Unclaimed Lands.

Manawatu Herald, 5 January 1893, Page 2

Unclaimed Lands.

Ifc is reported that the Public Trustee h engaged just at prose lit in j preparing the coiu'se of procedure in connection with the Unclaimed Lands Act of last session-. Mr Wai'burton believes that many local bodies will receive valuable endowments as a result of the passing of the Act. If they do it will at any rate be a matter of years first, as it is distinctly provided that twelve years must first elapse before the Trustea shall transfer any interests he becomes possessed of, to a local body, and then he must have the approval of the Governor in Council. The laws of New Zealand resembleth not the laws of the Medes and Persians, and the hope held out to the local body authorities bears very much the appearance of a distant reward for present information. Long before the time mentioned for the local bodies to participate in the appropriation the law will undoubtedly be amended still fu fcher in the interests of the Public Trustee. As it is, if the land is not claimed, all moneys accruing from it are to be paid into the Public Trustee's Account, and when the twelve years has elapsed it goes into the Consolidated Fund, and not to the local body. The local authority's turn for participation is thus definitely fixed at twelve years hence. We own we do not see why the Consolidated Fund should have the first twelve year's profits if it is considered fair the local body should at any time receive the property. Anyhow most local bodies would be very willing to sell their prospects at a cheap rate for cash down.