75

G.—s

No. 80. Mr. J. A. Wilson to the Undeb Seceetaey, Native Department. Sie, — Land Purchase Office, Gisborne, 21st July, 1876. I have the honor to forward the correspondence attached for the information of Government. The deeds are prepared for Taumatarata, Karamumanono, Rangikohua, Mangapapa, Puremungahua, Matatuotonga, and Ngatavvakawaka, and I am ready to pay for these blocks, the same haviug passed the Native Laud Court without dispute. I cannot do so, however, until a Resident Magistrate attends to attest the Natives' signatures to the conveyances to the Crown. It would probably occupy three or four days looking the Natives up and getting all their signatures. I had hoped to have the Government work, signature taking, done this week, because Dr. Nesbitt had informed me, on the 17th instant, it was his intention to visit Tolago immediately to attest signatures for private parties who had asked him to do so. The Doctor, however, changed his mind when he became aware that Mr. Campbell, R.M., had performed the private business last week. Awaiting instructions. I have, &c, H. T. Clarke, Esq., Under Secretary, J. A. Wilson, Native Office (Land Purchase Branch), Wellington. Land Purchase Officer. Mr. J. A. Wilson to Dr. Nesbitt. Sie, — Land Purchase Office, Gisborne, 20th July, 1876. I have the honor to state that I am anxious to obtain as soon as possible the signatures of a number of Natives at Tolago to certain deeds of conveyance to the Crown for lands at that place that have lately passed the Native Land Court. As it is necessary, however, that each signature should be taken in the presence of a Resident Magistrate, I would ask you, should it meet your approval and you be able to do so, to be good enough to afford me an opportunity at an early date to take the signatures at Tolago in your presence. There are nearly 200 signatures to attest. I have, <fcc, J. A. Wilson, Dr. Nesbitt, Resident Magistrate, Gisborne. Land Purchase Officer. Dr. Nesbitt to Mr. J. A. Wilson. Sie, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Gisborne, 21st July, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, requesting me to attend at Tolago Bay for the purpose of attesting Natives' signatures. In reply, I beg to say that 1 decline doing so unless specially instructed by the Government, for the following reasons : — My absence from the Court at present would be attended with a great deal of inconvenience to the public. Such a journey as you suggest involves an amount of personal expense which I can hardly afford considering the small salary I receive ; and, further, I do not see any impossibility in the Natives coming to Gisborne, seeing that they chiefly are interested in haviug the deeds completed. I have, &c, J. A. Wilson, Esq., Government Commissioner. W. K. Nesbitt, R.M.

No. 81. The Under Seceetaet, Native Department, to Mr. J. A. Wilson. Sie, — Native and Defence Office, Wellington, 3rd August, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st ultimo, with reference to the difficulty of obtaining the attestation of a Resident Magistrate to deeds of conveyance to the Crown for the land purchased by you, and to inform you, in reply, that Dr. Nesbitt has just been appointed to a Board of Inquiry under the Civil Service Act, and will require to be at Gisborne; but I have forwarded a letter of instructions to Mr. J. H. Campbell, a copy of which is enclosed for your information, which it is hoped will obviate the present and all future difficulty in the matter. I have, <&c, H. T. Claeee, J. A. Wilson, Esq., Land Purchase Officer, Gisborne. Under Secretary.

No. 82. The Undee Seceetaey, Native Department, to Mr. J. H. Campbell. Sib, — Native and Defence Office, Wellington, 3rd August, 1876. I have the honor, by the direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to request that you will be good enough, when at Tolago Bay, to attest such deeds of conyeyance to the Crown as may be brought before you by Mr. J. A. Wilson. 1 am also to state that you are to consider it a part of your duty to afford every assistance in your power to Laud Purchase Olncers, and proceed when requested by them to any place within vour district for the purpose of witnessing signatures whenever it may be necessary for you to do so. I have, &c, H. T. Claeke, J. H. Campbell, Esq., E.M., Waiapu. Under Secretary. 10— G. 5.