Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 507, 12 September 1857, Page 4

Correspondence.

To the JEditor of Hie Lyttelton Times. Sir, —As I am the person alluded to in Mr. F. Le Cren's letter last week, I feel I may fairly ask a portion of your columns to ■ detail ■ the facts, so far as I am concerned in the mattei'. Dui-ing the widening and improvement of the Bridle Path, I observed that the workmen •were much ci'amped for space by a detached piece of my freehold land near the Ferry, and that they evidently desired to encroach upon it; I saw also that if the Government possessed that piece they might greatly straighten and improve the road, then or at any future time. I was in consequence induced to make a written proposal to exchange it for a small piece of rural land near Mr. Paul's paddock. The Provincial Engineer was consulted, and endorsed his approval on my letter; and in answer I received the subjoined, letter, acceding to my proposal:— " Sik, —In reference to your letter of the 6th instant on the subject of an exchange of land near the Bridle Path, I am dkected by His Honor the Superintendent to acquaint you that the Government will agree to your proposal. " I am, &c, &c, (Signed) " Eichaed Packer." Christchurch, April 27th, 1857. I rested satisfied that all steps necessary to complete the contract would be taken. But some time afterwards, to my surprise, I heard that Mr. F. Le Cren had been allowed to apply at the Land Office for the land I was to receive in exchange, and that it was to be put up to auction. I made a remonstrance, and got the subjoined reply:— "Sik,—-Your letter of the 12th instant has been under the consideration of the Provincial Government, and the Government has resolved that if the holder of the Pre-emptive Eight over the land referred to does not exercise his right, and the land be put up to auction, the Government will direct it to be bought in, for the purpose of fulfilling the contract between yourself and the Government. " I am, &c, &c, [(Signed) " Eichaed Packer," The Pre-emptive Eight holder did not exercise his right. The land was put up to auction. The Government bid Mr. Le Cren up to an amount that exceeded five-fold what he need have paid for it as against any other bidder than the Government. At this point, however, the bidding ceased, and the contract with me was after all not fulfilled. I believe that from the first the Government wished to deal fairly with me. Their negligence, however, got them into a dilemma, from (which they made a bungling effort to escape. They failed to fulfil their

contract as regards me, and they inflicted th f injury upon Mr. Le^Cren of which he complain! in his letter. ' x us I am, Sir, Yours obediently, JAMES TOWMSEND Bangiora, September 9th, 1857.