FINNIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3265, 7 August 1873, Page 3

FINNIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.

The following is a copy of the letter addressed by MrFinnimore to MrC. E. Haughton, Under Secretary for Crown Lands, read in the House of Representatives : [private and confidential.] Taupo Quay, Wanganui, N.Z., duly 11, 1873.

My Hear Sir, —You have no doubt aeon by account sales that the last land realised nearly ten thousand pounds above upset price —and although the next to be offered will be from fifty to seventy miles from this place, still I think it will find purchasers at good rates : at any rate, my utmost powers of persuasion will be used to extract as many halfcrowns as possible above the upset price per acre. Of course in the present gigantic operation of the Government, five or ten thousand is a mere bagatelle ; and 1 have an opinion that every one has a right to go in for legitimate speculation if a chance offers, seeing which, I have jotted down a few ides which have lately presented themselves to me, and which may be made mutually advantageous, ' ■ . ■

What 1 propose is this ; that you advocate the sale to ipe of the whole of the land td bo nwii bU'erod to public competition;

and if the Government consent to my terms, as herein given, I will undertake to pay yon one-half of the net profit derived from thr sale on completion of the purchases, giving yon a guarantee to that effect. As the Government are no doubt anxious to allocate population as speedily as possible, the land, if bought by me, will be sold according to Government survey aud schedule. [ do not wish to retain one acre of the laud myself, although I might possibly, during the sale, be compelled to protect one or two blocks to make other lots bring a good price. I have it from good authority that Peat and Alexander offered to buy the whole of the Whenuakura block prior to auction at the upset price; but you see the difference between their buying and mine is this : they would hold the land against all comers as a cattle and sheep run, while I go in to sell to the highest bidder. This is a most important point, as it would assist in developing the Government scheme of settlement. Without further preface I will indicate my proposals :

Ist. I am prepared to advance on the upset price, giving L2 5s per acre for the whole of the railway reserve to be offered ; and other land I will give the upset price for if, after inspection, I approve of the value placed on them, 2nd. The sale to go on as usual, under the control of the Commissioner at Patea, my name not to appear, nor the sale to me to be made public in any way. The transaction, if entered into, to be strictly private ami confidential, the Government simply giving me an order on the Commissioner at Carlyle for the payment of balance of sum realised from the sale over and above the original price named in the contract or memo, of sale.

3rd. The Government to complete survey according to schedule, furnish lithographic plans as usual, and to advertise sale in Government Gazettes free of cost to me ; all other expenses of local advertising, commission, and clerks to be borne by me. 4th. On the acceptation of the Government of my offer I will pay LIOO at Wellington, free of exchange, as a guarantee of good faith and in part payment of the principal sum, to be hereafter ascertained. From the date of the completion of the surveys and the handing to me of the correct schedule, I will allow the Government to the day of sale interest on the balance of the purchase money at the rate of five per cent, per annum. The usual printed Government conditions of sale heretofore to be strictly adhered to ; forfeiture of deposits, if any, to be credited me. I think t have put the matter fully and fairly as a matter of business I advance on the upset price, take all the risk of altered times and the cooling of the laud fever, aud bear a fair proportion of expenses of sale; and, all chi gs considered, it is a good and equitable offer which the Government should accept, as the onus of making che land profitable is thrown on my shoulders, while the security is ample, the land itself being sold subject to the control of the Resident Commissioner

1 hate begging, or else, as an old resident in the Colony of some thirty years' standing, having seen hard service in the different Native wars, and having been twice ruined by thorn, I might, with some show of reason, ask for a large slice of laud, as I have yet never had one single rood given me by either General or Provincial Governments. This ought to weigh with the Government as I have both in the hell and out of it worked and fought hard for them. If the venture is successful, as you participate equally with me, there is the prospect on the one hand of putting a large aura in your pocket; while, on the other, you have no risk, and consequently no loss. Let me hear what you think of it by first mail, and believe me yours, very truly. W. Finnimore.