OWNERSHIP OF SECTIONS ON THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1001, 15 December 1879, Page 3

OWNERSHIP OF SECTIONS ON THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

[t.O Tllfi iDITdU.] •- Sir—As it is a fact that the Kumara Education, Reserve has been lifted by the Government, it may not be out of place to mention, what I anticipate will be one of the steps taken by the authorities in dealing with the question of ownership of sections and the title deeds of the same. Greymouth township, in its early days, rvas sold in the following itiahher, viz., Not less than one section was put up to auction, the valuation for the four pei’sons appeared in one sum only. But buying the section conjointly entitled the four to an equal interest in the section. Now, the Government having sold the land and their being four persons equally interested, disputes have been frequent as to which should hold the title-deeds, pausing, in .many instances, a feeling of doubt and insecurity. Neither was this the only evil resulting from this manner of dealing with and conveying the 1.-tnd ; for as it is natural each one desired to have his own property (for many reasons) to himself, it could only be done by Brown, Jones, and Robinson transferring Smiths share to himself, and Smith" Brown, and Jones doing ditto to Robinson (md so on ad lib., this causing each pro-perty-holder the expense of a multiplicity of deeds and consequent annoyance. To do away with this evil, I would suggest that the valuator; wdien finding more than one claimant to one section, should ascertain the amount of full frontage held by each, and value each property by. itself. Should the occupiers purchase the section or part of section at sale, the GovernInent would then be able to give each one his own deeds, and save a deal of trouble and inconvenience to those interested. I am, Ac., Geo. Simxioxs. Kumara, 13th December. 1879.

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