39

C—No. 3

Superintendent's Office, Canterbury, March 2, 1857. SIR,I have the honor to state that I have advanced the sum of £205 to Mr. Hamilton, as Commissioner for the purchase of Native Lands. Two purchases have been completed,—in both cases of land which had been previously purchased by the Crown. It appears now to be decided that the payments made on former occasions were made to the wrong natives ; or, at all events, to natives who had not the sole and indisputable title to the land. Hence it is manifest that in both these cases the purchase is in completion of former purchases by the Crown, and are therefore liable to be borne upon the loan for Native Land Purchases. Besides this, more than a-half of the land included in one of these Blocks is in the Province of Nelson, and therefore ought not to be paid for out of funds of this Province. For these reasons, I beg his Excellency's Government will be so good as to order the refund of the sum of Two Hundred and Five Pounds to the Provincial Chest. I have, &c,, (Signed) James Edward Fitzgerald. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, &c, &c, &c. Colonial Treasury, Auckland, May 21, 1857. Sir,— In reply to your Honor's letter of the 2nd March last, No. 40, addressed to the Colonial Secretary stating that you had advanced the sum of Two Hundred and Five Pounds (£205) to Mr. Hamilton, as Commissioner for the purchase of certain Native Lands, I have the honor to inform you that the Sub-Treasurer at Lyttelton has been authorised, upon the presentation of the proper vouchers, to refund that amount to your Honor. I have, &c, (Signed) C. W. Bichmond. His Honor the Superintendent, Conterbury. Colonial Treasury, Auckland, May 21, 1857. Sir,— The Superintendent of Canterbury having reported that he had advanced the sum of Two Hundred and Five Pounds (£205) to Mr. Hamilton, as Commissioner for the purchase of certain Native Lands, I am directed by the Colonial Treasurer to authorise you, upon the presentation of the proper vouchers, to refund that amount to his Honor, and to charge it against the loan of £100,000 for Native Land Purchases. I have, &c, (Signed) W. Gisborne, The Sub-Treasurer, Under-Secretary. Canterbury. Lyttelton, February 27, 1857. Sir,— Eeferring to my letter dated Akaroa, December 11, 1856, I have now the honor to enclose the Deed of Conveyance to the Crown, (dated 1 lth Dec, '56,) by Maoriee of Akaroa, of their remaining lands, together with tracings of the maps of their three reserves. I have, &c, (Signed) J. W. Hamilton, D. McLean, Esq., Agent for the purchase. &c, &c, &c. P.S.—I shall send authenticated copies of Akaroa and Kaiapoi Deeds to the Provincial Government for record. Land Commissioner's Office, March 30th, 1857. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ult., enclosing the Deed of Conveyance to the Crown by the Maories of Akaroa of their remaining lands, together with tracings of the maps of their three reserves. I am glad that you have taken the precaution of sending authenticated copies of the Akaroa and Kaiapoi Deeds to the Provincial Government, for record ; as it may be the means of preventing further differences or misunderstanding with the Natives. I have, &c, (Signed) Donald McLean. J. W. Hamilton, Esq., Chief Commissioner. Lyttelton.