THE RUNANGA AND MAORI JUSTICE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 271, 8 April 1862, Page 1

THE RUNANGA AND MAORI JUSTICE.

To the Editor of the JSawke's Bay Herald. Sir— ln continuation of my last I beg to offer a few more remarks. That . celebrated special pleader, the Maori chief Karaitiana, has hitherto held a conspicuous position in the leading Runanga in this district, though a more mint man to hold the office of magistrate cannot be well imagined. On my first informing him of my intention to Eqld a court on the conduct of the Mabries whojbroke faith with me, he appeared willing to do so at any time I pleased. Some time after, when their harTest was over, I called on him and found him full of promises which others beside myself can testify meant nothing. His plan evidently was to tire out with continual puttings off. On two occasions he faithfully promised to call or send from Mataihiwi to Clive (not a mile) to appoint the hour next day, convenient to them to settle the matter, and broke faith in both cases ; and on my going to the pah to know the reason why he was so indifferent, it was only to elicit fresh promises to be broken anew, or to be disregarded altogether. Finding the wearying out dodge was not so successful as he wished, he appointed a day and hour with the gentleman who acted as my interpreter. It was for this occasion that Karaitiana had reserved the pent \>p animosity of weeks. He was then conspicuous as the bac&er-up of those Natives whom I had called on him, Renata and Tareha to judge ; stating, that they had only signed my agreement as a scheme to get my money — not intending to give me possession of the land I had leased if tliey could get a higher, bidder 1 This from Karaitiana ! who also justified the act, and declaimed that its perpetrators were not only freetfrom blame, but perfectly innocent in appropriating the half years rent I had paid in advance. The lies that the Maories told at that Runanga he cordially endorsed with that bullying and bombasting advocacy for which he is so distinguished. Every statement I made he attempted to silence by fresh falsehood, so that seeing from such a Runanga, which meant Karaitiana, I had nothing to expect, I, a few days subsequently, referred the matter to Tareha and Renata, telling them that Karaitiana was not fit to be a judge in the matter. As 1 have said in my previous letter, I was informed, not without a repeated series of postponements, that the decision of the Runanga was at length arrived at, and Noah delivered it the same day, viz., — 1 w.as to get no damages for which I had sued for the broken agreement, and for. the grass which the sheep had eaten — (while the Maories were negotiating with a higher bidder for the run) — I was to have £30 deducted from the £100 ! Completely careless of the results — having determined to cut the acquaintance of the Bunanga that very day if they did not restore me my own — I was advised by a friend who knew something of the man at the helm of the Maori ship, to throw out a feeler in the shape of a a £10 note to Mr. Karaitiana. The results, Sir,you and all who have read my letter know. He, Mr. Jt., could do it for that sum by giving the Maories only £10 for grass; that is, he could and would, for money, make fools of the Rttnabtga. He could, ana he did, make fools of Renata, Tareha, and of all other worthy gentlemen who composed the Bench that day. These gentlemen shall not be consulted now — for I. Karaitiana. am the Runanga; and he accordingly did as he knew he could all along. But I was on no account to tell the Maories. "We parted ; I was to meet him in two days and receive £100 ; then pay £10 to the Runanga— though who the deuce they are, after this, puzzles me, if not Karaitiana —and then, aside, to pay Mr. Karaitiana £10. At the appointed time for doing the business I arrived at the Karamu farm, and my friend the judge, after having conducted me into his barn, insinuated that the doors had better be closed. I rose and shut the one nearest the Maories, but that was not enough, the other one too. This was done. "We were how alone, and I watched the next proceeding with curiosity. He took down his coat and produced a bundle of notes, and hung up the coat — for he was en dishabille. Count them, said he. I did; there were only £90. He said he had given Paratene £10 because he alone had stood -up for me ! ! I then gave a cheque on Aldgate Pump for £10, and then had to endure the most fulsome flattery for the space of ten minutes which it is possible to conceive. He forgot the old quarrel at the Runanga; declared that he had found all my statements correct, and all the assertions of the Maories (his own included P) lies; that he invariably found this to be the case when an investigation took place between Pakeha and Maori (how interesting 1) All this coming out so full and fast after the receipt of the cheque, left no room to doubt his utter want of honor, principle, and friendship. X would willingly spend £10 to shew him vp — so exchanged £10 for the cheque; and I now had my man fast— and left him. He cannot deny his knowledge of the value of the notes, and would to a certainty have asserted he knew the cheque to be an imposition, when he found his mistake, and so attempt to laugh it off; he would probably attempt to explain away ' "the closing the barn even— aticb. is his bounce. And Earaitiana's lost proceeding wae an appropriate winding up

