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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

ALLEGED IMPROPER SALE OF LAND NORTH OF AUCKLAND, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). (In continuation of Papers published under C. —6.)

Return to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, No. 62, dated list September, 1876. "That the letter addressed by Joseph Augustus Tole, Solicitor, to the Hon. the Native and Defence Minister dated 21st August, 1876, or a copy thereof, relating to papers in connection with ' alleged improper sale of lands north ot Auckland,' recently presented to this House, be laid before the House and printed."— (Mr. Stout.)

NO. 1. Mr. J. A. Tole, M.H.E., to the Hon. the Native Minister. gIE Wellington, 21st August, 187 G. I have the honor to inform you that I have perused the printed papers relating to " alleged improper sale of land north of Auckland," which you recently laid on the table of the House of Eepresentatives, and beg to express the great surprise and regret of the Superintendent oi Auckland (I have his authority for saying so), and myself, that you should have taken so unusual and wrong a courge _ w ithout giving us any previous notice—as to present those papers to the House, whilst the inquiry remained incomplete and imperfect, by reason of my unavoidable personal absence caused by my attendance at Parliament, and also by reason of the absence of that evidence, of the intention to afford which I gave Mr. Barstow express notice. Moreover I observe that a very important and significant signature, and other matters, are omitted from these papers; a fact which, besides destroying confidence in the remainder of the printed matter points to the necessity, in all courtesy, of furnishing his Honor the Superintendent or myself, and thus other parties concerned, with copies of the papers and reports returned by the inquiring officer so as to permit of comment before they should have been laid on the table of the House. 1 also desire'to draw your attention to the circumstance that, whilst you simply requested Mr. Barstow to " investigate the matter referred to and report" to you, he has wilfully supplemented his reports with certain statements and with a letter, in which he makes charges and statements, and imputes motives to myself, all of which I declare are absolutely untrue, and are most insultingly and maliciously made by him, I believe, to convey dishonorable impressions of me personally, professionally, and also as a member of the House of Eepresentatives. , I shall not here pretend to analyze Mr. Barstow's malicious statements beyond saying that they are untruthful in the extreme, and disclose a prejudice which, before the inquiry was begun, I could not help being seriously impressed with, and which I am sure renders him, in my opinion, as a ministerial officer, incapable of impartially conducting an important inquiry of this kind. In conclusion, I wish to state that I regard the inquiry as imperfect and incomplete for the reasons already assigned, and respectfully request that, in justice to the case, you will be pleased to lay this letter, or a copy of it, on the table of the House, and that it may be attached to the other papers relating to the same subject. I have, &c, Joseph Augustus Tole, The Hon. the Native and Defence Minister, Wellington. Solicitor.

No. 2. The Hon. the Natite Minister to Mr. J. A. Tole, M.H.E. g IH; Native and Defence Office, Wellington, 24th August, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, having reference to papers laid by me on the table of the House of Eepresentatives respecting alleged grievances connected with the purchase of certain Native lands north of Auckland. An inquiry into the alleged grievances was held at the request of his Honor the Superintendent of Auckland, and the result of such inquiry laid in due course on the table of the House of Representatives.