LAND SALE.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 882, 27 September 1854, Page 2

LAND SALE.

Since the first sale of Crown Lands, —at which Auckland was Otlicially declared the Capital of New Zealand, —there probably never lias been a more numerous or eager attendance of purchasers*'than that which assembled at the Supreme Court House on Monday morning. In conformity with notice given, a variety of Town, Suburban, and Rural lauds wa re offered for sale; and with the exception of (he first small lot, which was reserved, and half a dozen other lots, for which there was no demand, all found buyers, the competition, in most instances, being keen, and the figures realised being generally much above the upset prices. There were thirty-four (own lots offered ; the smallest of these contained six and thirty perches, the largest three roods tuul seven perches;—the

genera! average being quarter of an acre, and half-acre allotments. All of them were situated on the Western outskirts of the town. The whole area comprised 15 acres, 3 roods, and 11 perches, and was estimated, according to the upset price, at £1582 7s. Gd., being £IOO per acre. With the exception of seven lots, taken at the upset price, the competition for most of the others was great; double, treble, and quadruple the price having, for a variety of lots, been realized.

Three Suburban lots containing in all 7 acres, 2 roods, and 2 perches were next offered. For these the competition was no less animated; the Government valuation, being £l3, and the Public estimation upwards of £2B per acre. The prices named and the prices realised were respectively £97 135. Gd. and £202. For three oue-acre lots at the beautiful and thriving village of Onehunga 10/. per lot were asked and 53/. Gs. 3/. per lot obtained. On the first lot there were improvements (to be paid for) valued at 03/. 15*. Gd. Two lots, at the no less thriving village of Ilowick were next offered. There were 43 acres, 3 roods, and 1 7 perches in these lots, the upset price of which amounted to 92/. 25., being 425. per acre. The sum realized was 184/. or nearly 00s. per acre. There were three farms on the East Tamaki next offered ; two containing together 234 acres were valued at 234/. They fetched 520/, being nearly 535. per acre. The third farm containing 78 acres was offered at an upset valuation of 10s, per acre, hut realized 160/. being at the rate of 41s. per acre. Four lots at the North Shore were next disposed of. The first containing 122 acres at the upset price of 21 s. per acre. The remaining three lots containing together 01 acres, 1 rood, and 28 perches brought 258/., being upwards of 55a. per acre.

An island called Pararekau in the parish of Papakura, and situated in one of the channels of the .Manukau was keenly contested. It contained 50 acres, was offered for 25/., and realized 110/. An islet, in the same locality, named Orona, containing 1 rood and 32 perches was put up at 4*. Gd.. and realised 17/A third island, also in the same locality, called Kopua-hinga-hinga, containing 28 acres and 14 perches, was offered for 14/. I*. It realized 65/. Tlie last lot was a farm at Opaheke containing 54 acres offered at 10s. per acre. For this there was a great deal of competition, the lot being eventually knocked down at 106/., or within a trifle of 40s. an acre. Tins closed the sales of the day which proved to be as productive to tbe Treasury as they appeared to be satisfactory to the various purchasers. It is gratifying to know that the land bought is not the result of speculation, but that the acquisition of a greater extent of soil has in most instances been the consequence of the profits derived from the soil. This is legitimate colonisation, and it is as cheering as it is legitimate. The annexed recapitulation of particulars will no:, we trust, be unacceptable to our readers. XiKSLLTs of Sale.

The excess over the estimated upset price amounts therefore to ISBBL Gs. 10 d. upon the day's sale, an incontestible proof, if proof were needed, that available land will always command its full market value. The eagerness with which the Town lots were purchased is another unmistakeable indication of the rapidity with which Auckland is extending itself on every side. Were building materials and labour as abundant as the demand is urgent, there would be a surprising amount of building carrying on. It is exceedingly mortifying in a country possessed, as this is, with the noblest forests that timber should not only be extravagant in price, but difficult to be procured. We hope there may speedily arise a change in this branch of our staple industry. We hear of several Steam Saw Mills arrived, and to arrive. Let us hope that some of them may ere long be in operation to supply the great demand that exists for timber, as well for home consumption as for exportation.

SituationContent*. Upset Price. Price Realised' A. R. p. £ Sd. £ 9. %. Town Lots 15 3 11 1532 7 6 2348 15 0 Suburbs 7 2 2 97 13 6 202 0 0 ( )ueliungra 3 0 0 SO 0 0 175 0 0 Howirk ■43 3 17 92 2 0 484 0 0 Fast Tamaki 2 ! 2 0 0 273 0 « 050 0 0 North Shore 212 1 23 244 1 s 3S6 2 0 Pararckau 50 0 0 25 0 0 110 0 0 Omni 0 1 32 0 4 6 17 0 0 Kopua liin^a 2 s 0 14 14 I 0 65 0 0 Opahfke 31 0 0 27 0 0 10C 0 l> 723 0 24 2335 10 2 4273 17 0