of a disgraceful transaction. It is now clear that he was a party to the bad faith of the natives— that to gain his end no means are too base or unmanly — and that, • tfs a judge, he is to be bought. As he worked with men who thought it praiseworthy to falsify themselves to procure money, I considered any meaus were justifiable to regain possession of it from such a pack of thieves ; for as to leaving it to the Runanga again to reconsider their verdiot, and all that sort of thing, I confess, after what I had seen of the Runanga, which in my case meant Karaitiana— nevbk. Such a Runanga cannot be touched without pollution, and to a man with any real honest feeling to have to cope with his arguments as he calls them, is to reduce one to a low jlevel f indeed. ' As an exam pley that because I did not sliew the money to the mem at Paid Paki as I rode up, preparatory to paying it to them the next day, I was, tlierefore, to lose it all, now they had got it. I give you my word, Sir, that this conclusive and overwhelming line of argument was Mr. IL's own. "Because," added he, " I tola you to do it ;" and because the little dears did not catch a glimpse of it on Saturday, they are to rob me of it oh Sun— oh, no ! *hafc would be wrong to do on the Sabbath— but they were to rob me of it on the Monday, and it is very doubtful if such commands did emanate from him. This, however, mean and pitiful as it does appear to the eyes of any sober minded Pakeha, is a fair example of what we may expect from the Runanga under Karaitiana's supervision and generalship. And out of these little transactions one may gain a world of small experiences, and matter for thought. Turn we from this petty affair to the great centre and stronghold of Maori-ism— "Waikato— where every step the irresistible march of civilisation makes is made against a race composed of the same materials, and even more jealous of, and antagonistic to the whiteman'a welfare than these can possibly be, and judge of the utter impracfcibility of dealing with them through Runangas, who are as false and faithless as they are sickening aud disheartening. If Renata, the acknowledged head of this Runanga, is not tarred with the same brush, let him coino to the rescue, and either denounce Karaitiana or vindicate the Runanga. I am, &0., J. SMITH. Te Aute, March 2*.

ULf : -of expenditure was being greatly increased j and, |V with Mich heavy items to meet as the interest on f" the Wellington debt, caution would have to be t exercised. > : . as : Dr. Hitchings would also support the motion j hgj&. at the same time, it appeared to lie altogether fflp .- with,the Superintendent and Executive Council P^ ,to decide what votes should be acted upon and »i v what ..should not. Some votes were wholly ig- I **. v nored, whilst others were greatly exceeded. He £- * thought they should not have this power. * v Captain Cabtek made certain explanations as f to the cause of some works not having been carried out. In many cases tenders had been called «."* for over and over again, with out, any having been lv sent in. It was found in other cases that enI ' gineering and other insuperable difficulties interposed. And in the case of the Hyderabad-road, Z the condition attached fco the vote had not been complied with. The expenditure had of course to be regulated by the income, but it had been the anxious wish of the Government to give a fair proportion to each part of the Province. Mr. CoiiENSO was glad that the members for 3Sapier had found their tongues at last. He cordially agreed with the motion, which, if carried * v out, would give employment to the 40 or 50 men who, with their families, were depending upon work of this nature. And the land thus reclaimed would fetch a much better price than the sections ijtv farther down. The claims of these men should s< ;. ; not be overlooked. The winter was coming on, |Sy._" , and he much feared that, were nothing to be done { 0.d... by the Council, the expenditure for charitable aid £■£ would be very heavy. $Z '■'. Mr. Rhodes thought that the members for TS&- --|:: ; . pier might just as well ask for ten or fifteen though sand at once. £•:""• . After some further remarks, the Council divided, Xl,K l ,- , with the following result : — $ '■:■' Ayes — Messrs. Triphook, Wood, Carter, Hitch- %•;:'. ings, FitzGerald, Dolbel, Ehode3, Colenso— B. |-}i"". Noes — Messrs. Alexander, Ormond, Tiffen, M. I-Ji. '■' ■ Fitzgerald, Curling, Carlyon — 6. % t ■; . . Executive Act Amendment Bill. Mr. Colenso brought up the report of the se- £, ''•"". . fepfc committee appointed to prepare this bill.. '^ir •_. ' -^1 r e a d a first time, and its second reading made ci. . -an order of the day for to-morrow. &/'?