Land Claims. To the Editor of the Southern Cross:

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 39, 13 January 1844, Page 3

Land Claims. To the Editor of the Southern Cross:

S XR( — It is understood that the original Act of Sir George Gipps contains the priHciples to be adopted ia the settlement of this perplexing question, but can you inform us whether the letter of that Act is to be rigidly adhered to, or a new measure propounded, based on those principles, but modified according to the real state and, requirements of the case ? Now that four years' experience, and the presence of our Governor in this country (where every information can be obtaiaed) should guarantee justice to all | concerned ? I will not trespass on your valuable space to argue a question that has been bo repeatedly canvassed, but would merely observe en passant that under Sir George Gipps' Act eight shillings is to be the price paid by those that purchased in 1839. We all know that the land would not sell for eight shillings per acre now, and no claimant could realise that price for the whole of his country land if it were granted him to day- It it then evident that there is no justice in this act of mediation on the part of the Government, if the claimant is to be deprived of the lands in excess of the quantity corresponding to that price. Why ihould he be compelled to loose not only the interest of his money for four years and upwards, but also to sink a large portion of his capital, and this by an act of forced mediation professedly based on equitable principles ? — His Excellency has stated that he is come here to do justice to all parties, and we believe him, but not without anxiety, having suffered so much from delay and the base professions of the former Government, it is impossible to divest ourselves entirely of fear at to the ultimate adjustment of this difficult affair ; besides,however justly we may confide in his Excellency 'a good and equitable intentions, we posiets not the same faith in those Members of Council who acted with the former Government. I would suggest that a Meeting of Land Claimants be called immediately, and a petition be presented to His Excellency embodying their sentiments, also praying that the fees paid at the Commissioners Court may be taken into account as pars of the consideration paid for the land. Witn full confidence in his Excellency's manly declaration when he landed on the shores of our adopted country, we believe he is come here to "administer justice/' and " to do good," and therefore feel confident he would not treat with indifference the honest appeal for justice of that injured clasa of Her Majesty's faithful subjects to whom I have the honor to belong. Yours respectfully, A Land Claimant. Auckland, Jan. 10, 1844.