G.—s.

4

does not permit, but I have adduced a number of circumstances in support of the position included in the premises—that it has received unusual facilities and protection from the Judge and District Officer separately and combined. I have to add another matter, however, in reference to the remarkable character of the opposition itself. I hold evidence from several respectable European witnesses showing, on his own statement, that Mr. Cooper, a principal and manager, did deliberately frame his arrangements upon an assumed and asserted partiality of the Court for Read. In conclusion, I will say for myself, that, in the absence of the District Officer from the Court at Tolago, the sudden and unexpected introduction by the Court of a third party, Captain Porter, between my clients and the Court was injurious to the interests of this department. My line of action was departed from. A foreign claim upon Parariki was set up by Natives among whom I believe Mrs. Porter is interested. Ido not state this in any spirit unfavourable to Captain Porter. His position was unofficial and anomalous (he characterized it as improper) ; he was dissatisfied at it, and offered to abandon it should I request. Captain Porter is Land Purchase Officer and District Officer in his own district, where his experience in one capacity serves him in the other; but in my district briefs are made up, and it is injurious to thrust a stranger among them, and, especially where money has been paid, it is undesirable to disturb existing arrangements. A Land Purchase Officer in one district ought not to interfere with the clients of an Officer in another district, nor do I think that a Judge should ask him to do so on any pretext whatever. If the officer so interfering has work elsewhere, he is precluded from knowing the conditions amongst which he places himself, and to appear suddenly upon the scene where a European opposition is interested—an opposition part of which has asserted its reliance, among other things, of the doubt being given in its favour —and to call clients together in the Courthouse at the opening of the Court to tell them what should be done, and how the case should be taken, is neither just to the Land Purchase Officer of the district, nor to the public interests that he represents. I have, &c, J. A. Wilson, The Hon. Sir Donald McLean, K.C.M.G. Land Purchase Officer.

No. 2. The TJndee Secbetaby, Native Department, to Messrs. Locke, Bogan, Campbell, and Captain Poetee. Sie,— Native Office, Wellington, 11th August, 1876. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to forward copy of a report by Mr. J. A. Wilson, Land Purchase Officer, Poverty Bay, in order that you may have an opportunity of making such remarks thereon as you may deem necessary. I have, &c, H. T. Claeke, Under Secretary. The above letter sent to Mr. Locke, Judge Rogan, Mr. Campbell, and Captain Porter.

No. 3. Mr. Locke to the Undee Seceetaet, Native Department. Sie, — Napier, 25th August, 1876. I have the honor to forward herewith my remarks on Mr. J. A. Wilson's report of 6th June, 1876. I have, &c, S. Locke. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 3. Mehoeandttm on Mr. Wilson's Repobt of 6th June, 1876, as Land Purchase Officer, Poverty Bay. I think the plainest way to answer Mr. Wilson will be to follow his report clause by clause, as he has written it. I. — Former Negotiations completed. The statements and charges under this head require but a short answer from me. I am not aware of any " unprecedented proceedings," either on the part of the Judge of the district or myself, that in any way prevented Mr. Wilson from bringing his case into Court. Mr. Wilson shows by his own statement that he was guilty of very gross neglect in the discharge of his duties. He says, "On the 25th October last I requested that the Native Land Court might be moved to commence to take cases in the middle of February last in which the Land Purchase Department is interested in the district," &c, but on reference in the Kahiti, it will be found that very few, if any, of Mr. Wilson's blocks were notified until after 10th March, 1876. He could not, therefore, have his plans " ripe" in February " for passing twenty-three blocks through the Court, containing 270,000 acres." Private parties, on the other hand, had the blocks in which they were interested, duly gazetted for hearing, and they came before the Court in the regular way, and at the proper time.