NATIVE LAND DUTIES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5518, 22 October 1879, Page 3

NATIVE LAND DUTIES.

', Sißj— - A, ' paragraph ' referring to the collection, of' native land, duties, which ap- ' pear-i in your journal of the ,7th instant,, has jbeen brought under my .notice, and in it I perceive so many, errors,; no doub.t caused Iby a misunderstanding of the circumstances, that I am induced to request the

favor of the publication of this letter, which will explain the relative position of the Receiver of Native Land Duties at Napier and myself, and I hope prevent the still further confusion which I thinly the paragraph alluded to is likely to create i,-f'4'He!.faots are th§se : ;ThJ c duties • on- -certain- : leases havifig* ' fallen 'very, much into arrear, the Government ap-: pointed me to look into matters, and collect the outstanding moneys. My appointment is in every respect legal, and was duly gazetted on Bth August 1878. The Receiver of Native Land Duties in Napier officially was informed of. my appointment and instructecl His to '' his course of action in respect of the moneys which should be paid to mo in the event of such being .tendered. to-him-. ■AH moneys which on the 20th June, 1878, were owing to the New Zealand Government as duties payable under the Native Lands Act, and the Native Land Duties Act, 1873, are to bo paid to me, and in addition thereto, interest at the rate of £10 per cent per annum from the due rate to the day of payment. This, no doubt) '.iis the ton per cent " to which you refer as appearingin my circular issued from Auckland as a claim for commission. I claim no commission, but simply the -p'cnalty provided by law, and Avbich I am compelled to : collect. circular, issued from Auckland, applies to that provincial district only. Hawke's Bay district was visited by me in February last, and from the 19th of that month ; to the 22nd" March I occupied an office in the Supreme Court buildings. If you will refer to -your advertising columns of 23rd to 28th February you will find that my notice to lessees was dated from .the Supreme C.ourb,! Napier. If you/will also bo good enough to refer to my circular, the subject of your paragraph, you will find it is dated from the Supreme Court, Auckland. So that I think the question as to whether or not I had a public office in Napier and in Auckland may be considered as disposed of. In Wellington (my head quarters) my office is at the address of this letter, and it is a matter of surprise to nic to find it stated that I have no public office into which moneys can be paid. As a public officer, duly appointed to conduct the business upon, which. engaged, surely it cannot be said that, so far as regards this business, my office is not a public office. Moreover, every person in arrears, with whom I, have to' do, has received a letter from iiiy office here ; therefore if the reason assigned for non-payment to me, of any money due, and payable to me, be that I have no public office into which moneys can be paid, this reason can only be regarded as on excuse for putting off the evil day. As to legal authority for enforcing the payment of the duty, I possese all that the law allows, and I sshould not recommend any person to refuse payment on that ground, ov td pay the arrears to" any person but myself; as my receipt only is a legal discharge for the debt. '

I enclose copy off circular referred to as having been' issued from Auckland, also copy of form of account sent to' every person in arreai'3 of payment, which you are at liberty to print if you think proper. I regret to take up the space in your valuable journal for the publication of this, but shall bo glad if you allow me to do so in order to clear ''up the doubt which you state appears to exist as to my authority to collect these moneys. — I am, &c., . _ .

W. H. Warren, Agent for the Collection of Native Land Duties in arrear. Chamber of Commerce Buildings, .'■ Wellington, N.Z., Oct. IS, 1879. '~