C—No. 6.

10

PAPERS RELATING TO AN ALLEGED SALE

Memoeandum for His Honor the Slteeintendent. The Members of the Provincial Executive sitting on the Board, including the Gold Fields Secretary, being in favour of the sale, I know of no objections. The Board can reverse its decisions. The correspondence in the Gold Fields Office was not laid before the Board. J. T. Thomson, 6th April, 1872. . Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Can the Board reverse its decision now, so as that the land in' question shall revert to the Crown without cost beyond return of deposit ? 4th June, 1872. . J. Macandeew. 9th April, 1872. It might reserve its decision, but purchase money having been paid, the Board would have to meet an action for damages. J. T. Thomson, To His Honor the Superintendent. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

No. 18. The Hon. W. Gisboene to His Honor J. Macandeew. • Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 29th April, 1872. Adverting to your Honor's letter of the 18th instant, returning, with certain remarks, the papers referred to you on the 16th ultimo, relative to the sale of auriferous land at Switzers, I have the honor to request you to be good enough to inform me, whether the buyer is now, or has been since the sale, mining for gold on the land in question, or allowing others to do so ; and whether your Honor thinks that it would be advisable under the circumstances to give the buyer notice that the Crown will not permit him to mine for gold on that land ; and whether such a notice would be likely to have the effect of inducing him to throw up the land. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. W. Gisboene.

No. 19. His Honor J. Macandbew to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaky. Sie,- —■ Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 17th June, 1872. Referring to your letter of 29th April, relative to the sale of auriferous land at Switzers, I have the honor to forward herewith a communication on the subject from the Warden of the district, which fully sets forth the position of the case. I have, &c, J. Macandeew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 19. Mr. J. W. Wood to the Peovincial Gold Fields Sbceetaet. Sib,— Warden's Office, Switzers, 18th May, 1872. In reply to His Honor's memorandum on the Colonial Secretary's letter, as per margin, respecting the fifty acres of Winding Creek, sold to Allan McDonald about twelve months ago, I have the honor to inform you that the original purchaser (McDonald) has sold the land to Bastings and Simson, who have been and are now mining on it for gold. I called up at Simson's a few days ago, and wormed out of him that they had spent upwards of £700 on the claim alone, and that they have only got a little over £100 worth of gold out of it, and that the claim and plant is in debt now over £600. To turn round on them, after their having laid out money in plant and labour, and tell them the Crown w.ould not allow them to mine for gold upon it, would be, I consider, injudicious, as they would, most likely, take no notice of the order, or seek compensation, and raise a cry about the number of men thrown out of employment by the act of the Government. I think the best course to adopt would be to let the disagreeable subject drop, as Mr. Kalph Shaw tells me that he will not bother himself again on the subject, but let Simson ruin himself working at it. I believe if the ground was thrown open again that no one would try and work it, as it is deep sinking and very wet, and individual miners have not the money to speculate in it. I have, &c, J. W. Wood, The Provincial Gold Fields Secretary, Dunedin. Warden.

No. 20. Mr. C. E. Haugiiton to the Cohmissioneb of Ceown Lands, Dunedin. (Telegram.) 3rd July, 1872. Please send me copy minutes of "Waste Lands Board, 4th May, 1871, relative alleged sale auriferous land to McDonald, at Switzers. To Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. Hatohton.