Ca—3

10

world to prevent those who have done wrong from advancing themselves and their heirs in this way, and from degrading their fellow-men and their heirs for generations to come. If the lands, confiscated in the name of the Crown for certain declared reasons and objects, are not dealt with for the purposes prescribed by the law under which they are taken, but are privately allowed to pass, as great estates, into the hands of others of the Queen's subjects of a different race from those from whom they are taken, then in my belief a very great wrong is committed, which reflects discredit on the nation. I would further venture to maintain that in such a caso that has been done which may form a precedent for the gravest evils. For if some of the Queen's subjects, under the name of "Eesponsible Ministers," can use the name of the Crown to take, for some offence, from another race under the Queen's rule, and consequently under her protection, largo tracts of territory, and have again the power, by making use of the name of the Crown, of privately and unlawfully appropriating valuable portions of these lands to themselves or their friends, a great danger must be created that, under the existence of so vicious a system, lands might at last bo taken, in the name of the Crown, rather for some ulterior personal objects than from the sole desire of securing the general safety and welfare; and nothing could be worse for any country, or reflect more discredit on the Crown and Empire, than the introduction of such a system. I wish to point out that the objection I thus raise here is not to an individual who may have been a Eesponsible Minister, or a supporter of such Minister, acquiring at any time directly from the Crown, by lawful and legitimate means, a portion of land which had been confiscated; but what I object to is the unlawful or unfair acquisition of such lands by such persons. An attempt was made during the last Session of the Assembly to prevent the completion of the transaction of conveying to Mr. ltussell 80,000 acres of confiscated land which I am bringing under your Excellency's notice; but it soon became evident that the matter would be dealt with solely as a party question. I therefore felt strongly the impropriety of attempting to settle in a Legislature disturbed by party feelings and party strife a question which could only be justly and calmly settled in the Courts of law provided for such purpose. And in pursuance of the resolution I formed of submitting the question to the legal tribunals, I now respectfully solicit your Excellency to comply with the request I have referred to you, with the view of obtaining the powers requisite to enable me to adopt this course, and to recover, if possible, from those who have taken and held possession of this land for more than three years, the losses this province may show it has sustained by settlers having been for so long a period shut out from the occupation of the land, and from having been compelled to contribute so largely to the cost of an expensive police force, which would have been in great part unnecessary if I could have placed fitting settlers on the land. I now respectfully request that you will be so good as to transmit to the Secretary of State copies of my three letters to your Excellency. I can assure you that I make this request with no intention of embarrassing your Excellency, as you have given me all the aid I ask for in prosecuting my duties, but I wish to bring under the notice of the Home Government and the British Parliament the very serious questions which have arisen here, and from which I believe very important results will inevitably spring. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor. G. Geet.

No. 6. His Excellency the Goveenoe to the Superintendent of Auckland. Sib, — Government House, Auckland, 29th May, 1876. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter dated the 27th instant, and I beg to inform you that I will forward it to "Wellington by next mail for the consideration of my Responsible Advisers. 2. 1 shall have no objection to forwarding this correspondence to the Secretary of State as you request, provided your Honor will furnish me with two more copies of your letters, which will be required for that purpose. I have, &c, To his Honor the Superintendent of Auckland. Noemanby.

No. 7. The Superintendent of Auckland to His Excellency the Goveenoe. Mr Loud, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 2nd June, 187 G. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 29th ultimo, informing me that you would have no objections to forwarding copies of a correspondence to the Secretary of State, as I requested, provided I "would furnish your Excellency ■with two more copies of my letters, which would be required for that purpose. In reply, I transmit, in compliance with your Excellency's desire, copies of the letters (as noted in the margin) required by you. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor. G. Gkex.