A STRANGE DEEDS OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 12

A STRANGE DEEDS OFFICE.

STATE ■OF ■' :-- 1 ; fV- :;THIWSS. ; 7■;;.) V: ''■''• '■; ■'; •.'j The condition of affairs at the 'Auckland' Deeds'.Office is a matter of ..much com-: ment, 'not only ion, account "of the limited.space-" available,'; but. .also with-: regard .to the loose, way in which ivaluable docu-: ments have:.been kept...- Mr. C. J.; Parr, ajwell-khown solicitor,-states that-valu-, able;,' plans and.-;'documents', 'could be ab--stracted ,with': the i greatest ease,, and- with-., out fear of detection'.:'. '.■'..'■■.'.''■ , :'::,'! /'"The most disturbing feature in 'connection '; with : the office/'' -■ proceeded' Mr.' Parr, "is : the ■ want of' privacy. -Deeds: are allowed to.lie oh.two or three.tables,: and- anybodyV lease or transfer; may. be seen by, the. curious. .The officials,', how-, ever, are in_nowise".',to''blame' for;.this.: They, are..doing .'an; immense; amount-of work, under harassing aiid unhealthy conditions." ."';:.[. --•-:'::'-',•■;, (Mr.' Parr .pointed; out that-' the . Bafety and secrecy ;of ? all the: titles to pro-; virice of Auckland were in question, and one could realise.the gravih-of not having proper, accommodation the; safe keeping:.of such .valuables. ' .Valua-' tions,,'surveyors', plans, and plans: evidencing' titles to hundreds-of thousands' of pounds': worth of- property, were stowed away anyhow ■in open receptacles, and were in- danger -of- wearing away by the: public brushing .against them. ' cThere was an item' of - ,£4OO on the -Estimates to effect some , improvements,' ; .but, this amount, had hot been, spent." ■.';:.'■.:'■ ;-f"l.believe," 6aid Mr. Parr,'"that the Deeds Office is under the control of- the Hon. J. Carroll's Department which fact probably speaks for.: itself."-. .. '-.;::, : ■: