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Auckland Times, Volume 2, Issue 57, 13 February 1844, Page 2

The Government Gazette of Saturday last contains the singular announcement that on Wednesday the 28th of February, instant, the Government will sell Section No. 3, Lot No 1, in the township of Auckland. This lot was sold at the first Government Land Sale, two years and lm!f ago, and was bought by Mr. Shortiand. it contains one rood and thirty-four perches ; and the upset price is £1579 - including improvements and buddings, to which ofcoursa the Government has no shadow of a claim. We have a'wavs looked upon “ The Officials” ns an ill-used body, in respect of* their town purchases -we shall see what will be the result of this particular <as a. Mr. Shortiand perhaps played rather an over-knowing card at the time of t'«e sale, but Lord Stanley had no more right to interfere with his title, afterpayment, which was made at the time, in accordance with the Government’s own regulations, than we have now. If the autocrats then or now predominant in Downing-street, were made to restore to the foolish speculators of the day, when Auckland town lots were originally sold, about four-fifths of the price, they would not do them more than justice. The interference with their titles, after the enormous price paid, we believe to be a matter in which the courts at Westminster, and a special jury of that city, or of London or Middlesex, would feel disposed most effectively to interfere, if it were brought before them.