G.—No. 40.

10

CLAIMS OP THE PROVINCE OP

But I have further to state that Mr. Gisborne will address himself at the earliest period possible to the consideration of the various matters of account in dispute, and in the meantime will order that sums be released from and out of the aforesaid sum of £25,568 7s. 4d., and paid over to the Province from time to time in amounts equal to those stopped from the Land Fund, to an amount not exceeding in the whole £3,500, or until the Government has decided the various questions that are raised upon the accounts—it being understood that in respect of any claim made by the Province which may be disallowed m the settlement, the Government shall have the power to recoup any advances it may have made out of other moneys raised under the Wellington Debts Act. " I have, &c, tt- tt i o • ■, Woodwaed, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Assistant Treasurer.

No. 15. The Hon. W. Gisboene to Dr. Featheeston (No. 130.) Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4th April 1872 Adverting to the accounts referred to in Mr. Woodward's letter of the 23rd ultimo between the Province of Wellington and the Colony, I have the honor to state that, after careful consideration I have arrived at the following conclusions on the subject. The Government are prepared to eliminate out of the accounts all cash expenses incurred by them since the date (16th October, 1869) of the notice of the extinction of the Native title in the EangitikeiManawatu Block, in the settlement of disputes arising out of that purchase, and to charge these expenses to the loan for the purchase of lands in the North Island, under the Public Works and Immigration Act, the interest and sinking fund of the cost to be chargeable, as in the case of other land purchases in the Province of Wellington, to that Province. Some arrears on account of Native rents have not lately been recoverable, as the homesteads occupied by the tenants owing such arrears had been given up to the Natives ; but, as I understand that these homesteads have now been repurchased by the Crown, that recovery will proceed as formerly and the amounts recovered paid to the Treasury. In the meantime, the Province will be relieved from the charge, and any balance which may ultimately not be recovered is to be chargeable to the Province either as a charge on the Land Purchase Loan or otherwise, in such manner as may hereafter be adjusted. In order to show your Honor fully what has taken place in respect of the reserves made from the Natives and homesteads repurchased, I will request Mr. Morgan Carkeek the surveyor engaged,_ to make me a detailed report thereon, and I will, when I receive it, transmit to you a copy of it. J ********* tt-. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. yj- G-isbobne

No. 16. Mr. Halse to Mr. Caekeee. (No. 1314-1.) SIE — Native Office, Wellington, sth April, 1872. ...... X have the honor > °y direction of Mr. Gisborne, to request you to forward to this office for his information,'a full report as to the reserves set aside, lands purchased or otherwise detained'and any other arrangement made, under the direction of Hon. Mr. McLean, relative to the EamntikeiManawatu Block. ° Mr Gisborne wishes you to be particular in distinguishing homesteads repurchased in the abovenamed block, and to furnish the names of the occupiers of each. An early reply is requested. I have, &c, ._. _ , , _ _ H. Halse, M. Carkeek, Esq., Foxton. Assistant Native Secretary.

No. 17. Dr. Eeatheeston to the Hon. D. McLean. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th February, 1871. 1 eind that you have given away to sellers, non-sellers, and parties excluded by the Native Land Court, some 12,000 acres of the Manawatu. Kemp, by whose authority nobody knows has since given away another 4,000 acres. Part of the land thus given away is swamp, sandy, and not of much value, but t>y far the greatest portion is the choicest and most valuable land in the whole block I deny the right of the Government thus to deal with the Provincial estate. I have claimed on behaif of the Province, payment for the whole of this land at the upset price of £1 per acre, and that the expense of the survey of these 16,000 acres, and of yours and Kemp's mission, should not be charged Provincially. The Cabinet, consisting of Fox, Gisborne, and Sewell, yesterday refused to admitrth'is claim or any claim whatever. Ido not know whether they have consulted you and Bell, but it is a matter of deep regret to me that I shall be obliged, under these circumstances, to record my protest as Superintendent, against the Manawatu arrangement. I have, <fee, m , TT ' _, , I. E. Eeatheeston, The Hon. D. McLean, Auckland. Superintendent.