RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 587, 19 March 1851, Page 2

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

[From the New Zealand Journal, October 5.]

In a former number we published a communication from the Colonial Office on this subject. It intimated that Lord Grey is desirous that the Association should be placed on a permanent and efficient footing without delay. Until his lordship, however, obtains legal advice on some points, arising, it is understood, —out of ambiguities in the Act 10 & 11 Viet. c. 112, fixing the liabilities of the Government in the event of the New Zealand Company intimating their willingness to surrender their Charter, —a temporary arrangement has been made. The Emigration Commissioners have been empowered to receive the price of lands purchased by parties approved by the Association, and to make the necessary allowances towards the cost of passage ; and, pending any more permanent arrangeme.nt, Captain Cargill has been authorised to enable parlies, who may be the bearers of certificates from the Emigration Commissioners, to take possession and acquire a title to the lands they may select. We are now enabled to publish the despatch to Captain Cargill, investing him with that authority.:—

Despatch from the Under-Secretary of the Colonies to Captain Cargill, Otago. Downing-street, August 29, 1850. Sir, —I am directed by Earl Grey to acquaint you, that, as you are doubtless aware from other sources, the New Zealand Company have announced their intention to surrender their Charter to her Majesty, and from the sth of July last they have ceased to exercise their functions. As this intention was not communicated to her Majesty’s G - ’eminent by the Directors until the last day alloweu them by law for the purpose, there were no means of maturing beforehand such arrangements as the change might render desirable. But it is Lord Grey’s wish to do everything in his power to avoid any consequent inconvenience to the Company’s settlers, or any impediment to the progress of their various settlements.

I he Otago Association have expressed a wish to be put on a footing resembling that of the Canterbury Association ; and Lord Grey is anxious to give them all the encouragement in his power; but there are various legal and

other points which require to be adjusted b fore it can be settled whether the object have in view will admit of being carried i execution in the manner proposed. " t(> In the meanwhile, Lird Grey has au >i * rised the Emigration Commissioners t 0 °" ceive the money of any parties who may disposed to purchase lands at Otago. s 0 e have already adopted that course, and/ proceeding to the settlement by t| le jy/ 8 which conveys the present despatch, j ' to stale that, in the present state of transiti 0[) and until some permanent measures can settled, Lord Grey feels no doubt that, f ro your desire to prevent any damage to the i D . terests of Otago, you will be prepared to take such steps as may be necessary up Cn subject on behalf of her Majesty’s Gov erq . ment; and lam to request, therefore, you will enable the bearers of certifies from the Commissioners, that have paid mo. ney for purchases at Otago, to select lands accordingly, in like manner as if had come out formerly with similar dotm rae / from the New Zealand Company. A.iJ J ani further to request, that you will afterwards transmit to Lieutenant-Governor Eyre I documents as' may be necessary for the p Ut . pose of issuing their titles to them. ! 1 have the honor to he, &c.j ’ (Signed) B. Hawes.