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improving the land in question. But
from information lately received by Government, the land appears to be a portion of a block purchased by the New
Zealand Company, for the special purpose of forming an addition to the Town site of Akaroa. Government could not then either legally or equitably, give up such valuable public property to the Canterbury Association, without securing some compensation from the latter, for the loss the public interests incur from the sale of town land by it as rural land.
The only course open, then, to the Government is to cause the value of the land to be assessed by persons appointed by itself, without reference to the improvements thereon; and upon payment by yourself, on behalf of the Association, of the price so ascertained, to issue a Crown Grant for the same, either to Mr. Aylmer or to yourself, as may be desired.

I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to state, at your earliest convenience, whether this mode of arrangement meets your approval.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) ALFRED DOMETT,
Colonial Secretary.
The Agent of the Canterbury Association.
&c. &c. &c.

that you will be good enough to state, for his information, whether it is correct that you have sold land at Akaroa which was not placed at the disposal of the Association, to purchasers from that body; and if so, to what extent such sales have been made, and to what individuals.

I am further to request that you will inform the Government what proceedings you propose to adopt to relieve the persons, who may have suffered from such unauthorized sales, in order that Government, when made acquainted with these and the foregoing particulars, may be enabled to decide as to the course it should pursue with regard to them.

The case of Mr. Aylmer has been made the subject of a separate communication.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) ALFRED DOMETT,
Colonial Secretary.
The Agent of the Canterbury Association.

December 16th, 1852.

SIR,—I have received your letter of the 20th November, making, on behalf of the Government, certain proposals to me with regard to lands stated to have been improperly conveyed by the Canterbury Association to Mr. Aylmer. In reply, I regret to inform you that it is impossible for the Association to accept and act upon the proposals to which I have referred.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) JOHN ROBERT GODLEY,
Agent Cant. Ass.
The Honorable Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 22nd November, 1852.

SIR,—It having been represented to the Governor-in-Chief by persons who have purchased land at Akaroa from the Canterbury Association, and by other purchasers of Town property there, that great injury is likely to result to them from the uncertainty presumed to exist with respect to their title to the lands sold them in that District, I have the honor, by direction of His Excellency, to request

Lyttelton December 17, 1852.

SIR,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd November, in which you request me to inform His Excellency whether I have sold land at Akaroa which was not placed at the disposal of the Canterbury Association, and what proceedings I propose to adopt with reference to such sales. In reply, I beg to state that I must decline answering the above questions; but that a list shall be sent to His Excellency, if he require it, of all the sections sold by the Association in the neighbourhood of Akaroa, with plans showing their situations with respect to the Town. His Excellency will then be able to judge for himself, whether I have sold land which was not placed at the disposal of the Association.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) JOHN ROBERT GODLEY,
Agent Cant. Ass.
The Honorable Colonial Secretary.

On the motion of Mr. Bell, seconded by the Colonial Secretary,
This Correspondence ordered to be printed.

The Colonial Secretary laid on the table certain statistical returns, which, on the motion of Capt. Smith, seconded by Mr. Carkeek, ordered to be printed.

Capt. Smith renewed discussion on the subject of the public wharf; after which His Excellency adjourned the Council at half-past four o’clock, sine die.

H. S. HARRISON,
Clerk of Council.

Council Chamber,
Jan. 4th, 1853.