A.—No. 20.

18

PAPEES RELATIVE TO

No. 18. Copy of a Letter from Mr. A. J. Dickey to Mr. J. Mackay, juu. Sib,— Native Lands Court Office, Auckland, 18th September, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, No. 255, respecting the Katikati survey, and requesting me to be good enough to instruct Mr. Hay not to proceed to Katikati until he receives further instructions in the matter through your department. In reply, I beg to state that I regret I am unable to comply with your request in this matter without first having obtained Mr. Penton's directions to do so. I have, &c., A. J. Dickey, The Civil Commissioner, Auckland. Chief Clerk.

No. 19. Copy of Memorandum by Mr. Penton. I hate read Mr. Mackay's letter (16th September) with much care. The impression left on my mind is, that either the arbitration of Messrs. Mackay and Clarke was a reality and resulted in an award, in which case the survey was to have been made at the end of the peach season (last March), or it was not a reality, and meant nothing. I call attention to Mr. Mantell's letter (herewith) of 17th January. If Mr. Mackay had gone then, all would have been well ; but I remember ho was too much occupied with diplomatic meetings, and could not find time. Since then I have vainly endeavoured to get the affair attended to. What I say now is, that the Honorable the Native Minister will be good enough to release me from responsibility as to the £75, and transfer the advance to Mr. Mackay's name. Mr. Mackay, in his capacity of Civil Commissioner, can continue to frustrate any attempts to get the matter settled; and 1 submit that, under the circumstances, 1 should be relieved from my pecuniary liability as an accountant to the Crown for the £75. That is all I ask. Beyond that I am not concerned. I have, &c, 26th September, 1865. P. D. Fentox.

No. 20. Copy of a Letter from Mr. W. Kolleston to Mr. J. Mackay, jun. (No. GSS.) Native Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 4th October, 18G5. In reference to your letter of the 28th September on the subject of the Katikati purchase, I am directed by Mr. FitzGerald to state that ho is unable to see the value of an award which cannot bo proceeded with without the protection of an armed force. Mr. PitzGerald is awaiting a further report on the subject from Mr. Clarke. In the meantime, the survey must necessarily stand over for the present. Thero does not appear to be any letter in reply to Mr. Dickey's application to Mr. Hay for a refund of the £75 advanced to him by Mr. Fenton, and the terms on which the advance was made are not stated. I have to request that you will make inquiry on this point. 1 have, &c, W. Rolleston, The Civil Commissioner, Auckland. Under Secretary.

No. 21. Copy of a Letter from Mr. EoWiESTON to Mr. Penton. (No. 475.) Native Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 4th October, 1865. I am directed by the Hon. the Native Minister to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum on the subject of the advance of £75, made by you on behalf of the Government to Mr. Hay, in the matter of the survey of the Katikati Block. In reply I am directed to state that the Government will relieve you of pecuniary responsibility in the matter. I have, &c, The Chief Judge, Native Lands Court, Auckland. W. Eoi.leston.

No. 22. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eollestox to Mr. Clarke. (No. G55.) Native Secretary's Office, Sik,— Wellington, 4th October, 18G5. Mr. Civil Commissioner Mackay has informed the Native Minister that he has forwarded to yon a copy of his letter of 28th of September on the subject of the Katikati purchase. I am to request that you will report fully upon the points treated of in that letter; and, also, upon the whole position of the present land claims at Tauranga, as the Government may possibly commence settling the country shortly. I have, &c, W. RoMESTOTf, The Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Under Secretary.