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1873. NEW ZEALAND.

TARANAKI NEW ZEALAND COMPANY'S LAND CLAIMS ACT, (REPORT OF COMMISSIONER UNDER).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency,

No. 1. Mr. G-. S. Coopee to Mr. W. J. W. Hamilton. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4th February, 1873. I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to transmit to you the enclosed Commission under the hand of His Excellency the Governor in Council and the Seal of the Colony, appointing you to be a Commissioner under " The Taranaki New Zealand Company's Land Claims Act, 1872," a copy of which I transmit for your information. I am to request you to be good enough to proceed to New Plymouth by the first opportunity, for the purpose of carrying out the intention of the Legislature as expressed in the second section of the Act. I have, &c., G. S. Coopee, W. J. W. Hamilton, Esq., Picton. Under Secretary. G. F. Bowen, Governor. To William John Waebueton Hamilton, of Christchurch, in the Province of Canter* bury, Esquire,—Greeting. Whereas by an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, intituled " The Taranaki New Zealand Company's Land Claims Act, 1872," it is enacted that it shall bo lawful for the Governor to issue to any such claimant as in the said Act mentioned, land orders in the form in the Schedule to the said Act, which shall authorize such claimant to purchase, to an amount to be fixed in each case by a Commissioner or other officer, not being a resident in the Province of Taranaki, to be appointed by the Governor in Council, any of the lands of the Crown in the said Proviuce open for sale or selection, subject to the terms aud conditions in the said Act set forth: And whereas for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the said Act, it is desirable and expedient that such Commissioner should be appointed : Now therefore, I, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, reposing full confidence in your integrity, skill, and ability, do hereby, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand, and in exercise and in pursuance of every power or authority enabling me in this behalf, appoint you the said William John Warburton Hamilton, not being a resident in the said Province, to bo the Commissioner under the said Act, with all the powers, duties, and authorities by the said Act conferred or imposed on, or to be exercised by, such Commissioner. Given under the hand of His Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice Admiral of the same, at the Government House at Wellington ; and issued under the Seal of the said Colony, this twenty-ninth day of January, iv the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three. G. M. Wateeuoitse, Presiding. Approved in Council, Forstee Goeinu, Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 2. Mr. J. W. Hamilton to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir— Wellington, 24th March, 1873. In reference to your letter quoted in the margin, enclosing commission of His Excellency the No. 55, Feb. 4, Governor in Council, of 29th January last, issued to mc under " The Taranaki New Zealand Company's 1873. I—U. 8.