Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 498, 12 August 1857, Page 5

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Lytielton Times. Sib -—Some time has elapsed since the public were informed through the medium of your iournal that the Waionui lands at Akaroa had been purchased from the Maories, and would be speedily submitted for sale. Can you give us any information on the subject, as to when and after what fashion? The only claim in the district has been adjusted—that of Monsieur le Motte. Eeport (that lying wench) from time to time has it that various persons (quite a number indeed) have put their names down for sections. (I cannot explain what that process is.) However, there appears to be a sort of opinion that, prior to its being announced by Gazette as being open for sale, in the imagination of these parties 'they were quietly exercising, each in his own favour, a sort of process which our aboriginal friends called "taboo," not improbably the origin of thatappropriationphraseamongstschool k O y S —" tibbs I this ; and tibb you that," ending, as such a process (if allowed) would certainly do here, with " Holloa, I say, you sir, you can't come here, this is already tibb'd." Your's, BAR-TIB. [In answer to our correspondent we can say that the lands in question were purchased, ana that the time at which they were to be open for sale has passed; the purchase was reported to the General Government, but we cannot say whether the fact has been officially intimated to the Provincial Land Office, The French claims would then have to be marked out by a surveyor; and when the land was open for sale, notification would be given in the Gazette. Till then, our^correspondent's suspicion of applications for sections being received cannot rest upon the basis of fact.—Ed. L.T.]