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Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

that to which they had no more right than themselves.

I pass over the lasting wrong done to the same people by a tract of such vast extent being unlawfully shut up in such few hands—to the shock given to public morals by such unlawful and unjust dealings with public property being perpetrated on such a large scale; but I wish to point out to Your Excellency that the people who have observed the law, and paid highly and fairly for their small estates, and who, as well as their heirs and descendants, are to labour and to be taxed to make others (wrong-doers) and their heirs and descendants wealthy, must also for many generations occupy a very inferior social position to that of the heirs and descendants of those who have wronged them; for such vast disparity of property must lead to social elevations and corresponding degradations.

Had this great disparity of property arisen from lawful and legitimate causes, it would have been a very different question, but, as the Superintendent of this Province, I will make any sacrifice in the world to prevent those who have done wrong from advancing themselves and their heirs in this way, and from degrading their fellow-men and their heirs for generations to come.

If the lands, confiscated in the name of the Crown for certain declared reasons and objects, are not dealt with for the purposes prescribed by the law under which they are taken, but are privately allowed to pass, as great estates, into the hands of others of the Queen’s subjects of a different race from those from whom they are taken, then in my belief a very great wrong is committed, which reflects discredit on the nation.

I would further venture to maintain, that in such a case that has been done which may form a precedent for the gravest evils.

For if some of the Queen’s subjects, under the name of “Responsible Ministers,” can use the name of the Crown, to take, for some offence, from another race under the Queen’s rule, and consequently under her protection, large tracts of territory, and have again the power, by making use of the name of the Crown, of privately and unlawfully appropriating valuable portions of these lands to themselves, or their friends, a great danger must be created that, under the existence of so vicious a system, lands might at last be taken, in the name of the Crown, rather for some ulterior personal objects than from the sole desire of securing the general safety and welfare; and nothing could be worse for any country, or reflect more discredit on the Crown and Empire, than the introduction of such a system.

I wish to point out that the objection I thus raise here is not to an individual who may have been a Responsible Minister, or a supporter of such Minister, acquiring at any time directly from the Crown, by lawful and legitimate means, a portion of land which had been confiscated; but what I object to is the unlawful or unfair acquisition of such lands by such persons.

An attempt was made during the last Session of the Assembly to prevent the completion of the transaction of conveying to Mr. Russell 80,000 acres of confiscated land which I am bringing under Your Excellency’s notice, but it soon became evident that the matter would be dealt with solely as a party question. I therefore felt strongly the impropriety of attempting to settle in a Legislature disturbed by party feelings and party strife a question which could only be justly and calmly settled in the Courts of Law provided for such purpose. And in pursuance of the resolution I formed of submitting the question to the legal tribunals, I now respectfully solicit your Excellency to comply with the request I have referred to you, with the view of obtaining the powers requisite to enable me to adopt this course, and to recover, if possible, from those who have taken and held possession of this land for more than three years, the losses this Province may show it has sustained, by settlers having been for so long a period shut out from the occupation of the land, and from having been compelled to contribute so largely to the cost of an expensive Police force, which would have been in great part unnecessary if I could have placed fitting settlers on the land.

I now respectfully request that you will be so good as to transmit to the Secretary of State copies of my three letters to Your Excellency. I can assure you that I make this request with no intention of embarrassing Your Excellency, as you have given me all the aid I ask for in prosecuting my duties, but I wish to bring under the notice of the Home Government and the British Parliament the very serious questions which have arisen here, and from which I believe very important results will inevitably spring.

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,

G. GREY.

His Excellency the Governor.

VI.

Government House,

Auckland, 29th May, 1876.

SIR,—

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor’s letter dated the 27th inst., and I beg to inform you that I will forward it to Wellington by next mail for the consideration of my responsible Advisers.

2. I shall have no objections to forwarding this correspondence to the Secretary of State as you request, provided your Honor will furnish me with two more copies of your letters, which will be required for that purpose.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

NORMANBY.

To His Honor the Superintendent of Auckland.

VII.

Superintendent’s Office,

Auckland, 2nd June, 1876.

MY LORD,—

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s letter of the 29th ultimo, informing me that you would have no objections to forwarding copies of a correspondence to the Secretary of State, as I requested, provided I would furnish Your Excellency with two more copies of my letters, which would be required for that purpose.

In reply, I transmit, in compliance with Your Excellency’s desire, copies of the letters (as noted in the margin) required by you.

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,

G. GREY,

His Excellency the Governor.

ADDITIONAL LICENSES TO KILL GAME.

Superintendent’s Office,

Auckland, 2nd June, 1876.

ADDITIONAL Licenses to Kill Game have been issued to the undermentioned persons, in accor-