the Waitangi river, as indicated by the
Proclamation and map attached, will be
treated as unlicensed squatters, and
proceeded against according to law.
By order of his Honor the Superin-
tendent,

R. PACKER,
Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary's Office,
Christchurch, Sept. 23, 1857.

HIS Honor the Superintendent
directs the publication of the fol-
lowing correspondence for general in-
formation.

R. PACKER,
Provincial Secretary.

Superintendent's Office,
Christchurch, January 2, 1857.

SIR,—
I beg to bring under Honor's
notice that certain persons have settled
on the north side of the Waitangi river,
who represent, as I am informed, that
they have taken runs from the Land
Commissioner of Otago. And I have
been informed, though not upon any
official authority, that the gentlemen
in the Land Office at Otago regard the
northern branch of the river Waitangi
as the boundary between the Province
of Canterbury and Otago.

I am, however, at a loss to compre-
hend this, because not only does the
northern branch of that river bear
another name, but the map officially
annexed to, and forming part of the
Proclamation by which the Provinces
are defined, plainly points out that
the branch of the river running westerly
[and in a direction towards the]
Awarua river, is the boundary line
between Canterbury and Otago.

I shall be much obliged if your
Honor will cause immediate enquiry
to be made into this matter, as other-
wise the same country will be let to
persons applying to the Land Offices of
the two Provinces.

I have the honor, &c.
(Signed)
JAMES EDWARD FITZ GERALD,
Superintendent of Canterbury.

P. S. I have the honor to enclose a
fac-simile tracing of the map attached
to the Proclamation.

His honor the Superintendent
of Otago.

Superintendent's Office,
Dunedin, April 4, 1857.

SIR,—
Your Honor's letter on the subject
of the boundary line between the Pro-

130

vinces of Otago and Canterbury having
been referred to the Waste Land
Board of this Province, I have the honor
to annex a copy of their Report.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
W. CARGILL,
Superintendent.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Canterbury.

[ENCLOSURE.]
Waste Land Board Office,
Otago, April 2, 1857.

SIR,—I am directed by the Waste
Land Board to inform your Honor, in
reply to your letter of the 17th ult.,
enclosing copy of a letter from His
Honor the Superintendent of Canter-
bury, regarding the boundary line be-
tween the two Provinces, that the Board
is not aware of having leased Runs to
the north of the river Waitangi; and
with regard to the boundary of the
Provinces, respectfully to direct your
Honor's attention to the description of
the boundary line referred to, as given
in the Governor's Proclamation dated
Wellington, Feb. 28, 1853, fixing the
limits of the several Provinces. The
map or sketch which accompanied the
Proclamation was that of a wild and
untraversed country, and although per-
haps the best procurable at the time,
cannot of course be relied upon for the
definition and fixing of the boundary
line in question. The description, how-
ever, of the boundary line, as given in
the Proclamation, is in itself, it is pre-
sumed, sufficient to determine the point
at issue.

I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) P. PROUDFOOT,
Chief Commissioner.

His Honor the Superintendent
of Otago.

Superintendent's Office,
Christchurch, 20th April, 1857.

SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the
receipt of your Honor's letter of the
4th instant, enclosing a report from
the Waste Lands Board, on the sub-
ject of the boundary line between the
Provinces of Canterbury and Otago.

Your Honor will allow me to ex-
press some surprise that the Govern-
ment of Otago has avoided expressing
any opinion on so important a question,
involving as it will do shortly, property
to a very large amount. The Governor's
proclamation does not, as the Waste
Lands Board of Otago presumes, afford