THE PIOUS LANDLORD, OR THE BITER BIT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2457, 20 November 1886, Page 2

THE PIOUS LANDLORD, OR THE BITER BIT.

Anent the evidence given before the Stark Purchaso Commission by Messrs Goldie and Bell, that they would not take even if a man offered them, more than' the market value for a piece of land, Mr Brewer, Government Land Purchase officer, tells a very amusing story, It ib to this effect:—He was once upon a time Bent to the West Coast for the purpose of purchasing a piece of land required for publio works purposes. The owner, reputed to be a very pious man, met Mr Brewer by appointment, well equipped with documentary evinence to show that the property he wanted was worth £I2OO. When Mr Brewer demurred to the price, the exceedingly pious man asked tho question "Do you think I would bo guilty of asking the Government or any other pesson more for thiß property than it is worth? I should scorn such an action." "It is not worth £1200," said tho Land Purchase officer. "I solemnly affirm it is," replied the pious man. "Then-let me'refrosh your memory," was the reply, and 'so saying, ho produced from his pocket a newspaper containing a report of the proceedings before certain Property Tax Reviewers in which it transpirod that the pious land landowner eworo positively before the court that the outside value of hiß land was £6OO. " You would not take advantage of that ?" quoth the pious man. "Certainly 1 would," replied the Government officer. "I shall advise the Government to get possession of your land through the machinery of the Compensation Court, and I intend puttin? in your sworn testimony as evidence in support of the Government as to value." This was a floorer, and In less than half an hour subsequently, Mr Brewer enjoyed the satisfaction of having closed with the pious man for the sale of bis land for the sum of £650. That sworn testimony saved the country L500.-Auoklaud Observer.