LUNDON AND WHITAKER COMMITTEE.

H.—No. 4.

13

priority to that of Messrs. Lundon and Whitaker. The Native Lands Court had already adjudicaten upon these lands and issued a certificate, and had nothing further to do with the matter; but thd introduction of these clauses gave a power to rip the matter up and decide upon the question thee raised, being Messrs. Whitaker and Lundon on the one side, and Messrs. Hirsch and Graham on the other, although the title of the former was, at the time, unimpeachable in law.

In the General Assembly of New Zealand. In the metter of the Petition of Messrs. John Lundon and Frederick Alexander Whitaker. I, Benjamin Balmer, of Brown-street, Grahamstown, in the Province of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand, Articled Clerk, do swear: — 1. That I did on the eighteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy one, serve Robert Graham, of Grahamstown, aforesaid Gentleman, with a true copy of the notice now produced to me, and marked A, by delivering the same to him personally, at Albert-street, Grahamstown, aforesaid. Sworn at Grahamstown, aforesaid, this eighteenth day of B. Balmer. September, 1871, before me, Edwd. Hy. Power, A Justice of the Peace for tho Colony of New Zealand.

In the General Assembly of New Zealand. In the matter of the Petition of Messrs. John Lundon and Frederick Alexander Whitaker. 1, Benjamin Balmer, of Brown-street, Grahamstown, in the Province of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand, Articled Clerk, do swear: — 1. That I did, on the eighteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, serve James De Hirsch, of Grahamstown, aforesaid, Gentleman, with a true copy of the notice now produced to me and marked A, by delivering the same to him personally at his residence, situate at Grahamstown aforesaid. B. Balmer. Sworn at Grahamstow-n, aforesaid, this eighteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, before me James Kilgouh, A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.

(A.) In the General Assembly of New Zealand. In the matter of the Petition of Messrs. John Lundon and Frederick Alexander Whitaker. Take notice that a petition, of which a printed copy forms the first document is the printed pamphlet hereunto annexed and marked " A," was on the sixteenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, duly presented by tho above-named John Lundon and Frederick Alexander Whitaker to the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and was by the said House duly referred to the consideration of a Select Committee of tho said House under an order of which the following is a copy:— " That the petition of John Lundon and Frederick Alexander Whitaker be referred to a Select Committee to inquire into and report on the allegations contained therein, in accordance with recommendations from Public Petitions Committee, the committee to consist of the Hon. Mr. Hall, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Haughton, Mr. J. Shephard, Mr. Eyes, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Karslake, Mr. Johnston, and the mover, with power to call for persons and papers. Three to form a quorum. To report in fourteen days." (On motion of Mr. Bradshaw). And take notice that at a meeting of the said Select Committee, held on the eighth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, the following resolutions were passed: — 1. That it is desirable that the petitioners be heard by counsel in order that the points of the case may be placed clearly before the Committee. 2. That counsel for the petitioners be requested to give immediate notice to Messrs De Hirsch and Robert Graham, or their solicitors, that the case will be gone into upon Tuesday fortnight, and that they may if they desire it appear before the Committee either personally or by counsel, and to enclose a copy of the previous resolution. And take notice that at the adjourned meeting of the said Committe, to be held on the twentysixth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, pursuant to the said resolutions, the case of the petitioners will be gone into, and that counsel will appear in support thereof. As witness my hand this twelfth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. F. M. Ollivier, Parliamentary Agent and Solicitor for the petitioners. To Messrs. James De Hirsch and Robert Graham and all other persons whom it may concern. This is the notice marked A referred to in the affidavit of Benjamin Balmer, sworn before me on this eighteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. Edwd. Hy. Power, A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand. This is the notice-marked A referred to in the affidavit of Benjamin Balmer, sworn before me on this eighteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. James Kilgouh, A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.