Beat Property Act. 23 



Aet. 1. On the Operation of the Heal Property Act, by G. K. 



Holden, Esq., Senior Examiner of Titles in New South Wales. 



[Read before the Society, May 12th, 1869.] 



It will not be questioned that simplicity and security in titles 

 to land and facility and economy in dealings therewith, are objects 

 of great importance in every civilised community. 



A new system, professing to be a great advance in this direction, 

 naving been for some time on trial in this colony and elsewhere 

 in the British dominions, I venture to believe that a paper thereon 

 in the nature of a progress report, will not be unacceptable at a 

 meeting of this society. 



An improvement such as this may conduce more to human 

 welfare than many which attract our notice, and loom more 

 largely on our senses, in such an Exhibition as that by which we 

 have been sp recently delighted and instructed in this city. Under 

 this persuasion I offer the following to those interested, as a kind 

 of supplementary exhibit. 



•The Real Property (Torrens's) Act of New South Wales, has 

 been in operation since the 1st Jannary, 1863. 



The following is an approximate return of transactions there- 

 under for the six years ending 31st December, 1868. 



During that period, land containing 252,512 acres, valued 

 about £1,830,000, has been placed in the new register after 

 examination and report upon upwards of 2000 distinct titles 

 submitted with applications from the respective owners. 



During the same period 697,924 acres, valued at about at 

 £831,500, and comprised in 15,077 separate Crown grants, issued 

 since 31st December, 1862, have become subject to the new law 

 by the mere operation of the grants. The total property under 

 the Act consisted, therefore, on 3 1st December last, of 950,436 

 acres, valued at about £2,661,500. 



During the same six years the dealings affecting the property 

 or the register by transfer, mortgage, &c , have numbered up- 

 wards of 3129 ; transmissions under will, succession, &c, have 

 been investigated and registered to the number of fifty-seven. 

 And whenever the transfer or transmission has been absolute, 

 new certificates have been issued to the tansferee, devisee, or 

 successor, conferring the same simplicity and indefeasibility of 

 title as if he were the original grantee. 



It may be premature to boast too confidently of the non-exist- 

 ence of any claim on the assurance fund for indemnity against 