-," ■ Licensing Act Amendment Bill. f3-;-V-"\ Mr. Coienso brought up this bill, which was %;"-:• ■ read a first time, and its second reading made an jf : order of the day for to-morrow. ;/; . Road from Napier to Tareha's Bridge. j^'--' Mr. Rhodes presented a petition bearing 203 £■ ,'■ Bignatures, praying that the Council would take 'if.- -\ B teps for continuing the road from Napier to Tap;^ reha's Bridge. &;.;'',•-,. Petition read and received. £-:'•'" Mr. Rhodes then moved the suspension of ;; -standing rule 27, which was seconded by Mr. Fitzp"; G-EEAiiD, and agreed to. <v ? , Mr. Rhodes then moved the following, — S&i.-.' , I* is requested that the sum of five hundred pounds Si? :•:• be placed on the estimates by His Honor the Superin- >: r tendent for the purpose of improving the road between sJv, - - Napier and Waitangi. p|X- Dr.. Hitchings seconded the motion. ?£ : '\ r « Colenso. — Is this motion meant to follow ■ p '•' up the petition ? [Mr. Rhodes : Yes.] Then it %Z~- - < * 0e . 3 not a g ree with the tenor of the petition, &/■-. which was for improving the road between Napier ?t:; and Tareha's bridge, whereas the motion applied S • to the whole length of road from Napier to WaiiV tangi — a very different thing. !;■;" ; The Council then divided upon the motion : — £'~ ' • Ayes, — Messrs. Rhodes, Dolbel, FitzGerald, ?;■:- Triphook, Hitchings, M. Fitzgerald, Wood— V. !jr' : - - . Noes, — Messrs. Carter, Colenso, Alexander, Or- *;.-•;■■■. xnond, Triphook, Carlyon, Curling— 7. | ..? The Speaker voted with the ayes, and the mos.' tion was carried. ■. " Petition from E. N. Smith. |^N Mr. Alexandee presented a petition from Mr. |v< • - E. IST. SmithjTutaekuri, setting forth that the go||c.,. - vernment had cut a line through his property, al*s£.:/ though no allowance had been previously made IIP ' m f orroa ds, and praying for compensation. |j? . _ Petition read and received, and, on the motion p>;' : ; '"-.. of Mr. Alexandeb, ordered to be considered in If?: ■ the estimates. |£ ■''.'■ " The Council then went into Committee on the 1 ■ • ■ Estimates of Expenditure. p| "'[' The Superintendent said that when Mr. ||| . Wright received the appointment of Director of £%-'- " Works he was led to suppose that, should at any jk/" ; ■ time his services not be required, he would receive «;. six months' notice. He (the Superintendent) had IvY therefore placed on the estimates the sum of £100 |f/ ■'•.'.' . as an allowance to Mr. Wright ffs,';- -^ r ' Caelyon asked if there was any document '$£s : f on the subject? The following correspondence Ip! was * nen l a *d on * ne table : — I?"- , Superintendent's Office, !&£'•'•'''•-'' " Napier, August 24, 1859. ■^r-:. Sir,— l have the honor to offer you an appointment as ftr „•- , ■ Director of Harbour Improvements and Public Works is>, r - at this place,— the salary attached to which would, for p£fi; ' . the present, be the same as the Provincial Engineer is % now receiving, namety, £250 per annum. You would re-K-r ceive also an allowance of £30 on account of your expen- |;? ses in remaining here ; and at the next meeting of the pf Provincial Council in December, the salary would not be sp£* rated under £300 per annum. fte I have the honor to be, i'p. ■' Sir, '& Your most obedient servant, \fl T. H. FitzGeeaid, _„w. „ „ _ -r, Superintendent. g?: E Gr. Wright, Esq., C.E., \£? . Napier,f§: Napier, August 24, 1859. P Sir,— l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of p yonr favor of this date, in which you kindly offer me an p appointment as Director of Harbour Improvements and M Public Works at this place — the salary to be at the rate 1% of £280 per annum, and at the rate of £300 per annum Sfr afterwards, with an allowance of £30 towards my exponH ses in removing here. M In reply; permit me to say that, as regards the prog§* posed salary- for the current year, I have no objections to ££„ offer, the time being short; but I must beg most resf£ pectfully to decline the appointment except on the un- £! tterstanding that the salary will be increased to £350, say && as soon as the dredging operations are commenced, and #* that I hold the appointment subject to six months' noiitr ta.ee. ' ' ■ Mb I have the honor to be, fP 4 ' : Your Honor's S§^ Obliged and humble servant, . M l ' •« -rr '•«.«■■' Edwaed G. Weight. |p, His Honor the SuperF " >jntendent,. Napier. ■ ■ ■ Sir*' v^ ;1 : •:■ " .-; Superintendent's Office^ mL^ ;S--vr. ; '--•'■. • ■ Napier, August 30, 1859. lllf J o acknowledge your letter of the 24fch

