WEBSTER'S MILLIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 205, 4 October 1909, Page 4

WEBSTER'S MILLIONS.

HIS CLAIMS' DISCUSSED.

SIR JOSEPH WARD MEETS MR. BRYCE.

NEW ZEALAND NOT LIABLE.

Auckland, Thursday. Interviewed this morning in regard to what is known as the Webster claims, Sir Joseph Ward said that the claims are of very old standing. They arose from the 'alleged purchase of native lands in the Auckland province of the North Island by Mr. Webster (an American) before British sovereignty was assumed in New Zealand, ine claims were considered by a commission, which, under instructions from the Imperial Government, was set up to Investigate all purchase claims, of which there were a very large number in fill parts of New Zealand. Recommendations were made in Webster's claims, land Crown grants were issued to linn and those who derived the title through him. In no case did the grants represent the full area of the alleged purI chase. This was so in the case of all I claimants some time after. The mater appeared to be closed as far as New i Zealand was concerned.

ft appears that Mr. Webster petitioned the United States Congress, stating that he was an American citizen, anil alleging that his conveyances had been ignored by the New Zealand authorities, and that he had received none of the lands that he had purchased. It unfortunately happened that the Committee of the United States Congress to which the petition was referred dealt only with the evidence by the petitioner, and neither the British nor the New Zealand Government knew anything of the matter. Accepting the plaintiff's statements as correct, the committee presented to Congress a very strong report in Webster's favor. This report was adopted by Congress, and the President was requested to make representation to the British Government. This occurred some years ago. The British' Government communicated with New Zealand, asking for a report upon the facts. The matter was investigated by the then Government, and a lengthy report was furnished, showing clearly that Webster was in no sense wronged, but that, on the contrary, he bad received more liberal treatment than that accorded to other claimants.

The matter appears to have rested there for some considerable it was again revived by the Unit id States Government. It was again referred to the New Zealand Government | for report, Mr. Ballance, who was then in power, had the matter reviewed, ani saw no reason to depart from the attitude previously taken up. The claims again appeared to die out, but recently they have been revived by the' United States Government, and the British Government intimated that they ■were I anxious to devise some means of finally settling Lhe questions Involved, for whici) purpose it was suggested that certain I legal questions should be submitted to 'arbitration.

"I conoid-red it was my duty," said Sir Joseph Ward, "as Prime Minister, to eo-oponile with the Imperial Govern-

ment, and as. owing to passage of Mm* and other reason* difficult questions of fact were involved which could not be satisfactorily dealt with by correspondence, it appeared to me that the better course was to deal with the matter personallv ivhcn in London. For that purpose the Solicitor-General (Dr. Fitchett) went Home, as he was fully cognisant of the whole of the circumstances of the ease. In London 1 communicated with the Imperial authorities and arranged conferences between the Imperial Law

Ofliccrs mid (he Solicitor-Oncral. They went thoroughly into the whole matter, and as an outcome of the conference it was decided that Mr. Brycr, the British Ambassador, should meet me in America. This he did, having come a very long way to see me. We had a long conference; and as the result a course has Teen derided upon which will possihTv within t lie next twelve months finally dispisc of I'his troublesome matter. "Xcw Zealand is not financially in volvcd in the question at all. The actual responsibility devolves upon the Imperial (iovenimcnt. as the transaction too* place before representative government wn* HablUhcd. At the same time, it Is our -'litv to help (lie Imperial authorities >n ererv way possible to enable them In justify the position taken up rcgardiii'.' thi< claim, in regard to which, in inv opinion, there is no question as to I the propriety of (he action taken."