OFFICIAL LAND SPECULATORS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 572, 26 October 1869, Page 2

OFFICIAL LAND SPECULATORS.

(From the Nelson Colonist.) A feeling of what we are justified in terming indignation prevails in the public mind regarding the sales by the Government of the auriferous land at Wangapeka on Thursday last, and we cannot but agree that there are good grounds for that feeling. What shall we say of the scandal which lias arisen from the fact of the paid servants of the Government being among the leaders in that land speculation which the Executive head of the Province has so frequently censured? From the Resident Magistrate and Provincial Treasurer, " (himself a member of Mr Curtis's Executive) to the Inspector of Police; from the partner of the Provincial Solicitor (another member of the Executive), to the Treasurer's Clerk ; from the Registrar of the Supreme Court, to the pensioned Consulting Surveyor ; and from the Provincial Auditor to Mr Curtis's own private servant—the last on the list—all these were permitted to purchase land, although, some fourandtwenty hours before they applied, the head of the Government had resolved to hold a Land Board meeting in order to withdraw the land "from sale, lease, and license." It is to be noted that these official speculators are all

within the precincts of the Government buildings, and are thus enabled to take advantage of information floating about the Land office, and about official circles, and to buy land even after the resolution of the Land Board had been passed, although the Gazette was not posted, while the general public, not being within the charmed circle, were debarred the golden chances given to this favored few. Talk of purity of official Government; an occurrence of this kind, undeterred, uncensured by the chief authority, an occurrence participated in by some of that authority's very advisers, blows to the winds all the prattling about precept, all the babble of the electioneering hour, devoted to impress on the public mind how valuable are officials' services, and how thoroughly they strive after tho public weal.