(copy.) Downing-street, 10th January, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 741, 8 September 1852, Page 3

(copy.) Downing-street, 10th January, 1852.

g IR> — I ara directed by Earl Grey to inform you that his Lordship has had, for some time, under his consideration, a letter addressed to Mr. Haves on the 23rd July last, by Mr. H.Seyroour, on behalf of certain of the nons-resident land purchasers of Nelson. The legal questions raised by that letter were of such a nature as rendered it necessary foi his Lordship to have the guidance «f the Law Advisers of the Crown respecting them. Their opinion has accordingly been obtained : and as Lord Grey believes that Mr. Seymour and Mr. Bowler also, from whom he received another -.cominunicktion on.this subject have left this country for New Zealand, • his Lordship has directed me to communicate the result to yourself. 2. Lord Grey i* advised that the assent of Col. Wakefield to the resolutions of July 1847, rendered them binding on the New Zealand Company, and that those resolutions constituted a Contract which devolved on her Majesty's Government in consequence of the notice of surrender of the Company's Charter. 3. It follows that the non-resident purchasers of land in Nelson from the Company (prior to the resolutions of July (1847) are entitled to the benefit of an Arbitration on their claims to compensation against the Company within the meaning of those resolutions : such arbitration to take place in the Colony. 4. Lord Grey will therefore instruct the Governor to enter iuto arrangements on the part of her Majesty's Government with such non-resident proprietors as may think proper to avail themselves of the proposal. It is, of -course, understood that any award so made must be in land for which purpose the demesne lands of Her Majesty will be placed at the disposal of the Governor. I have, &c, (Signed) F. Peel. The Chairman of the Halifax Committee of Nelson Land - Purchasers. . . The following regulation is also added to the Depasturing Regulations :—: — j sth. If at any time during ■ the currency of such License,, the land comprised therein, or any part or parts thereof, shall be leased on behalf o! the Crown for the purpose of procuring Minerals, then and in that case also the said License shall cease and determine as to so much of the land as shall be leased a* aforesaid, from and after the day of the date ■of the Government Gazette in which notice of such lease shall be published. " Seven Crown Grants to land in Wellington, Wangauui, afld Queen Charlotte's Sound, are notified as being ready for delivery.