The Oamaru Mail SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 30 October 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1880.

Considerable dissatisfaction was caused in town yesterday through the inability of Inspector Thompson to supply applicants with plans of certain lands advertised by the Government' to be sold in the Maerewhenua district on the deferred payment system. Several persons from the country districts who contemplated endeavoring to acquire these lands, failing to obtain the desired plans from Inspector Thompson, to whom the public are referred by the Government, expended several hours in endeavoring to obtain them elsewhere ; bnt, of course, without success. "We have made inquiries in reference to the inability of Inspector Thompson to supply plans as announced by the Government, and have ascertained that the supply sent to him lias been exhausted. Important proceedings connected with the sale of properties would be better managed by private individuals. The "Waste Land Board of Otago have ali'orded another instance of the incapacitv of such bodies to wisely administer the waste lands of the Colony. They press into their service as their assistants oflieials of departments quite foreign to the business of land agents. This is done, of course, with a view to economy. But, at a glance, ordinary beings v.'oukl arrive at the conclusion that such economy is that of the muddler, "who saves sixpence but loses a pound. It is no part of the duties of the police department to act as agents for the sale of Crown lands. To foist such important duties upon these officials is not unlike putting an artist to the plough, an editor to " set up" liis own copy, or a member of the constabulary force to make roads. Police supervision is one thing and land agency another. If a private individual wished to sell property to the greatest possible advantage, if lie knew what he was about, lie would not employ a friend to act folium simply because he could get his agency "work done economically. His first care "would be to secure the services of a man would, guided by technical experience, intelligently set to work all the necessary roachinerv to disseminate information concerning the property for sale. A few pounds thus wisely expended might be productive of a tenfold advantage to the seller. Fop this reason we think that the "Waste Lands Board should always act as the Government is doing in reference to the sale of the Telegraph | and Post-ollice site at Titnaru—appoint a qualified agent to act in their behalf. At all events, if they persist in managing their sales in the peddling mannc" that is characterising their administration ofj the Maerewhenua lands, they might at least see that those of the public who are anxious for information concerning these lands should not be put to the necessity of wasting half a day, or njore, in abortive attempts to acquire it.