor do we know the name of the new proprietor. Bnt, we are given to understand that the land Is of better quality, taking it all round, than that on the Karow runs, and' it might have been disposed of to greater advantage to tbe cause of settlement and the Government. However, the announcement of the intention of the Board to sell it was not published In the local papers, and the result Is that It was sold at the upset, whioh is much below its value. Several town sections at Kurow were also offered, but the Board seemed to be utterly careless as to whether they sold or not, as they failed to notify the only persons interested by inserting (he announcement of the sale 11 the Oamaru papers. Henoe, the money that has been expended In advertising in the Dunedin papers has been wasted. So far bb we can see, the whole sale was an utter failnre, and this ought not to have ocoarred, far the increases th»t have recently taken plaoe in the prioes of wool and mutton should have told appreciably on tha prices of land and have resulted in sales at an advance on the rates that have ruled recently. Tha Otago Land Board officers either do not know how to transact their business or they are designedly playing into the hands of the rquatter?.