The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 403, 26 February 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1879.

lifr August of last year,. Carlyle was in a fohient—and justly so—on account of a rumour that was afloat, to the effect that Government were about to remove the Survey Officer, together with all the plans, and records, to New Plymouth, The- absurdity of such a step was fully dwelt on by us at the time, and a public meeting was called, at which the following resolution was passed, a'copy being forwarded to the Government “ That

this meeting hear with regiet that it is intended to remove the (Survey Officer, maps, and records, concerning the lands of this County to the Town of New Plymouth, and hope that the Government will not only interfere to prevent such injustice, but rather give us additional facilities by creating a Land Board for the Pa tea County; that the present Survey Officer is one whose local knowledge peculiarly fits him for emyloyment here, and that to take away the survey information will entail an expensive and disadvantageous journey both to settlers and strangers desiring to buy land. We therefore earnestly request the Government to retain this officer and information,- and to give to Patea County more direct control over its land sales than we now possess.” Since then things have gone on peaceably until Frdiay last, when it leaked out that the whole of the district plans were sealed up in readiness to be forwarded to New Plymouth. This is no donbt a fact, as no information can now be got, and the office is virtually useless. A public meeting tfus converted for Saturday night, to take the matter ihto consideration, but owing to the notice being so short, too few were present to do any business. However, it is not to be supposed that the people will calmly , stand by and see themselves robbed of their just rights, because it happens to suit the convenience of the' head of the department in New Plymouth to have the plans, &c.,- removed. We cannot understand Government allowing these frights to be got up,- if nothing is meant —surely something better can be found for their officials to do. Why is such an important district as Patea, where extensive Government land sales are continually being held, to be deprived of its local land office and documents ? We trust settlers will lose no time in moving in the matter, and show Government they are not to be trifled with. The affair should be definitely settled, or these scares Will never end.

After the above was in type, the following Press Agency telegram, dated New Plymouth, February 24, appeared in yesterday’s Chronicle :— “ At the Land Board meeting to-day ♦ho m.iof Surveyor was uliable tO' afford information about Patea land, as the. District Land Officer, Captain Wray, retains the standard plans at Carlyle, contrary to instructions from the Government, When the Chief Surveyor sent, in accordance with instructions from the Surveyor-General, orders to remove the plans to the chief office, Captain Wray, in his capacity as Resident Magistrate, gave the police instructions not to allow any person to remove the plans from the local survey office. As District Land Officer he lias nothing to do with the plans or the survey department. By the last account he keeps a guard of police over the Survey Office at Carlyle. The matter is causing some excitement.”

No doubt to the outside public it would appear that Captain Wray had overstepped the mark in forcibly retaining these plans; but we hardly think, in the lace of direct orders to the contrary from head-quarters, Captain Wray would have acted as ho has done. We 'understand' that the Chief Surveyor at New Plymouth ordered the standard , plans at Carlyle to be forwarded to him, but they being in charge of Capt. Wray, he refused to allow them to be sent, pending instructions from the SurveyorGreneral, Hence the great excitement that is being caused in New Plymouth. Captain Wray was perfectly justified in • seeing, the plans were not removed till proper authority, was received; and Patea people ought to be thankful there was some one near at hand- to look after ,their interests; We might mention on reliable authority, that the telegram Hardly- contains a word-of truth.