Page:An essay on the transfer of land by registration.djvu/50

 vast superiority of metropolitan as distinguished from district registration. There is no occasion for the parties to any dealing to visit the metropolis. The transferror [sic] would have in his possession his certificate bearing endorsed thereon memorials of all that it concerns a transferee to be made acquainted with, except the existence of inhibitions or caveats^ The parties appear before a mayor, notary public, or commissioner for taking affidavits, to have their identity proved in the prescribed manner. The brief form of transfer printed on the back of the certificate of title is then signed by the transferror, and attested by the mayor or other functionary. The transferee then by post or wire enquires of the registrar whether caveats or inhibitions are entered against the title, and directs caveat to be lodged for the protection of his interest. The certificate is then sent by post to the metropolis to be registered, and is returned to the transferee with registration stamp. The cost of such a transaction, postage and telegrams inclusive, would seldom exceed twenty shillings, and the business may be completed within a day or two in ordinary cases.

It is altogether a mistake to suppose that any advantage or even convenience is secured by having a registry office in the neighbourhood of the land which may be the subject of a dealing. The advantage, such as it is—and that is scarcely appreciable—lies in having the registry near where the parties may happen to be together at the time of the dealing, and that, in the majority of cases, would be the metropolis.

The electric wire and the penny post solve all the difficulty, rendering the saving of a few hours the only advantage which parties at the place of registration have over parties at a distance.

There are many other objections to district registration as compared with metropolitan; but it may suffice to mention in addition to the "enormous, we may say the prohibitory, cost" of the former, the immense patronage it would place in the hands of Government throughout the boroughs and chief towns of