R—sTo. 26.

PAPERS EELATIVE TO OCCUPATION

6

Me. Domett, — 18th November, 1868. Would you let Mr. Marchant communicate with Mr. Bethune, and get him the information required ? W. Gisboene. 18th November, 1868. Me. Bethtjne says he can get the required information from Mr. Levin. A. Domett. Me. Gisboene,— 23rd November, 1868. Can you tell me whether it is intended that the demise should be terminable (by three months' notice being given) only at the end of any complete year of the term, or (as the rent is payable halfyearly) at the end of any half-year ; or how otherwise ? John C. Bethune. Foe Assistant Law Offices, — Demise to be terminable by three months' notice at the end of any half-year. There are four acres, or at least three and upwards acres, in the land to be leased. (Mr. F. Wakefield has a list of them.) All the numbers of the sections should be stated in the lease, a blank to be left for the date of its commencement, as possibly possession was not to be given or required on Ist February. The rent should be said to be payable out of moneys voted by Parliament. [No date or signature. Mr. Stafford's handwriting: probably written on 30th November, the day the papers were again referred to Mr. Bethune. —E. W.]

Enclosure 3 in No. 5. Mr. W. Gisboene to Mr. N. Levin. No. 884.) Colonial Secretary's Office, g IE Wellington, 15th December, 1868. I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Stafford, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ultimo on the subject of the Government renting the house and lands in Hobson Street, the property of Sir Charles Clifford, and to state that a draft agreement has been made and submitted for the consideration of your lawyer, Mr. Brandon. I have. &c, W. Gisboene, N. Levin, Esq., Wellington. Under Secretary. [On draft of this letter.]—l wish this to be sent at once, and the draft agreement also sent to Mr. Brandon. (No signature. Mr. Qisborne's handwriting.) The Hon. Colonial Seceetaet,— sth January, 1869. Levin's Case. —Mr. Brandon says he will write as soon as he has seen Mr. Levin who is now out of Wellington but is expected to return shortly. File E.W.S. J- Peendeegast.

Enclosure 4 in No. 5. Deaft Ageeement. An Ageeement made the day of , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, between Sir Charles Clifford, of , Knight (hereinafter called the Lessor), of the one part, and Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria (hereinafter called the Lessee) of the other part: The Lessor hereby agrees to let, and the Lessee to take, all that parcel of land in the City of Wellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, containing by admeasurement three acres (more or less), and comprising the sections numbered 597, 598, and 599, on the official plans of the said City : bounded towards the North-east by Hobson Street; towards the South-east by the section numbered 596; towards the South-west by the sections numbered 586, 587, 588, and 589 ; and towards the North-west by the section numbered 600, together with the dwelling-house, outhouses, and garden thereon, and all rights and appurtenances thereto belonging for a term of two years to be computed from the day of , at the yearly rent of one hundred and fifty pounds (£150) to be paid (out of moneys voted for that purpose by the General Assembly of New Zealand) by equal half-yearly payments on the day of and the day of in each year, clear of all deductions ; the first such payment to be made on the day of . The Lessee further agrees with the Lessor to keep the said premises, including the dwelling-house, outhouses, fences, drains, and garden, in good and tenantable repair (damage by fire or earthquake only excepted), and to keep the Lessor indemnified and saved harmless from all rates, taxes, and assessments which during the said term may be levied and imposed in respect of the said premises : Provided always, and it is hereby further agreed between and by the parties hereto, that in case the dwelling-house aforesaid shall during the said term become or be rendered ruinous or uninhabitable by fire or earthquake, it shall be the duty of the Lessor, with all convenient speed, to repair, reinstate, and restore the same premises, and that from the rent hereby reserved shall in such case be deducted a proportionate part in respect of the time during which the said premises shall remain so out of repair, ruinous, or uninhabitable : Provided also, and it is hereby further agreed and declared, that this demise shall be determined at the end of the first or any subsequent period of six