inst.j and in reply, beg to say that, although. I cannot guarantee the amount of salary— viz., £350 — that you require so soon as dredging operations are commenced, I shall certainly have no hesitation in recommending it, and I have little doubt but that the Council would at once assent to such recommendation. I think it quite unnecessary that any stipulation should be made about the six months' notice mentioned in the latter part of your letter, as it is most improbable that any Government would treat an officer employed under it, and who would perform his duty well, in any way that could be deemed unfair, or as taking him at a disadvantage. My own opinion is, in reference to the proposed appointment of Director of Harbour Improvements, that it is an office that will exist as long as Napier requires a port, and that if you fulfil your duties (should you accept it) in the manner I have reason to believe you would do, you would find that your services would at all times be duly appreciated, i and that you would never have reason to complain of any unfair treatment from the Provincial authorities. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, T. H. FitjzGeraxd, Superintendent. E. Q. Wright, Esq., C.E., Napier. Mr. Osmond thought that, before considering this or any other item on the estimates, they should proceed to the re-consideration of the estimate of revenue. He believed there would be no revenue at all, and that all this discussion was pure waste of time. Mr. Coienso quite agreed with last speaker that the estimate of revenue required re- considering ; but he thought they should first pay their debts of honour, of which this £100 was one. For although, on an examination of the correspondence before the Council, there was no legal claim to the six months' notice, the guarantee was just as morally binding as if it were in a legal shape. The Superintendent said that, on a former occasion one of the members for Napier (Mr. Triphook) had claimed three months' notice as due to Mr. Wright 5 and he (the Superintendent) thought that, if so, the Inspector of Police should have the same. He (the Superintendent) had, however, in the case of Mr. Wright, increased the amount to six months' salary, on account of the terms of the letter just read. Mr. Wood was glad that the Government had, at last, shewn some right feeling in this matter. It had made a grievous mistake, and was now doing all it could to rectify it. Mr. Ormond moved as an amendment, — _ That the Director of "Works receive his salary for a period of three months, but that notice be given him that his services will not be required beyond that period. I — Amendment put and negatived on the following : division : — Ayes,— Messrs. Ormond, Carlyon, Lambert, M. Fitzgerald — 4. Noes,— Messrs. Alexander, Carter, Colenso, Tiffen, Wood, Triphook, Hitchings, T. H. Fitz Gerald, Dolbel— 9. A question here arose as to whether the amount paid to Mr. Wright should be a bonus on retiring, or whether it should be salary, for which he would have to do duty. Mr. TCbiphook said that, after the vote of last night, it was not Mr. Wright's intention to remain in office. Mr. Tioten then moved, — That a sum of One hundred pounds be placed on the estimates, as a bonus to Mr. Wright on his quitting the service of the Provincial Government. — Mr. Rhodes said that he had a high opinion of Mr. Wright, but he would oppose this on principle. It would be a very bad precedent fco establish. He would give him a good testimonial, acknowledging his ability and his services, but no bonus. Mr. Colenso reminded the Council of the implied promise of the Superintendent. The case of Mr. Wright was an exceptional one, and would not form a precedent. The Council then divided on Mr. Tiffen's motion, as follows : — Ayes — Messrs. Alexander, Carter, Colenso, Tiffen*. Wood, Triphook, Hitchinge, T. H. FitzGrerald, Dolbel— 9. Noes— Messrs. Lambert, M. Fitzgerald, Carlyon, Ormond, Rhodes — 5. Motion agreed to accordingly. Steam Dredge— Engineer's salary, &c The following plans were laid on the table in elucidation of the general subject of harbour improvements : — Plan (furnished by the Director of Works) shewing proposed public road and quay wall at north side of the Iron Pot, from the Government crane to the entrance. Also, sections of Iron Pot, shewing depth of water at commencement of dredging operations and at their suspension. Sketch plan (furnished by the pilot) of Iron Pot and entrance to harbour, shewing depth of water in the line of new channel of the Iron Pot, and that within the line of proposed road and quay wall at north side of Iron Pot, also depth of water on the bar. Mr. FitzGtKRAXd referred to reckless statements which were made out of doors regarding the dredge, and challenged anyone knowing anything of engineering to prove