For Cabinet. (to be sent on). I was told some weeks ago by Mr. Bunny that he had been informed by Mr. Borlase that Mr. Worgan Land Purchase Comrar. at Wanganui had accepted a fee of £100 (paid in his office) from private parties for adjusting some claim of theirs in connexion with the Lands which Mr. Worgan was instructed to buy for the Govt. I was also told personally by Wirihana an influential native that Mr. Worgan had proposed a partnership to him in reference to lands to be sold by Wirihanas relations, the nature of which I understood to be that the Government was to buy the Land at £1 an acre that the sellers were only to be paid 10/- and Wirihana and Worgan to divide the difference. I understood this to be the nature of the transaction but am too poor a Maori scholar to be certain that I precisely understood Wirihana - but am certain of the "partnership" and that he told me the Govt. was making a mistake in authorizing Worgan to give £1 an acre; and that if left to him he would buy it for 10/-. While acting for the Native Minister I had occasion to enquire into the circumstances of a case in which from personal knowledge I had reason to beleive Mr. Worgan was making arrangements which for the benefit of certain Europeans would involve a sacrifice of 3600 acres of Land, to satisfy a doubtful claim which one of the parties very shortly before assured me could be settled for £200. I have found it quite impossible to get to the bottom of the matter because of impediments which it appears to me are interposed or at least encouraged by Mr. Worgan. Express instructions given by me have simply been passed over with neglect and the matter is as obscure as at first. There are letters and telegrams on the subject extending over a period of some six weeks. The nature of the case leads me to beleive that Mr. Worgan has reasons for endeavouring to keep the matter dark. But the most serious point to which I wish to call the attention of Ministers is contained in a telegram just received by me from Messrs. Edwards, Pharazyn and Booth, and which appears to demand immediate action. Viewed in the light of the facts above stated, it does seem to involve Mr. Worgan in very grave suspicion and should be strictly enquired into - the more so as I know to be true the fact reported by those Gents. that suspicions of Mr. Worgan's conduct are very generally entertained. The telegram is appended. William Fox. 5. 7. 72