No. 9.

A.—l.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Despatch, No. 51, of the 28th November, is herewith returned to His Excellency the Administrator ; and the Premier forwards, for the information of Tier Majesty's Government, a report by the Under-Secretary, Crown Lauds Department, upon the claim by Luke Madigan for a grant of land, as a discharged soldier, which was enclosed in the Despatch, for consideration by Ministers. Fred. Whitaker. Wellington, 17th January, 1883.

Sub-Enclosure. Memorandum for the Hon. the Minister of Lands. I forward you a report with respect to the claim of Luke Madigan, late of Her Majesty's 70th Foot, referred to in Despatch, No. 51, from the Secretary of State, and dated the 28th November, 1882. This is a similar claim to those referred to the Government with Despatch, No. 47, of the 2nd November, and upon which I reported on the Bth instant. I find that Luke Madigan sent in a claim to the Royal Commission appointed by His Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon, but the claim was rejected. (See Parliamentary Paper, H.-17, 1882, page 15.) In the form upon which Luke Madigan made out his claim to lay before the Royal Commission, he stated that he had not made any previous application for land on account of his military services in the Colony. The statement in his letter to the Adjutant-General, to the effect that he had made various applications for land to the Crown Land Office, but that he could not receive any satisfactory reply, is therefore inconsistent with the statement which he made to the Royal Commission. I attach a copy of the printed form upon which the claim was preferred to the Royal Commission. H. J. H Eliott, General Crown Lands Office, Under-Secretary. Wellington, 16th January, 1883.

No. 25. His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (No. 1.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 27th January, 1883. I have the honour to report that on the Bth instant I left Adelaide, by the mail steamer, and reached Sydney on the 14th instant. I left Sydney the same day, by a New Zealand steamer, and arrived here on the night of the 19th instant. The following day I was duly sworn in as Administrator of the Government of this Colony. 2. The public reception with which I was welcomed on my landing was of a most cordial and gratifying character, and was taken part in by all classes alike. A full account of it is given in the New Zealand Times of the 23rd instant, which is amongst the newspapers forwarded by this mail. I have the honour also to transmit a copy of the Wellington Evening Post of the 20th instant. I have, &c, Wm. E. TJRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 26. His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (No. 6.) My Lord,— Government House, Wellington, 27th January, 1883. With reference to your Lordship's telegraphic Despatch of the 18th September, 1882, concerning the party which was then being sent to New Zealand by the Government of the "United States, and subsequent correspondence relating thereto, I have the honour to state that the request referred to in your Lordship's telegram was duly complied with by the Government of this Colony. 2. I transmit herewith a copy of a letter from Mr. Edward Smith, who was in charge of the party, to the Premier of New Zealand, testifying to the kindness shown by the Colonial Government and others during his stay here. I have, &c, Wm. E. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 3—A. 1.

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