that the serviced rendered by the dredge had not been most valuable. The channel through which the Eliezer and other vessels had in former years to be dragged, would have been quite filled up by this time had it not been kept open and deepened by the dredge. Mr. M. Fitz&ebaid believed that no good had been done by dredging operations, but that, on the contrary, there was less depth of water than before the dredge came. He thought it would be well to have a select committee to enquire into it. Mr. FiTzG-EEAiiD granted that there was less water in shore, and hence the great outcry against the dredge; but the mid-channel was greatly deepened. Mr. Tkephook would vote by all means for the appointment of a select committee. Irrespective of the publi«-advantage3 attending Buch inquiry, it would be no more than an act of justice to the Director of Works before that gentleman gave up office. The Superintendent, in answer to a question, said that ifc would probably take six weeks to fit the dredge with her new machinery, and three or four months to fiinsh the work of reclaiming which had been commenced. Any money for this purpose would, however, be only an advance, to be repaid out of sums realised by the sale of reclaimed land. Mr. Tiffen said that the pilot had asked for the use of the dredge for a few weeks to deepen the water on the bar. CapjsXAMBEBT said he remembered well that, four years ago, the Wonga.Wonga" v could come

close to shore — so close that one plank was sufficient for passengers to embark. Now, however, even, with a kind of pier he saw erected, several planks were required. And he had been told by Capt. Blair, who was a very good authority on these matters, that, three years ago, he could bring in the Sea Serpent with far more ease than he could now. He (Capt. L.) thought that, if they, sanctioned any expenditure at all for the dredge, it would be to get the thin edge of the wedge in, and the province would be let in for another year's useless expenditure — perhaps, who knows, having to send to Wellington for another Director to carry the works out. Mr. Cglenso said that the Council should not forget that though the amount expended on harbour improvements was apparently large, it included a great deal for machinery &c. It was marvellous to him, how a resident in Napier, and a professional man to boot, (Mr. M. Fitzgerald) could stand up and say that no good had been done by harbour improvements. One of the plans on the Council table shewed that, before the dredging operations commenced, a man could : at low water walk over to Gough Island ; whereas another, prepared by the pilot, showed that in some places there were now more than twelve feet; Then they had the fact that new machinery had been bought and paid for by the province, which, if put in operation, would be the means of as much work being done in a day as was formerly done in a week. The Stoebintendent said that what the government proposed was that the Council should authorise an advance for the purpose of completing the filling up of the sections now partially reclaimed, — that, after this was done, the dredge should be sold. Mr. Teiphook said that a great deal was said about harbour improvements by persona who knew nothing about them, and, not caring to take the trouble to examine for themselves, had only hearsay to go by. For instance it was alleged that the water was greatly shallowed near shore, opposite Stuart, Kinross & Co.'s and elsewhere. But if members would only take the trouble to look at the place, they would see that these shallow places were inside a projected quay wall, to be 110 links from the shore ; and what end would be served by deepening the intervening space, which would all have to be filled up again ? Of course the shallowing of these places was an inconvenience for the time being to masters of vessels, and he did not wonder at some grumbling on their part. He would ask members to look at the plans on the table, and compare the depth of water now with what it was before dredging operations commenced — not to take the mere hearsay of ignorant or interested persons. Mr. Ormond said that no outlay for such quay wall had ever been authorised. Such a work was never, so far as he knew, even contemplated ; and the Director of Works had no right to count upon its being undertaken and so leave the landing place to be destroyed. Mr. Teiphook said that the quay wall was shewn in the original plan. . Mr. ITiTzGrETCAi.T) said that the original plan was submitted to and approved by the Council. Were the quay, wall constructed vessels would lie alongside of it in deep water. The outcry against the shallowing of that particular part was ridiculous, when it came to be considered that this was part of the original plan. Capt. LAJiBEBTy in opposing any further expenditure for harbour improvements, was not finding fault with