to facilitate the matter perhaps as you go along you will find out if the Natives admit that their claims are just, it appears to me a pity to go on with any investigation by a Comr. when the is alienated by the natives and it is resolved into a question merely between the Govt. and the Claimants and the least the Government can do after delaying the invesitgation so long is to give the right of preemption to those who have been living many years on the land and whose claims are admitted by the natives give me your opinion on the matter --- I enclose the authority for Michael Aldridge and the Class of Claimants similarly circumstanced being allowed to purchase the land on