SUPPLEMENT
TO THE
NEW ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE,
OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1842.
Published by Authority.

VOL. H.] AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1842. [No. 11.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Conclusion of the Debates, on Monday, January
31st, on the Second Reading of the First Land
Claims Bill,

(Continued from the Supplement of the 9th instant.)

That portion of the bill has been found to work
well, and the proceedings of the Commissioners
have given general satisfaction. The anxious
desire of the Government has been to give the
most patient attention to the petitions to which I
have drawn your attention; being fully aware
that the bill could not be carried, with any view
to its beneficial working, unless with the concur-
rence of the Council, and the good feeling of the
Colonists. I have offered these observations on
the general principles of the Bill, and shall re-
serve any further remarks for my reply.

Mr. Porter and Mr. Clendon severally asked for
explanations with regard to the laying out of dis-
tricts, and their extent.

The Colonial Secretary. -The quantity of land
to be laid out for selection will be very large in
extent. The Hon. Member on my right (Mr.
Clendon) need be under no apprehension, as an
ample choice will be afforded. In the northern
districts the lands are generally of a varied and
broken nature; it is not intended to place settlers
on the tops of hills, but to lay out the best lands
that can be selected; consequently, a great num-
ber of claimants will have the option of selecting
their lands almost immediately.

The Governor. -There is an express proviso in
the 19th clause in favour of private claimants,
who have the option of retaining so much of
their lands as may happen to be situate in any of
the specified districts. The only thing is that
the location of settlements round the town have
yet to be selected.

Mr. Porter. -This is not a satisfactory con-
cession, for many of the settlers perceive the
injury that would result to their property, if the
concentration system was carried out, and at
once remove. They will not be satisfied unless
there be a very great alteration in the preamble of
the Bill and the repealing clause. "Her Majes-
ty's Government have declared their intention
" to apply to all other persons the rule to which
"the New Zealand Company will be subject in
"respect of the lands claimed by them within
"the Colony;" but the first clause of the Bill,
which follows the preamble, declares that so
much of the former Ordinance "as empowers
"His Excellency the Governor to grant any part
"of the land claimed is hereby repealed." Here
does appear some contradiction; and, with re-
gard to dispersed settlements, New Zealand has
mainly attained its present position from the
enterprize of individuals who formed small sta-
tions in parts of the country, generally, far from
each other.

The Governor. -Although I quite agree with
Mr. Porter that small settlements are of use, it
cannot be doubted but that much greater benefits
will accrue to the community at large, and the
colony advance much more rapidly by concentra-
ting population. If, however, those located on
dispersed settlements wish to remain, they have
the option of part of their land and a lease.

The Colonial Secretary. -Although parts of
the Ordinance to which the Hon. Member has
referred, are proposed to be repealed by the first
clause of the bill now before the Council, yet the
succeeding clauses provide for the re-enactment