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any guide for the settlement of the
question. It simply states the boun-
dary to be "the Waitangi River," but
it is more than probable that the
several branches of that river have
different native names, and that none
of the branches bear the name of "the
Waitangi." It was to settle the doubt
thus arising that the map was added.
Nor is the map one of a wild and un-
traversed country, so far as the settle-
ment of this question is concerned. The
branches of the Waitangi, so far as the
question at issue is concerned, were
then, as now, well known, namely, that
there is one large branch running
northward towards Mount Cook, and
another westward towards the Awarua
river on the West Coast. The map
indicates that the westward—not the
northward branch is the boundary con-
templated, and the object of my letter
was to request that your Honor would
instruct the Waste Lands Board of
Otago not to let or sell lands to the
northward of that branch of the river,
because until there is a clear under-
standing on the matter, purchasers or
squatters will be liable to be dispos-
sessed by purchasers or squatters taking
such land or runs under the Waste
Lands Board of the Province of Can-
terbury, or to be subject to a very
costly and unpleasant litigation.

Considering that two very different
modes of disposing of the Waste Lands
are in force in the two Provinces, it
seems more desirable that this question
should be set at rest as speedily as
possible, and I shall be happy to send
a surveyor to the Waitangi to meet a
surveyor sent by your Honor to report
on the boundary, as settled by the
Proclamation and map, if your Honor
will give me sufficient notice (say two
months at least) of the time when the
surveyors can meet.

In order that the public may be fully
informed of the state of this question
I think it will be desirable to publish
this correspondence in the Government
Gazette, and I should be obliged if
your Honor would give it equal pub-
licity.

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

To His Honor
the Superintendent
of Otago.
&c., &c., &c.

Superintendent's Office,
Dunedin, 11th May, 1857.

SIR,—With reference to your
Honor's letter of the 20th ult., on the
subject of the boundary line between
this Province and Canterbury, I have
the honor to enclose a tracing of the
same, as made up by our Chief Sur-
veyor from the Governor's Proclama-
tion, and the map that accompanied it,
which map appears to be the same as
that of which you sent me a tracing.

In the event of your surveyor dis-
senting in any degree from the line
that has been adopted here, I shall be
happy to arrange for a meeting of both
surveyors on the spot, in order to
mutual adjustment on the earliest
practicable date, and which on enquiry
I find will be about six months hence.

Meanwhile, in holding to the map of
our Chief Surveyor, we shall, on hear-
ing from you, act with due caution as
regards any points you may possibly
dissent from, and in the belief that
your Government will do the same.

I have, &c.,
(Signed)
W. CARGILL.
Superintendent.
His Honor the Superintendent
of Canterbury.

Superintendent's Office,
Christchurch, 6th June, 1857.

SIR,—I have the honor to acknow-
ledge the receipt of your Honor's des-
patch of the 14th May, on the subject
of the boundary line between the
Provinces of Canterbury and Otago,
together with the enclosed tracing. I
can only in reply, request your Honor
to abstain from occupying the country
in dispute, and add that I cannot allow
six months to elapse before a final
settlement is made.

I see no way of settling the question
but by bringing it in the form of a
Declaratory Act before the next
General Assembly.

It is only sufficient to lay down the
tracing you have done me the honor
to send upon Sir George Grey's map
to show that the boundary you claim
is not that intended by the Proclama-
tion, and I may add that the Natives
name of the river marked out in your
Honor's map, is not, as I have been
informed, Waitangi.

I have the honor, &c.,
(Signed) J. E. FITZ GERALD,
Superintendent.
His Honor the Superintendent
of Otago.