LAND SALE IN CROMWELL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 80, 23 May 1871, Page 5

LAND SALE IN CROMWELL.

The Waste Land Board has a special aptitude for blundering. On Friday last, according to an announcement in that obscure publication, the Provincial Government Gazette , a Land Sale was to be held at the Cromwell Court-house at noon, Mr Chappie, the auctioneer, arrived in due time; bnt-tha Court-house was closed, and the Clerk was absent. What was to be done ? The auctioneer promptly obtained permission to hold the sale in the Public Library, and soon after, Mr Chappie having assumed the functions of a public bell-man, he was seen perambulating Melmore-terrace, ringing a borrowed bell, and inviting the speculators in township sections to “ roll up.” Thus was the sale made known to persons who never see a Provincial Government Gazette, but who do regularly peruse this journal. This obscure mode of making known so important a public matter as the sale of land, is very reprehensible. It is most unbusinesa-like, as it limits the competition at these sales to the feV who by good luck, or extraordinary vigilance, lind out when and whore a land sale is to take place. If Mr J. T. Thomson, Chief Commis. sioner of the Waste Land Board, had any land of his own which he desired to dispose of to the best advantage, ho would not bury his advertisements in an official Gazette of limited circulation. At Clyde, Alexandra, and in fact everywhere, the same complaint is made; When Mr Chappie inspected the plan of the blocks and sections to be offered for sale, it was found that there was some grave error in the numbering of the blocks. He, therefore, adjourned the sale till 2 p.m., for the purpose of telegraphing to the Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands to rectify the error. In the course of an hour, the auctioneer received instructions to alter the number of one of the blocks—from IX. to XIV. The sections offered form part of the township, ami front Ifelmore-terrace. Inhere was an unusually spirited competition. The whole of the sections in Blocks XIII, and XIV. were sold at prices varying from £5 (the tip-set price) to £2l. The auctioneer could have sold the whole of another block, No. XL, had his instructions permitted him to do so. The total amount realised by the sale tvas £llß 10s; The following are the full particulars of the sale:— Block XIII, £ a. d. Section I—Wm. Grant ... 20 0 0 ~ 2—Jas. Taylor ... 21 0 0 ~ 3—Wm, Grant ... 7 0 0 ,j 4 — Wm. Grant ... 6 0 0 ~ s—Wm. Grant ... 7 0 0 ,i 6—lsaac W. Escott... 710 0 „ 7—M. Fraer... ... 10 10 0 £79 0 0 Block XIV. Section I—M. Fraer 710 0 ~ 2—J. McCormick ... 6 0 0 ~ 3—J. Dawkins ... 5 0 0 ~ 4—Owen Pierce ... 510 0 ~ s—Wm. Grant ... 510 0 ~ 6—Joseph Harding ... 5 0 0 ~ 7 —Joseph Harding ... 5 0 0 £39 10 0 Total ... ... £llS 10s. A great desire is expressed that oilier blocks should be surveyed and offered for sale, in the direction of Goodger’s Yards and the Cemetery; Such sections would find a ready sale at good prices. The fact that the town sections on Friday realised such excellent prices, should encourage the Waste Land Board to make further surveys, Arid adopt a more liberal policy in publishing advei ti.eemfeiita of Land Sales in Local Newspapers. Ori Sslttirday, Mr Ctapple visited Bendigo, but effected no sales. There fresh surveys are called for in the direction of Logan’s crushing machihb.