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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5391, 8 July 1878, Page 2

It was announced on Saturday, and was generally believed, that his Worship the Slayor had succeeded in purchasing the reclaimed land at Thorndoii from the Colonial Government, on the part of the City Council. There was possibly a want of precision in the terms used on the occasion that may be misleading. There is not at present any law under which the Government would be empowered to sell the land in question by private contract, or if there were such a 'power on the one side, we believe that the Mayor could not bo authorised by a simple resolution of the City Council to buy it. What has happened probably is that an arrangement has been arrived at between the contracting parties as to quantity of land, price, &0., &c., and that legislative ' action will be required before the arrangement can be carried out. ' The citizens may, we think, be glad that such an arrangement has been made, and that the land will come into the hands of the municipality instead of being melted into the colonial revenue. Without knowledge, of the quantity of land obtained and other particulars, which will no doubt be disclosed at the proper time, wo will not venture to pronounce upon the operation as being a “bargain” or otherwise..Wehavo sufficient confidence hi the business capacity, tact, and good sense of Mr. Diiansfibld to be satisfied that he has done the best that he was able to do in the interests of the city, and we assume that the Government, on this occasion, have kept their promise not to deal hardly with the municipality.