C.—sa

3

J. McKfflßßOw, Land - Purchase Inspector, to D. Baebon, Esq., Commissioner Crown Lands, InvercargilL ■ ' .-'■■ • (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th July, 1897. I have received deeds of Otahu Estate. As two or three months must elapse before plans are published and advertisement made of the land, it would be better to postpone taking possession until after shearing, say, until end of December. Ask Mr. Batger if he can occupy country until then. Purchase-money to be paid on taking possession. James MoKeekow.

Department of Lands and Survey, Invercargill, 20th July, 1897. (Memorandum 369/118.) Be Otahu Estate.—l forward herewith letter from the Crown Solicitor with transfer and conveyance of above property from Messrs. Menzies and Batger, also voucher for payment of the price arranged. It will be seen that the original area has been reduced by river encroachment to 6,044 acres and 29 perches. D. Babeon. J. McKerrow, Esq., Land Purchase Inspector, Wellington.

Dear Sib, — Invercargill, 19th July, 1897. Be Otahu Estate.—As desired by you, I herewith hand you the conveyance and transfer of the 6,044 acres and 29 perches of freehold lands in this estate to Her Majesty the Queen duly executed by the vendors, Messrs. Menzies and Batger, with the voucher in duplicate, signed by Messrs. Menzies and Batger, claiming for the full purchase-money (£7,555 4s. 6d.). The conveyance and transfer are undated, and are held unregistered until the releases of the existing mortgages to Mr. Printz are received duly executed, and the receipt of the cheque from Wellington for the purchase-money out of which Mr. Printz's mortgages will be paid off. Yours, &c, T. M. Macdonald, Crown Solicitor. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill. P.S.—The conveyance and transfer will require to be returned to me for registration at the same time as the releases of Mr. Printz's mortgages.

In Executive Council, Wellington, 30th June, 1897. His Excellency the Administrator of the Government is respectfully advised to sign as approved the attached memorandum, concluding the purchase of the lands mentioned in the schedule thereto, in terms of section 5 of " The Land for Settlements Act, 1894." John McKenzie, Minister of Lands. Approved in Council. — J. P. 2nd August, 1897. Alex. Willis, Clerk of Executive Council.

Memoeandum. Whereas under the provisions of " The Land for Settlements Act, 1894," the Minister of Lands directed the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners to negotiate with the owners of the private lands mentioned in the schedule hereto for the purchase thereof: And whereas the Board has in writing recommended the Government to acquire the said land at a price of £1 ss. per acre, the land in the opinion of the Board being good and suitable for settlement in farms of 500 acres and upwards, the Board also believing that there will be a demand for this class of land : His Excellency the Administrator of the Government is therefore recommended to conclude the purchase of the said lands mentioned in the schedule hereto at the price of £1 ss. per acre. Schedule. All that area in the Southland Land District, containing approximately 6,044 acres and 29 perches, and being Sections 5, 15, 9, 10, 13, 24, 1, 97 (P.E), 17, 31, 2, and 14, Waiau Survey District; Sections 39 and 40, Waiau Survey District, known as Otahu Estate, the property of Messrs. Menzies and Batger. John McKenzie, Minister of Lands. Approved.—James Pebndebgast, Administrator of the Government. Approved in Executive Council, this 2nd day of August, 1897.—Alex. Willis, Clerk of Executive Council.

Dear Sib,— Invercargill, 12th May, 1897. We are duly in receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, and have to - "day handed the title-deeds of Messrs. Menzies and Batger's Otahu property to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, in accordance with your request. Please note that in my letter to you of the Ist instant there was a slight clerical error, which you have also made in your letter under reply—viz., in quoting Messrs. " Henderson and Batger " as the owners of the property , ; our clients in the matter, instead of " Menzies and Batger." In your letter to me of the 27th ultimo the names were quoted "Menzies and Batger" correctly. You understand, of course, that Messrs. Menzies.and Batger are the owners of the estate and vendors thereof to the Government, and are the parties for whom we are and have been acting all along. Apologizing for this clerical error, We have, &c, James McKerrow, Esq., Chairman, McNab and Watson* Board of Land Purchase Commissioners, Wellington.