Mr. Wright. If the province had the means at its command he would not oppose the continuance of those works ; but it had not, and he was sorry- they had ever been commenced. Mr. Colenso also wished they had never been commenced. At the same time, having commenced these works, should they be now abandoned? And he really believed that, if something had not been done, the Iron Pot would not now be accessible. A question now aroae as to the necessity of knowing how much the Council had already voted, and how the province really stood in a financial point of view. Mr. Colenso thought that, before any more money was voted, a statement should be made out by the Government, embodying the information required by the Council. The necessity of this was generally concurred in. The Superintendent wished to have till the following day to prepare a statement, but Mr. Obmond said that it could easily enough be got ready for an evening sitting. The Chairman then reported progress, and the Council adjourned till 7 p.m. On resuming, the Council went into committee on the Estimates. Mr. Colenso read from the Treasury books a number of items that had been paid and charged under the head of " miscellaneous contingencies," by way of explaining the item. He also produced the policies of insurance held by the Government, an inspection of which shewed that the Council Chamber, while being used for balls and other purposes of a like nature, was not protected. It was recommended that this should be looked to by the Government. Financial Statement. The Sotebintendent, in compliance with the request of the Council, read the following memorandum of the money paid, &c, during the first quarter of the year, and appropriated by the Council : — To Approximate amount of contracts taken ... £2679 0 0 Money paid during first ter, including salaries &c. 7276 0 0 Liabilities for Debt &c. ... 8700 0 0 Money voted to date ... . 8044 0 0 26699 0 0 By balance, Dec. 31 ... 7618 0 0 " Estimate of Revenue ...36422 0 0 : 44040 0 0 Available for Appropriation £17341 0 0 — Mr. Osmond said that the change in the price would decrease the sales of ss. land to such an extent as seriously to interfere with the estimate of revenue. His own view of the probable revenue was the following .— Ordinary revenue . ... £5000 . 20,000 acres ss. land ... 6000 Bush and 10s. land . . . 8000 Rents &c. ... 1000 ..-'V,'- I ;■' .19000 .

—According to this estimate, the available revenue had been nearly all appropriated or otherwise dealt with. . , Mr. Totjen confirmed the opinion that the proposed change in price would seriously affect sales. Mr. Alexander believed that, for the present, the revenue would be increased, as runholders would be anxious to purchase while they could do this at the* reduced rate. - Mr- Obmond would ask what land could in that time be got ready, and what interest would the runholder have in buying ? His run would be comparatively safe, and he would have no occasion to buy. Mr. Tifpen did not think that, as wet weather might so soon be expected, more than 30,000 or 40,000 acres of ss. land could be got ready for sale before the Ist September, when the advance in price would come into effect. The Superintendent, in reply to a question, read the following list of sums that the Council had requested him to add to the estimates : — Bridge at Tamumu ... £ 80 0 0 Porerere Road ... 200 0 0 Hospital Road ... 15 0 0 Weighing Machine ... 100 0 0 Oaolress ... 25 0 0 Shakespeare Flat ... 1300 0 0 Road to Tareha's Bridge ... 500 0 0 £2220 0 0 Mr. Ormond said it was quite clear that the estimated expenditure would exceed the revenue by several thousands. The Government should seriously consider this state of things, and determine what course to pursue. It was of no übo to go on as if the Province was rolling in money. • The Stjpebintendent, in reply to a question, said that the sales of ss. land already effected, and the applications already in, were equal to £6000 out of the £10,000 estimated. Mr. E.HODE3 believed that the revenue would be realised, but if doubts were entertained on this subject, let there be a select committee to report upon it. If the Government was right in its estimate, there was still a good balance for appropriation, Mr. Alexandee said that a select committee could obtain no more evidence than had already been before the Council, viz., that of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Mr. Wood said that the statement of the Superintendent was a clear one, shewing a considerable balance. The only doubt seemed to be upon tha item of £10,000 for ss. land ; but surely, if £6000 was already as good as realised, there was very little doubt of sales being effected during next 6 months to the extent of £4000. After some further discussion of a desultory character, the Chairman reported progress, and the Council adjourned till Friday at 3 p.m.