Attempted land Jobbery.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 198, 26 August 1873, Page 7

Attempted land Jobbery.

The following is a copy of a letter addressed by Mr Finnimoro, Government Auctioneer at Wanganni, to Mr C. E. Haughton, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. It will be seen that Mr Haughton handed the letter to the Native Minister, who read it in the House of Representatives. Mr Finnimore was at once dismissed from his office : " [private and confidential] "Taupo Quay, Wanganui, N.Z., " 11th July 1873. "My Dear Sir,-— Yon have no doubt Been by account sales that the last land realised nearly ten'thousand pounds above upset price,—and although the next to be offered will be from 50 to 70 miles from this place, still T think it will find purchasers at good rates ; at any rate, ray utmost powers of persuasion will be used to extract as many half-crowns as possible above the upset price per acre. Of course, in the present gigantic operations of the Government, five or ten thousand is a mere bagatelle; and I have an opinion that everyone has a right to go in for legitimate speculation if a chance offers, seeing which, I have jotted down a few ideas which have lately presented themselves to me, and which may be made mutually advantageous. " What 1 propose is this : that yon advocate the sale to me of the whole of the land to be next offered to public competi tion ; and if the Government consent to mv terms, as herein given, I will undertake to pay one-half of the net profit de rived from the sale on completion of the purchase, giving yon a guarantee to that effect. "" As the Government are no doubt anxious to allocate population as speedily as possible, the land, if bought by me, will sold according to Government survey Vid schedule. I do not wish to retain one acre of the land myself, although I might possibly, during the sale, be compelled to protect one or two blocks to make other lots bring a good price.. I have it on good authority that Peat and Alexander offered to buy the whole of the Whennakuia Block prior to auction at the upset price but, you see the difference between their buying and mine is this— they would hold the land against all comers, as a cattle and sheep run, while / go in to sell to the highest bidder. .< ■ , " This is the most important point, as it would assist in developing the Government scheme of settlement. Without further preface, I will indicate my proposals. "1. I am prepared to advance on the upset price, giving .£2 ss. per acre for the whole of the Railway Reserve to be offered, and other lands f will give the upset price for, if, after inspection, I approve of the value placed on them. "2. The sale to go on as usual, under the control of the Commissioner at Patea, my name not to appear, nor the sale to me to be made public in any way. The transaction, if entered into, to be strictly private and confidential, the Government simply giving me an order on the Commissioner at Carlyle for the payment of balance of sum realised from the sale over and above the £ : inal price named in the contract or memo, of sale. " 3. The Government to complete survey according to schedule, furnish lithograph plans as usual, and to advertise sale in Government Gazette free of costs to me, all other expenses of local advertising and clerks to be borne by me. " 4. On the acceptation by the Government of my offer 1 will pay one thousand pounds at Wellington, free of exchange, as a guarantee of good faith, and in part payment of the principal sum to be hereafter ascertained. From the date of the completion of the surveys and the handing to me of the correct schedule, I will allow the Government to the clay of sale interest on the balance of the purchase money after rate of five per cent, per annum. The usual printed Government conditions of Sale, as heretofore, to be strictly adhered to; forfeiture of deposits, if any, to be credited me. " I think 1 have put the matter fully and fairly as a matter of business. I advance on the upset price, take all the risk of altered times and the cooling of the land fever, and bear a fair proportion of expenses of sale ; and, all things considered, it is a good and equitable offer which the Government should accept, as the onus of making the land profitable is thrown on my shoub ders, while the security is ample, the land itself being sold subject to the control of the Resident Commissioner. " I hate begging, or else, as an old resident in the Colony of some thirty years' standing, having seen hard service in the different native wars, and having been twice ruined by them, I might, with some

show of reason, ask for a large slice of land, as I have never yet had one single rood given me by either General or Provincial Governments. This ought to weigh with the Government. I have both in the field and out of it, worked and fought hard for them. If the venture is successful, as you participate equally with me, there is a prospect on the one hand of putting a large sum in your pocket; while, on the other, you have no risk, and consequently no loss. " Let mo hear what you think of it by first mail, and believe me, yours very truly, " W. Fixnimore." The following was Mr Haughton's reply:— 1 "Mr Finnimore, —I cannot consider your letter private and confidential. I have accordingly forwarded it to the Native Minister. « C. E. Haughton."