The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-10 00:00:00

NATIONAL LAND SCHEME.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the
merits of the National Land Scheme met yesterday
in Committee-Room, No. 21, House of Commons. Mr.
William Hayter, in the chair. The other. Mem-
bers of the Committee were Sir Benjamin Hall, Mr. G.
Thompson, Mr. Scholefield, Mr. Feargus O'Connor, and
Mr. Monsell.

Mr. Chinnery was called and'examined. He said the
number of shares held by the persons who signed the
deed was 25,393. The deed was signed by 7,566 per-
sons, and the complete registration of the company was
effected in February last. Mr. Feargus O'Connor told
him first of all to register the society under the
Friendly Societies' Act; and if he should not succeed, to
register it as a joint-stock company. Mr. O'Connor
had Itever paid it was not his intention to register. Wit-
nefThade Mr. Roberts, •the solicitor, acquainted from
tithe to time with the progress which he had made in,
effecting the registration. Mr. Roberts's name wts In-
serted in the deed of settlement as treasurer of the com-
pany. Did not know that every person who became a
shareholder signed the rules of the National Land
Company. Knew nothing of Mr. Roberts's conduct as
treasurer in carrying out the provisions of the deed. The
gentlemen named as trustees in the deed were Thomas
Slingsby Duncombe, Esq., John Sewell, Esq., and
Ernest Jones, Esq.; but none of the property bought
with the money of the company had been conveyed to
money was
first purchase
those gentlemen. It might have been conveyed to them
just as well as to Mr. O'Connor if they had been named
for that purpose. No land whatever which had been
in Worcester-
purchased with the companY'a was conveyed to
of land was made in March, 1846, and consisted of one
hundred and three acres, called the Herringsgate Estate.
any one except Mr. O'Conant 0:1210.
2,344/. The next
The purchase-money amounted to
wbank,
shire, in October, 1846. It consisted of 470 acres, and
purchase made was of land,
the cost for the freehold was 8,560/, which was paid by
Mr. O'Connor in hard cash, in the presence of wit-
ness. Snigsend and Mot Farmwas the next land
purchased by the ,company. There were 268 acres,
and the amount of purchase .money was 12,2001. Another
of land at Minster Love!, in
purchase was Oxfordshire,
cost of 1
consisting of 297 acres, at the 0,8781; 280
acres 'were also purchase& cla led Dodsford, Hold_
fordswell, for 10,3501., which included timber,
and the estate was unencumbered. They were
at present completing the purchase of an estate
called Maythorn for 15,0501, exclusive of the
timber upon it.. The total amount of money y actually
invested in land, in the way mentioned, amounted to
44,3321, Upon the last purchase a deposit 'had
been paid of 1,505/. No part whatever of . the
land so purchased had been sold to any person.
Mr. O'Connor was the only proprietor of the
land and labour bank, with was connected with the
National Land Company, and the depositors in the bank
bad no legal claim upon the land which had been pur-
chased. Both the establishments were held under one
roof, and that fact might be calculated to mislead per -
sons, and induce them to believe that they were one and
the same concern. There were no directors,
treasurers,
solicitors, or other officers connected with the bank, and
it was solely under the management of Mr. O'Connor.
The whole expense connected with the preparations and
execution of the deed was 2,1761., which included the
first
stance. in-
That was the amount of Mr. Roberts's bill.
Cross-examined by Mr. O'Coieston—lt had been ar-
ranged that the directors of the Land Company should
also be joint directors of the Land and Labour Bank, but it
was found impracticable to carry out that arraugerae uts
.