224 - Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

Queen’s name being further used in it until a full and searching enquiry has been made into the whole subject.

I enclose to Your Excellency the copy of a letter addressed to the Colonial Secretary on the 19th May, 1875, proposing a plan for the settlement of all such cases as that now under consideration. From this you will find that there would be no difficulty in adjusting the claim brought under your notice, by allowing a full and impartial enquiry to be openly made into it, and then by paying a money compensation to the claimants if they were able to substantiate a right to such payment.

Twice during the last Session of the General Assembly I understood the Government to promise that this course should be pursued in reference to any claims of the nature of that now under consideration, but no step in that direction has up to this date been taken in the matter.

I beg to be permitted to quote one paragraph of my letter of the 19th May, 1875, for Your Excellency’s perusal :-

"Clearly such rights ought not to be dealt with secretly, in a private room, by one man. To expose him, under such circumstances, to the solicitations of private friends, or of the political supporters of the Government he serves, is a wrong to human nature, to independence of character, to public rights, to the interests of the Native owners, for there is no fair competition for their property, to the mass of Her Majesty’s subjects, because their interests are not fairly protected. A consideration of this will, I hope, make you feel that this system should be instantly stopped, and that perhaps upon the whole the proper course would be that an open enquiry should at once be instituted into each past transaction."

I also enclose an extract from the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Tairua Investigation Committee during the last Session of the General Assembly. Upon these two extracts I have no hesitation in venturing the opinion that it would have been better not to have entrusted to Mr. Mackay the settlement and adjustment of the claims which Mr. Russell might have, if any, over the block of land included in the Governor’s Proclamation of the 15th October, 1874.

I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,

G. GREY.

His Excellency, the Governor.

ENCLOSURES.

1. Telegrams.

Auckland, 30th April, 1875.

To Hon. Colonial Secretary,

Wellington.

Mr. Mackay, Agent of the General Government, has told me that he is, with the knowledge of the General Government, and of the Native Department, purchasing a tract of land from the Natives near the Te Aroha mountain, for Mr. Thomas Russell.

Europeans are prohibited from purchasing land from the Natives, and there is the greatest want of land at the Thames on which to locate intending settlers.

Would the Government be so kind as to furnish me, or to direct Mr. Mackay to furnish me, with copies of all papers relating to this transaction, and of the instructions to Mr. Mackay regarding it.

G. GREY,

Superintendent.

Government Buildings,

Wellington, 3rd May, 1875.

His Honor the Superintendent,

Auckland.

Your telegram of 30th April has been referred to Sir Donald McLean; an answer will be sent as soon as possible.

CHAS. C. BOWEN,

In the absence of the Colonial Secretary.

Government Buildings,

Wellington, 6th May, 1875.

His Honor the Superintendent,

Auckland.

With reference to your telegram 30th April last, Mr. Mackay was instructed to respect all existing agreements between Natives and Europeans whether for land or timber within proclaimed blocks. Mr. Russell was buying land at Waiharakeke and Hungahunga before the Government, and previous to the Proclamation under the Immigration and Public Works Act. The purchase of Waiharakeke included both the east and west side of the River Waihou. As Mr. Mackay considered it highly desirable that the Government should have the east side of the river south of the Aroha block, Mr. Mackay proposed to Mr. Russell that he should give up the land to the eastward of the river, and retain that on the western bank. The Government afterwards sanctioned this arrangement. Mr. Mackay reports that the greater part of the land which Mr. Russell is to have is swamp, and unfit for the location of small settlers, as it would require a large expenditure of capital in draining it before it would be fit for occupation. Mr. Mackay informs the Government that he has explained this to your Honor.

CHAS. C. BOWEN,

In the absence of the Colonial Secretary.

Auckland, 15th May, 1875.

To Hon. Colonial Secretary,

Wellington.

You have not yet supplied me, or said whether or not you would supply me, with copies of the papers for which I asked in my telegram of the 30th April. Would you be so good as to direct me to be furnished with such copies. It is important that I should get them at once. Might I also have copies of all papers relating to similar agreements, permitting private persons to take or exchange lands in the Hauraki, Thames, or Piako districts? It is right, when the whole future of this Province depends upon lands in those districts being open to all, that I should have the fullest knowledge regarding the questions I have alluded to.

G. GREY.

Government Buildings,

Wellington, May 17th, 1875.

His Honor the Superintendent,

Auckland.

Your telegrams asking for papers will be submitted to Colonial Secretary and Native Minister on their return to Wellington in a few days.

CHAS. C. BOWEN.