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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 670, 7 April 1879, Page 2

As an instance of how immense areas of fine country are parted with in this colony, for a long term of years, for a mere trifle of money, we may mention what occurred at a sale held in the Dunedin Waste Lands Board office last week, and will be found well worth perusual. Mr. B. B. Martin, on the occasion wasthe Government Auctioneer. The first lot offered was for a term of ten years and comprised 11,650 acres. This was what followed : — The bidding advanced from the upset price principally by £5 bids, itil £225 was reached. Mr. Henry Driver, and Mr. M. D. Mervyn, being the only bidders. Mr. Driver stopped at £250, and Mr. Mervyn having bid £225, and apparently after a pause, imagining that such bid was against him, advanced his offer to £260. Mr. Martin knocked the run down at this price, but Mr. Mervyn disputed the bid, and would not acknowledge it. Some little discussion arose, and a number of gentlemen testifying that Mr. Mervyn's bid was £260, and the affair resulted in Mr. Martin putting the run up afresh, and refusing to accept .Mr. Mervyn's bid *' for the run in question," in accordance with the option left in his hands by the terms of sale. Mr. Driver again offered the upßet price. Mr. Mervyn : "If you will take my bid I will give you £200." Auctioneer : " No, I will not take your bid for this run. " It was then knocked down to Mr. Driver, for Mr. J. Mackeller, at £120, the upset. Bun 424a, Waikaia, 6150 acres ; upset, £60.— Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, £102. Mr. Melvyn was the opposing bidder. Bun 525b. WaikaiA, 16,800 acres ; upset, £100.— Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, £205. Mr. Mervyn was the opposing bidder. In regard to both the last mentioned runs, Mr. Driver ob» jected to the bid of Mr. Mervyn being taken, alleging that he was a defaulter, with Whom the auctioneer might deal according to the condition which stated, " it will be optional with the auctioneer to refuse the bid of such defaulter for the run in question." He said it was very hard that a bonafide bidder should be at the mercy of one who came on purpose to run up the bidding, and who, when a lot was knocked down to him at a big price, refused to take it. Mr. Mervyn challenged Mr. Driver to allow one of the lots to be knocked down to him. Mr. Martin decided that he had no power to refuse Mr. Mervyn's bid, except for the run over which the dispute had arisen. Bun 428, Waikaia, 10,000 acres : upset, £70. Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, £220. Mr. Mervyn was the opposing bidder. Bun 437, Earnacleugh, 12,000 acres ; upset £60. Stroke and Fraser, £235. Mr. Mervyn was the opposing bidder. And this is the manner our Waste Lands of the colony are disposed of, and get into the hands of monopolists.