AMAZING LAND DEAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 1

AMAZING LAND DEAL

NATIVES GET £5,500; SPECULATOR WANTS £IBO,OOO May Come Before Courts (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Today. REPORTED litigation in connection with a land transaction between Dr. F. J. Rayner, of Auckland, and the Government is causing a good deal of comment in political circles, and questions will probably be asked in the House regarding the matter at an early date.

'J'HE land concerned is situated in

the Rotorua district and comprises some 5,400 acres, the timber rights over which are alleged to be valued for the purposes of the deal at about £IBO,OOO. Whatever the value of the timber today, the extraordinary feature of the transaction is that the areas concerned were acquired from the natives about ten years ago for a comparatively small sum. Members are asking how it comes about that authorities created by Statute to protect the interests of the natives should allow them to part with such valuable properties for a mere song. At any rate the present owner is alleged to have concluded an agreement with the Government under which the latter has obtained an option to purchase. The agreement provides that the sum of £35,000 should be paid for an option to purchase the timber estimated by H. Knutzen to amount to 351,000,000 ft. Notice to exercise the option to purchase was to be given by the Commissioner of State Forests on

or before December 10, 1928. Should the option be exercised the price for the land was to be Is OJd a 100 superficial feet of log measurement. The Commissioner of State Forests, on execution of the agreement, was to appoint a representative to act with Knutzen and Rayner’s representative for checking the figures on the manner and plan, adopted by Knutzen. The balance of the purchase money was payable on April 21, 1929. The lands described in the agreement comprise the lands known as the Tutukau West B, having an area of 2,073 acres, and the Tauri No. 1, comprising an area of 2,174 acres, of which 1,000 acres was subject to an agreement made between Rayner and a native named Rangimatini under which it was to be retransferred to the latter after the timber had been removed. Two additional areas of 33 acres and 320 i.eres were also included in the transaction. The agreement was signed by Frederick John Rayner, by his agent and solicitor, A. Hall Skfelton, and K. S. Williams, for the Commissioner of State Forests. Search of the records reveals the fact that Tauri No. 1, consisting of 320 acres 1 rood 22 perches, was purchased from the natives on November 4, 1919, for £350; Tauri No. 3c, of 3,014 acres, on October 19, 1918, for £3,036; Tauri No. 4, of 33 acres, on August 1, 1919, for £6O: and Tutukau West B, of 2,073 acres, for £2,065. Total purchase money £5,511. Lobby gossip alleges that payment for the option was about to be made when the late Government went out of office, but that the new Government, not being satisfied with the transaction, held the matter up and is disinclined to complete.