THE CROWN GRANTS ACT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1485, 20 November 1872, Page 2

THE CROWN GRANTS ACT.

The . following cases under the above Act came before the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning : —- J. T. Tvlee (Provincial v. Hugh A. Duff.—Claim of MS 16s 6d, made up of Crown Grant fees, regis tratration fees, and custody fees, on a certain Crown Grant. Defendant, who disputed the claim, deposed : T purchased the iand in 18G4, and repeatedly applied at the Land office for my Crown Giants, The late Commissioner, Capt. Carter, said, "My dear fellow, the grants are Dot ready for issue; we have no person here to make them out. "Wait, and it will be all right." By the plaintiff: 1 do not remember receiving any circular from the Land office. William Parker, clerk in the Land office, deposed: A circular, to the effect that a Crown Grant in his name was lying in the office, was posted to Mr Duff on the 22nd Sept, 1871. He called at the office soon after, and asked what land it referred to. I told him it was certain sections at Clive. He said he would not then pay tho fees and take the grant, until lie had seen Mr Locke, who had some interest in the land.—-Defendant, recalled, had no recollection of any such conversation. Defendant's counsel addressed the Court on a point of law. The Act provided that a certificate signed by the Commissioner of Ciown Lands must be put in in a case of tins kind, to prove that the estate in the land is legally vested in the party sued.—The Bench over-ruled the objection, and refused to note it.— Judgment for amount claimed, and 17s 6d costs,

Tylee v. E. Tuke.—Claim of «£3 9a. Defendant deposed that he applied at the Land Office for his grant in 1866, 1868, and 1869. On the first occasion he was informed that the grant was not ready. On the other two occasions there was no one in the office to give him an answer. About a year ago he received a circular from the office. He tendered the amount claimed, less custody fees, which he disputed ; but the Commissioner declined to deliver the Grant unless those fees were paid.— Judgment for £1 13s 6d, the custody fees being remitted. Costs of Court were also remitted, defendant; having tendered amount due.—Mr Tuke applied for his expense?, which were refused. Tylee v. James Wood.— Claim of £3 9s.—Defendant disputed the custody fees, 15s 6d, on the ground that ho had made repeated application in years past for the grant in question, but without success. Sometimes there was no one in the office to answer him ; on one occasion he was told that the Commissioner left the office on Fridays, and did not return till the next Tuesday. The department seemed thoroughly disorganised, and he had long since given up the attempt to get his Crown Grant in disgust.— Custody fees remitted. Judgment for £1 13s 6d, and 7s 6d costs. Tylee v. C. Butler.—Claim of £l3 17 S 6d.-~ Defendant said he never applied for his Grant, having parted with his land long ago. — Judgment for amount claimed, and 5s 6d costs. Tylee v. 0. Beyer.—Claim of «£3 9s. —Defendant disputed the custody fees. He had several times applied for the Crown Grant, while Mr Webb was in the Land office, and was always told that it was not ready.—Custody fees remitted. Judgment for Ml 13a 6% and 6d costs. Tylee v. James Boyle.— Claim of £3 9s.—Defendant having parted with the land long ago, did not consider himself liable. Never applied for the Grant. Keceived a circular a year ago, and went to the Land office and informed the Commissioner that he had no interest in the land —Judgment for amount of claim and 9s 6d costs. Tylee v. James Parker-.—Claim of £3 9<. Judgment by default for amount claimed, with 9s 6d costs. Tylee v. James Marsh.—Claim of J£6 18s. Judgment by default for amount of claim, and lis costs.

The establishment of an Archery Club in Christchurch is contemplated. We notice that the Dunedin City Council has asked the Government for a site for public baths. A few days ago (says the Lyttelton Times) a common hen belonging to Mr Griffiths, Salisbury-street, laid an egg of enormous size—much larger than a turkey's egg—which, on being broken open, was found 10 contain the usual white, but instead of a yolk, there was a perfectly formed egg of the u-ual sise, shell and all being as complete as in an ordinary egg. The Canterbury Press, November 14, sa y vS :_~The bells for the Prebbleton Church have arrived per Lady Jocelyn, and there is every prospect of the old \<rar being rung out and the new in, in the orthodox manner. We congratulate the inhabitants on their spirit in bringing out the first peal of bulls used in a church in Canterbury. The Melbourne Argus understands that the Victorian Government has received a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, pointing out that the British subjects living in Fiji under the de facto Government of that country, do not divest themselves of their responsibilities as British subjects, and that any action which could be maintained against them in a British colony, can still be maintained against them, notwithstanding their residence in Fiji and under the Fijian Govern* merit. Miss B. Edwards has written an aiv tide in the School Board Chronicle ou the literary taste of the people. The fair writer considers that by giving education to all, and at the same time withholding the means of utilising it, we arc surely not making much head agaiust this evil. The mere knowledge of reading and writing does not humanise, and ft seems fallacious as well M