LAND SHARKING.

Patea Mail, 21 September 1880, Page 3

LAND SHARKING.

A contributor to a Christchurch paper says the following was “ the way we got our land : ” —An old settler told me that some jmars ago in this colony, whenever ho went to apply for some land, which ho frequently used to do, lie would bo informed that Mr So-and-so—“ a big gun ” in the district—had already applied. The old gentleman couldn’t understand it ; he wa always cuchcrcd in this way. Ho was a kind-hearted individual however, and one of the junior clerks in the Land Office requiring some temporary pecuniary assistance, the old gentleman relieved his nc ccssity. The young man was grateful, and said, “ The next time you apply for land ask to sec the application book. ” “ So I do,' but Mr So-and-so’s name is always there before mine.” “ The next time you ask observe if his name is written in pencil, and if it is, demand to have yours in ink.” The old gentleman went again to apply for some land he had “ spied out,” and sure enough there was a name written iu pencil, “Ah !”said he. with a sardonic smile, “ write mine in ink, will you ?” The boss clerk colored up, and the way Mr So-and-so raved is said to hvae been something awful.”