I.—6a,

2

Particulars of Scrip, used in Payment of Ellesmere Lands, District of Canterbury, by Mr. J. G. Murray.

t Note.—The sale was held on the 15th November, 1889, and on the same day 25 per cent, of the purchase-money was paid in cash. About the Ist December, 1889, the scrip was tendered as part-payment of the balance of the purchase-money. The officers of the department for some time refused to accept it, but, after some controversy, the scrip was finally accepted by the department on the 15th January, 1890. 2. The scrip lodged before the 31st December, 1889, seems to have been properly used under " The New Zealand State Forests Act Amendment Act, 1888," as it bears the indorsement of the Commissioner of the Auckland Land District, with the sanction of the Minister of Lands; save that more than £500 was used by one person. The cases in which that occurs are marked with an asterisk (*), and, so far as more "than £500 was used, the use was unlawful. The transferee of the scrip seems to be limited to £500, if he takes advantage of the 1888 Act. 3. The scrip that has been used after the 31st December, 1890, was, in the opinion of your Committee, unlawfully used on two grounds : — («.) That so issued after the passing of the Act of 1888 was not used under that Act, as section 3 was not complied with, the scrip not having been presented to the Hon. the Minister of Lands prior to the 30th June, 1889, for his indorsement. (b.) The scrip was used after the 31st December, 1890. It will be seen from the perusal of the decision of the Court of Appeal, in the case of Paterson and another versus ■ Humphries (New Zealand Law Eeports, Vol. viii., pp. 297-307), that the scrip could only be used in the provincial district in which the tree-planting had taken place, unless the terms of the third section of " The New Zealand State Forests Act Amendment Act, 1888," had been complied with; and these provisions were not complied with by the holders of the scrip. 4. Mr. Knorpp's scrip was purchased by the Hon. Mr. Whyte, and by him sold to Mr. A, E. G. Bhodes, M.H.E., who exercised it on behalf of Mrs. Jessy Ehodes. Before Mr. Ehodes purchased the scrip, he obtained the opinion of the officers of the Lands Department in Canterbury, and he was informed that the scrip was in order and could be used in the purchase of land. Your

Office of Issue, and to whom Scrip originally Issued. Total Amount. Amount Issued. Where and by Whom exercised. When LocJgea. Total used by Mr. Murray. Excess ol Legal Limit. Date Exercised on .uckland— J. Paterson £ s. d. 544 12 0 99 0 0 Auckland — J. Smith 445 12 0 Canterbury— J. G. Murray 544 12 0 £ s. a. 99 0 0 £ s. a. £ s. a. 445 12 0 445 12 0 15 Jan., 1890, E. M. Paterson .. 544 12 0 923 6 0 544 12 0 923 6 0 Ditto .. 923 6 0 923 6 0 423 6 0 Janies Fairlie 682 12 0 94 0 0 588 12 0 94 0 0 588 12 0 „ .. 682 12 0 588 12 0 88 12 0 682 12 0 682 12 0 J. Cowan 663 6 0 490 0 0 173 6 0 „ .. 663 6 0 490 0 0 173 6 0 o> CO GO T—i a> a- © A aj tH o 173 6 0 663 6 0 663 6 0 P. S. McLean 490 0 0 22G 6 6 „ .. 716 6 6 716 6 6 490 0 0 22G 6 6 226 6 6 716 6 6 716 6 6 A. J. McLean • .. 604 6 0 356 0 0 248 6 0 „ .. 604 6 0 356 0 0 248 6 0 248 6 0 604 6 0 604 6 0 F. Hubbard 1,008 0 0 291 0 0 187 9 0 529 11 0 „ 1,008 0 0 291 0 0 187 9 0 529 11 0 529 11 0 29 11 0 M. Noake 1,008 0 0 1,008 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 ,.'... Legal lim: Noake's si Volur it crip, Naval a iteers' Land A & ind Military Settlers' and Lot ... .. .. ' )0 0 3,334 19 0 I 541 9 0 10 0 700 0 0 I 541 9 0 I I 2,634 19 0