THE SWITZERS SALE.

Evening Star, Issue 3129, 28 February 1873, Page 3

THE SWITZERS SALE.

Messrs Shepherd and Maitland, the Commissioners appointed to enquire into what is known as the Switzer’s sale, have concluded their labors, and it is expected that their report wdl be issued in a ftouple of weeks, A ’ oi the Tttujxba MKidiH thus summarises the evidence given before the Commission The evidence of William Acton watt very essential, as show* ing be had never transferred, sold, or assigned the interest (if any) which the purchased permission from the squatter to occupy gave him in the f'O acres that he first applied for the land making 'deposit thereon. Some short time

after the application, the Waste Land Board intimated to him their determination not to sell the land, it having come to their knowledge in tbe interim that gold mining was being carried on in the immediate vicinity, ia A ctou made through Mr Matthew Hay a subsequent application to the Board, bat with similar results. He afterwards, accompanied by Mrß. De Carle, applied on two or more occasions to the Board for the fee simple of the land, but the Waste Land Board absolutely declined to sell. The above evidence was necessary, as showing that the Waste Land Board, in selling the land, were well aware of its value, from the number of prior applications, although Mr Thomson, in the published correspondence, says The members of the Executive present at the meeting being in favor of the sale (to M‘Donald), I know of no objection.” This is an assertion it is very difficult to swallow, after a piece of land being applied for on three or four occasions, and refused by the Board because it was auriferous. Even supposing such to be the case, the usual channel for supplying information to the Hoard, viz,, the Warden, was in our midst; but no reference or inquiry as to the value of the land was ever made to Mr Wood The evidence of Messrs Wilkie, Wilson, and others went to show the payable nature of that portion of the fifty acres which had already been worked, and which had proved highly auriferous, it having paid-some time previous to the sale to M‘Donald—from 20 to 60 minces per week—from 15 to 20 men being employed in the claim. Several witnesses next testified to conversations at different times with the present owner, in which that gentleman stated that he had promised M‘ Donald L2OO provided that bis (M‘Donald’s) application to the Board for the fee simple of the land was successful. Messrs Skene and Braithwaite were very clear as to the practicability of working the ground in ordinary claims of 100 feet per man, and stated that if the ground was thrown open, 100 men might be advantageously employed thereon for years. Mr Utting stated the value of the land for agricultural purposes to be nil. Mr Warden Wood’s evidence was clear and to the point, and had any lingering doubt remained on the minds of tbe most suspicious, they must have been convinced that he (tbe Warden) knew nothing of the sale until completed. Mr Wood stated he had never been consulted in the matter of the sale ; had he been he would have opposed it. He had been requested, when m Dunedin, to recommend the sale of the land, but refused. It was the only land sold in the district since 1868 upon which he had not been consulted. A great deal more evidence confirmatory of the foregoing was taken. The Commission examined the surface titles existing on the 50 acres at the time of the sale to M ‘Donald. From the records in the Warden’s office, it was shown that, piece by piece, the present owner had acquired a valuable water race running over the ground, also the pumping gear and machinery, together with public house and all buildings attacked ; and lastly, and only eight days prior to M‘ Donald’s application, had purchased the Break ’em All by tender for L 75.