A NATIVE LAND ROMANCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 111, 10 May 1880, Page 4

A NATIVE LAND ROMANCE.

(Wellington Post") A short time ago, it may be remembered, we mentioned, without vouching for.it correctness, a elory current in town bb to a member of the Civil Service having unexpectedly corse into poasessiou of a considerable slice of land at Taurauga. The Auckland Star reprints the narrative and adds : — Tbe gentleman referred to in the above extract" is Mr F. J. Churion, Audit Inspector, who is at present in Auckland in connection with the prosecution of J. C. Young. We have submitted it to him, and he informs us that there is just sufficient truth in it to make it interesting, and to lend a color of probability to it. It seems that while at Tauranga at the beginning of the present yaar, in pursuance of his, official duties, he wbb' waited upon by a i Maori chief, who told him that a remarkable fine block of land in the vicinity i had been purchased by his father more than a quarter of a century ago, and that it was held for him. Mr Churton at once communicated with his relatives in Auckland, and while learning that Bom of them had a slight recollection of some such purchase, all papers in reference to it had been unfortunately lost. The chief haa since been exerting himself, to obtain fie signatures of all native interested in : in the sale, with a view to the completion of the title, hut Mr Churton regards the possibilities of th.B success as bo remote that he is willing to dispose of his claim to tbe ownership of the land /or a very small percentage upon its value. Some of tha original owners now reside at Taranaki, and the length of time which has elapsed since the date of the purchase is so grays th&t many of them will doubtless |jfffmMHseompletely forgotten the tranßacjraß^lJll ne va 'ue of the block is be;M| £10,000 and £13,000, and it I^BSI be admitte<3 lnat tDO taadißg m^Bs|is have acted in a very honorable JgffiraSf er with regard to it. The most features in connection with Jra^Hnffair is the numbers of letters ou Hsjifraambject which the gentleman has graHuved - from his friends and ocm^HKitßnceß at Wellington, for it was Bft^fflgiiß way that he first became ec|Sp«ilntfl!i with the fact that some exE&^gnKrated report had got abroad. B|HfflMf|fl|y of the missives were of an SHraguvely congratulatory character, and IIHIHHgnBJ or ity concluded with an urgeut raS&HKitation for a friendly loan.