A SLICE OF LUCK

Temuka Leader, Issue 263, 22 May 1880, Page 2

A SLICE OF LUCK

A somnvhat extraordinary story is current in reference to, a singular piece of good fortune said to have befallen a member of the Civil Service' -recently. We, “ Wellington Post,” give the facts as they came to us. A short imo ago Mr , a clerk in the Audit Office, proceeded to Tauranga for the purpose of investigating some defalcations alleged to have been committed by a public officer in that district. While there his attention was attracted by an exceptionally fine block ot Land, which L said to have long been an object of desire to Europeans visiting the neighbourhood, but which was t> naciously held by the Maoris in spite of the tempting offers made for it. Mr , happened to

meet one of the tribe in possession of the land, and asked to whom it belonged. To his surprise the reply was, “We are keeping it for the old .” Struck with the identity of the name mentioned with ;■ his own, -Mr- made further inquiries, which satisfied him that the land was' being kept by the Natives for his father, in return for some great service he had : rendered them on one accasion when lie ,was Jiving in, the dstrict. may bq‘imagined, lost no time in’letting the Natives know who he the—— same' time informing them that—..his father had been dead for several years. Upon this the Maoris at once professed their readiness to complete the title and hand over-the property to the heirs of the friend of their tribe, to whose : • memory they had been so faithful. Steps were at once taken with that view, and only one man of the tribe, Pi is stated refused to sign the deed, while it is not anticipated that very great diffiulty will be experienced on account of Ids refusal. The chief of the tribe then informed Mr .that there was one circumstance that weighed heavily on his mind. Finding that the rightful owner dil not. turn up, and as there appeared to be no prospect of his doing so, he had on one occasion been induced to sell 1000 acres.. of the hind. He could not, of course; get that block back again, butheoffired to give a thousand acre* of his own adjoining in exchange. The whole property, as we have said, is a very, valussbl .* one, and is stated to be worth L 12,000 at present prices. It is said that lor 100 acres of the pick of the block, Mr was offered L2.. an acre immediately after the news of whai had happened became kn nvn.