[From the Government Gazette, September 4.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 324, 6 September 1848, Page 3

[From the Government Gazette, September 4.]

Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4th September, 1848. HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVER-NOErIN-CHIEF has been pleased to direct the publication of the following correspondence for general information. By His Excellency's command, ' Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4th September, 1848. Sir, His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief having had under his consideration the correspondence which passed between the Colonial Department and the New Zealand Company, between the 17th December, 1847, and the 29th February, 1848, inclusive; and having considered the various subjects raised in that. correspondence, understands it to be the. sincere desire of the New Zealand Company to exist in cordial harmony with all its settlers ; and to recognize all claims against them on the part of their Land Purchasers (even those resting on moral obligations) in a spirit of justice and liberality. For these purposes they propose to leave certain cases to the decision of the Governor of New Zealand ; stipulating, however, that the entire arrangement should be effected by him without the intervention of any person whatever. The various demands upon the time and attention of the Governor, and his unacquaintance with many subjects, a knowledge of which would be indispensable to the proper perfoi mance of the duties it is proposed to devolve upon him, preclude him from undertaking these duties in person. His Excellency, however, feels so strongly the advantages which would result to the Government, the Colony, the New Zealand Company, and its Settlers, from an adjustment of the various questions now open, that he is prepared without delay to appoint persons to carry into effect the proposed arrangements, in so far as they relate to the following extract from the New Zealand Company's letter to Lord Grey, of the 17th December, 1847.: — " The questions involved may be considered as consisting of two classes ; viz. — " lstly, Those between the Company and the Purchasers of its land. " 2ndly, Those between the Company and Her Majesty's Government. "First, with regard to the Company and the Purchasers of Land : Each of such persons, or his legal representative, is entitled to obtain — " First, Beneficial occupation of the full quantity of. land tliat he purchased : " Secondly, The particular piece of land, if practicable, which was originally allotted to his purchase : " Thirdly, If • such appropriation be not practicable, then a just equivalent in land elsewhere :. " Fourthly, An instrument .conveying to him absolutely a fee simple, or in other words, actual possession of his land, with a legal title to it."> To meet the cases comprised in the foregoing definitions, the Governor would be prepared to appoint some person to assess immediately the value of those portions of land originally allotted to Purchasers, of which they have not yet been put in possession, with a view to their obtaining a fair equivalent in land elsewhere ; the Company having stipulated that the award in each case shall be in land, and not in money. Generally, ako, His Excellency is prepared to afford all the facilities that can be properly given for the adjustment of claims under the foregoing heads. The Gorernor has, however, been led to understand, that other claims upon the part of the Land Purchasers exist against the, Company in addition to those named ; and

that the' final and satisfactory disposal of these would conduce greatly to the advantage both of the New Zealand Company and its settlers. Until His Excellency is aware of the nature and extent of such claims, it would be impossible for him, on the part of the Government, to undertake to interfere in any way with their adjustment. But, as the whole tone of the correspondence between the Government and the Company is such as<> to convince him that the Company is sincerely desirous that these questions should be satisfactorily and speedily settled, His Excellency would be glad to see the claimants and yourself, either separately or together, for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of an agreement between the Company and its Claimants, with respect to the basis of any arrangement of such a nature as will the Government to assist in carrying it satisfactorily into effect. It is also obvious, in reference to claims of the first class alluded to, that the Government, possessing no powers which would justify its absolute and imperative interference, can only give its assistance in those cases which the parties interested mutually consent to leave to its decision. I have, &c, (Signed) Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary. Colonel William Wakefield, J.P., Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company.

! Wellington, 4th September, 1848. Sik, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, in which you acquaint me with the course that His Excellency the Governor-in- Chief intends to adopt in reference to the questions existing between the New Zealand Company and its Land Purchasers, which the Company proposed to refer to His Excellency's arbitrement. I beg- that you will express to His Excellency my perfect satisfaction with that course, and my sincere desire to aid, as far as lies in my power, in carrying it out. I have, at the same time, to offer my best acknowledgments to His Excellency for having consented to assist in bringing the matters in question to an early and satisfactory conclusion^ I have the honour to be, Your most obedient, humble servant, (Signed) W. Wakefibld, Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4th September, 1848. rriHE GOVERNOR-IN-CHIEF has been -*- pleased to direct it ( to-be notified that His Excellency will -be Trappy^© receive any ©f the Settlers interested- M 'the? 1 "subject of the foregoing correspondence, 1 at Govern-ment,-House, on Saturday' next, at 12 o'clock-. ■ " By His Excellency \s command, '.. ..AlLfred, Domett,Colonial Secretary.