F—No. 5

Mrs. Margaret. 12th August, :

ForbesbrQcteA, and other expences incurred in cultivating this land, when in a short period afterwards, , another surveyor appeared who intimated the necessity of desisting from further cultivation, or making other improvements, as 4 J acres were more than His Excellency the Governor could now give, and that a grant would be made out for 1J acres. Shortly after this verbal statement an official Circular was received from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the deed for 11 acres was ready, and that if it were not taken up within one month and the fees paid thereon, the grant would be cancelled. " That your Memorialist, fearing that her right to the whole purchase might be compromised by such an act, did not at first intend taking up her diminished grant within the specified time, but various verbal intimations of the necessity of doing so without delay, having been made to her, she at last became alarmed, lest even the remaining 1J acres should betaken from her, or that they might be still further reduced in quantity as on the former occasion. Acting under these fears, she was induced to take up the grant in question. She has etill retained possession of the land however, and, on the surveyor attempting to survey it some time ago, she refused to permit him, and pulled down the flags which he had placed on the ground, her feelings of irritation and disappointment at seeing the land thus torn from her, which she had acquired with such hard and incessant labour, having overcome, perhaps, her better judgment. " That your Memorialist, in taking the grant for so email a portion of her honestly acquired property, had no intention of waving her claim to the remainder of the land, and therefore, at the first meeting of your honourable Council, throws herself with confidence upon its consideration. " Your Memorialist therefore humbly prays, &c." 9. Chairman.] —Have you yourself bought any portion of this land since the public sale ?— Yes. 10. Are you able to state the price ?—There were no bidders at the sale. I bought some afterwards at the upset price. I cannot say exactly how much I paid, but it will be found among the Government papers. 11. Are you able to give the Committee any general idea how much land you bought and at what price ?—I bought one acre from Mr. Gilfillan at second hand for which I paid £100. Mr. Hay bought a quarter of an acre further down for which he paid £50, and Mr. Williams a quarter at £40. I think these were the prices paid. 12. Mr. Weld.] —This, I understand, was part of your original land which you did not buy ? —It was. 13. Chairman.] Do you recollect how much you bought at the upset price ?—I bought five allotments. I also bought some from Mr. Nathan for £23, rather more than a quarter of an acre. When Mr. Nathan heard that it was originally mine, he let me have it for what he had paid for it. Witness discharged. Adjourned to Tuesday at 10j. Hugh Carleton, Chairman.

Tuesday', 13th August, 1861. Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:— Mr. Dillon Bell, Hon. Mr. Crosbie Ward, „ Waring Taylor, Mr. Firth. „ C. J. Taylor, Mr. Carleton in the chair. Minutes of last Meeting were read and confirmed. Motion made and Question proposed:— That the words "In any case not hereinbofore provided for," in sec. 33 of the Act of 1856 ought to be repealed. (Mr. Firth.) And the Question being put, The Committee divided:— Ayes, 3. I .No, 1. Mr. Dillon Bell, Mr. Waring Taylor. „ Chairman, j „ Firth. Mr. C. Taylor declined to vote. So it was resolved in the Affirmative. Mr. Firth, in moving the omission of the words "In any case not hereinbefore provided for," observed that he intends simply to provide for those few cases of special hardship, which have been known to exist for many years, and without any intention of subverting the Act of 1856, except so far as to give its legitimate operation to clause 33 in the Act of 1856. Moved by Mr. Chairman, That the Minutes of proceedings be laid on the table of the House when the Report is brought up. Resolved in the Affirmative. Mr. Chairman read a draft Report, which was adopted, and Ordered to be presented to the House. The Committee then adjourned sine die. Hugh Carleton, Chairman.

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LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT EXTENSION BILL