I.—6a

"C." My Deab Sib,— Wellington Club, Wellington, N.Z., 3rd December, 1889. You were, I believe, informed by yesterday's mail that the Government had consented to accept land-orders in payment of the Ellesmere lands. Now, payment should be made not later than the 12th, and I have to return to Auckland and arrange to send these orders on (to a value of over £3,200), and it may be impossible to have them sent by Friday's mail. I therefore write to ask you if it matters if payment be delayed two or three days. I imagine payments are often delayed more than that. Please wire me at Wyndham Street, Auckland, whether you permit the delay, and, if not, I must make a desperate effort to send them away on Friday. lam anxious, and the Minister is also anxious, that I should send in all I can this time, and to make an end of this business. If you can grant this delay, please tell the Beceiver so, and very much oblige. Yours sincerely, Mr. Baker. J. B. Whyte.

"D." Christchurch, 6th December, 1889. Befebking to your memorandum of December 2nd, on the subject of using Forest Trees Planting scrip in acquiring Ellesmere lands, I should be glad if you would send me down a copy of the recent decision in the Court of Appeal to which you refer. I presume it is the case of Paterson and Fairlie v. Humphries, which, as it also bears on Job Wason's case, I should be glad to see, and without it I cannot understand your remark that the scrip is exercisable to the full amount stated therein. As to stamp-duty. ... J. Williams, The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. For Commissioner of Crown Lands.

"E." (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th December, 1889. Please reply about few days' delay. Presume all right. •Mr. Baker, Commissioner Crown Lands, Christchurch. J. B. Whyte.

"F." (Telegram.) Will hold over Murray's matter for one week. Meantime he deposits his cheque with the Eeceiver. Absent till this morning, so could not reply to your telegram. John H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands. J. B. Whyte, Auckland.

«a." (No. 918/2.) General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 13th December, 1889. In reply ... I enclose copy of the judgment in the Court of Appeal case, Paterson and Fairlie t>. Humphries, as requested. H. J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch.

"H." (Telegram.) Wellington, 18th December, 1889. What is irregularity in indorsement of Mr. Whyte's scrip, which he states you have refused. If not serious you can accept scrip, and have any technical error corrected afterwards. Beceiver, Land Bevenue, Christchurch. H. J. H. Eliott.

i< j " (Telegram.) 18th December, 1889. Befebeing to your telegram loth April last. Can Chief Clerk, Lands Office, Auckland, certify to transfer of Forest scrip ? Does decision Court Appeal, referred to in your memo. 2nd instant, render inoperative subsection (2) of section 3 "New Zealand State Forests Act Amendment Act, 1888" ? Land-orders value upward three thousand pounds tendered me to-day on behalf of one person. J. Williams, The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Keceiver of Land Bevenue.

"K." (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th December, 1889. We must accept certificates of transfer scrip signed by Chief Clerk, who acted for Commissioner of Crown Lands, having in view decision of Court of Appeal. Government agreed not to offer any obstacle to exercise of scrip to full value in acquiring Ellesmere lands, as Commissioner was informed by my memo, of 2nd December instant, No. 873. Eeceiver, Land Eevenue, Christchurch. H. J. H. Eliott.

"L." (Telegram.) 19th December, 1889. Ibbegularities Whyte's scrip. Some transferred in blank, and such transfers certified to by Chief Clerk, Land Office, Auckland. Others not transferred; two not dated; one exercisable only in Auckland District. See subsection (1), section 3, "State Forests Act, 1888." One which is transferred in blank is not assented to by Commissioner of Crown Lands. Am Ito receive them as they are ? The bank will insert transferees' names. J. Williams, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. Receiver of Land Bevenue.

25