PIAKO SWAMP COMPANY’S TITLES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5375, 19 June 1878, Page 3

PIAKO SWAMP COMPANY’S TITLES.

Since the accession to office of the present Government, rumors have been current that they intended to test before the Supreme Court the legality of some of those titles to land which had been so zealously attacked while tho late Government were in office, and while the present Ministers constituted. tho loaders of her Majesty's Opposition. The moat famous case was of course the ever memorable Piako Swamp, about which so many diverse statements were made, all capped by the assertion of Mr. Rowe that ho had sailed over it in a boat ? Tho company was, however, somewhat strongly entrenched behind a Crown grant which had been ordered to be issued on no less authority than a resolution of the House. But the company bad subsequently purchased several parcels of land adjoining the original estate, and for them they held certificates of title from the Native Lauda Court. Rather more than a fortnight ago tho company took steps for exchanging i their Crown grants and their Native Lauda Courts certificates for a title (indefeasible) under the Land Transfer Act. We are informed that the Registrar referred the question to Wellington (wo presume to the Registrar-General), as to whether he should proceed in accordance with tho application. Ho was, we believe, instructed not to issue a title for fourteen days. Why this delay wo cannot say, but: it may have been for the purpose of taking opinion as to whether the titles for any of the outlying pieces which had been recently acquired from natives were open to exception.’ At all events, it seems to have

been concluded that'.nothing should be done ; for on Thursday a title was issued to: the Idaho Laud Company, under the Laud Transfer Act. Surely we have 'now heard, the last, of .the Piaho Swamp,'arid of all the rigly and angry aspects which it presented as a field of battle for contending politicians. Henceforward, we shall,'we hope, only know the "swamp as a reclaimed waste, 1 as a place where grass-is caused “to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that ha may bring forth food out of the earth.” —New Zealand Herald, Bth instant!