THE COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS AT AKARGA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 66, 10 April 1852, Page 3

THE COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS AT AKARGA.

The following letter from a settler at Akaroa gives some idea of the state of public affairs there :— Akauoa, March 27th, 1852. I cannot give you a lengthened account of the Governor's doings here, for the best of reasons, because helms done but little. Hempelman's claim has been allowed thus far, he is to have 200 acres outside the Canterbury block. Although he has not a particle of right, no one can reasonably compiain as no private interest is interfered with. The part of Mr. Watson's land on which the house built by the French Commodore is situated, of which the Colonel wrote demanding immediate possession, the Governor considers so much a matter of doubt as to whether it belongs to the Government or no, that he advises Mr. Watson to write to the Home Go~ vermnent about it. The Governor brought the' Crown grants for the French claimants here, which have, since been handed over to them, but without being gazetted in accordance with the ordinance. The best tiling the Governor has dune here, is the giving up the Magazine for the purposes of a Church. It is a capacious building, a.nd with the money subscribed added to that, promised by Mr. Godley, will make an excellent p.-uce of worship. It is said the Colonel is to leave this, and take up his quarters in Christehurch ; if he oniy succeed in making himself as disagreeable as he has done here, they will soon bo wishing him out of it. I have within the Inst few days met with a person who was present, at. the first court held by the present Commissioner fhr ih t . iiivesiu-a-tio'.t of Hemnieman's claims. The description he gives of the scene is most ludicrous, aud would form a good paper for Punch. I suppose the time has passed for the publication of it, so I do not semi it. The Colonel says he considers the matter of laud, claims at Akaroa to be in the most inextricable confusion—that the French Government have come forward, declaring that their claims have never been satisfied—that the Association ought not to have sold an acre of land there until all claims were set at u-st. While protesting continually his friendship towards the Canterbury settlers, he appears to be doing all in his power to harruss and annoy then;. He now claims a piece of my ground for the crown, under the pretext, I believe (but this its would not tell nio), that it was reserved by the French Government \ov an arsenal. He did not mention the matter till after the Governor had left, so 1 could not speak to him about it-

Some more of the Frenchmen, encouraged by hi m, are putting in the most ridiculous claims, which it is expected he will allow, without the least regard.to evidence. A man more unfit for the place he occupies it would have been impossible to find. A few days back he declared that no claim could be received under the Ordinance unless preferred by the purchaser. On being shown the Ordinance, and having his attention directed to the words "or his agent," so far from admitting his error he stuck to his text, and declared that he would listen to no claim unless put in by the purchaser ! No more public business will be transacted under the Commission for a month to come.