A BIG CLAIM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 30

A BIG CLAIM.

, SITE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

ALLEGED PURCHASE IN 1839.

AUCKLAND, January 14. A claim that 20,000 acres, “ the site of the city of Christchurch,” is made by the family ‘of the late Patrick N. K. Byrne, resident in Australia. The eldest claimant is 89 years of age, and the youngest 75 years. Their case is outlined in a letter received in Auckland from Mr George Byrne, of Aimerley, Queensland.

His father, the writer asserts, purchaesd the land at what was then known as Port Levy, from the Maori chief “ Bogama,” in 1839, while New Zealand was still administered by New South Wales, the purchase being gazetted in New South Wales on December 9, 1840. The price paid for the land is not mentioned, but presumably it satisfied “ Bogama.” The late Mr Byrne then returned to Sydney, placed the matter before the Government, received its approval, paid the price, and purchase was confirmed by Gazette notice. “ A few years later,” says Mr G. Byrne, “ New Zealand was granted separation, and' the new Government notified father that it would be necessary to register the transaction under it. Father straightway sent his aplpication for registration by the friend, Captain Murray, who was a regular trader to New Zealand. He also gave Captain Murray £25 to pay for the deeds and deliver them to him on his return. Captain Murray duly arrived in New Zealand, but on his return trip the ship was lost with all hands. Father thus had no evidence that his application had been lodged, and his subsequent efforts to get a satisfactory acknowledgment from the Government proved futile.” Later advice was received that as the late Mr Byrne had failed to register the land it had been disposed of to others. Thirty-five years ago a member of the family who had gone to reside in New Zealand made an investigation, and according to the writer, found his father’s application pinned in the deed book of 1840. A New Zealand politician had promised to bring the matter before the House of Representatives, but the war came and nothing was . done. ■ Since then Mr G.' Byrne was in communication with the late Mr Massey on the subject, the last advice received being that the late Mr Byrne had withdrawn his claim. This the present writer considers absurd, seeing that he had secured the land by purchase and he had no doubts that the deeds were lost in Captain Murray’s ship. He has suggested the formation of a syndicate to fight the. claim.