THE WELLINGTON RECLAIMED LAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1861, 10 February 1880, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON RECLAIMED LAND.

[By Telegraph.] [from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, February 9. A very awkward and troublesome complication has arisen in regard to tho sale of the Thorndon reclaimed land by the late Government. It appears that one of the purchasers instructed a Wellington solicitor (Air Ollivier) to prepare a conveyai ce of the property. This, of course, necessitated the settling of the title, and on investigating the circumstances under which the reclaimed land was Bold by the Government, Mr Ollivier found that no legal title existed, therefore that the land oould not be conveyed. The unreclaimed area was originally granted to the Superintendent of Wellington. On the abolition of the provinces subsequently it became vested in Her Majesty the Queen. The Financial Arrangements Act, 1878, by the authority of which the sale took place only provides (in clause 21 that) it shall be lawful for the Governor to sell and dispose of by public auction the land described, but does not empower the Governor to grant a title, although this could have been done by the addition of a few words. It has been suggested that the Royal instructions to the Governor may be interpreted as authorising him to act as her Majesty’s attorney, but it is thought that this would involve a novel' and dangerous precedent as placing too wide a construction on the construction. The result is that the whole matter is plunged into confusion. So far _as those purchasers are concerned who really intended to buy and keep their sections, probably their titles can be made good by legislation next session. Another question, however, arises whether those who purchased with purely speculative views on the chance of a rise will not be inclined to repudiate their bargains, and if the Government cannot give them a title, insist on having their money returned and the sale cancelled. This would be decidedly convenient for some of the purchasers, and unless the law officers of tho Crown can find some way out of the present difficulty it is not at all unlikely to happen. If so, it will make the difference of a good many thousand pounds in the Treasurer’s revenue returns next, session.