LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. COMPENSATION TO ABSENTEES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 495, 30 August 1851, Page 119

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

COMPENSATION TO ABSENTEES.

appears to me particularly important at this moment, when some objections appear to exist to that part of the Land Claimants' Bill which decides the right of the absentees to compensation. I may as well add, that at the time the Clara left England, Mr. Seymour was, at the request of the Halifax purchasers, preparing a repre* eentation of their case to Earl Grey. I am, sir, &c, Nelson, Aug. 26. Alfred Fell. " At a Meeting of the purchasers of land in Nelson of the New Zealand Company, held at the White Lion Inn, Halifax, on Friday, 7th of February, 1851 : — Present, Messrs. J. Hodgson, G. Stansfeld, Abbott, Dixon, Kid, Bennett, R. Stansfeld, junr., J. Crowther, S. Crowther, Eastwood, Kenny, Farrar, Briggs, T. Hongson, Hughlings, and Bray. "Proposed by Mr. Kidd, seconded by Mr. Hughlings, that J. Abbott, Esq., do take the chair. " Proposed by B. Dixon, Esq., seconded by Mr. J. Crowther, that a committee be appointed to communicate with the New Zealand Company, to request that it would consent to an arbitration between itself and the purchasers of land at Nelson, residing in the United Kingdom, in accordance with the second Resolution of July Ist, 1847. " Proposed by G. Stansfeld, Esq., seconded by J. Bennett, Esq., that Messrs. Crossley, Briggs, Rawson, Abbott, Kidd, J. Crowther, and Hughlings be appointed the committee, with power to add to their number. Three to be a quorum. " Proposed by M. S. Kenny, Esq., M. D., seconded by T. Hodgson, Esq., that the committee be empowered to nogociate for an adjustment of the claims of the purchasers ; and to adopt such other measures as it may consider necessary to promote the attainment of a sasUfactory compensation for losses sustained, and a final settlement of the Trust Funds accounts. II Proposed by W. Briggs, Esq., seconded by M. S. Kenny, Esq., M. D., that the proprietors now j present, who have had opportunities of personal j communication with Mr. Seymour during his stay in Halifax, gladly avail themselves of this occasion to express their sense of obligation to that gentleman for his lucid and candid explanations; and that the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to him for his attendance this day, and for the valuable information and suggestions received from him. " Proposed by J. Hodgson, Esq., seconded by S. Crowther, Esq., that the thanks of this meeting be given to J. Abbott, Esq., for his valuable services in the chair." — — "To John Abbott, Esq. " Sir — I have had the honour to receive and lay before the Directors of the New Zealand Company your letter of 25th February, enclosing a copy of Resolutions adopted at a public meeting of owners of Nelson lands, held at Halifax on the /th, and requesting that such landowners may receive some compensation in addition to that which they have already obtained, or that the question may be referred to arbitration. " In reply, I am instructed to state, that on the 4th July, 1850, a notice was given by the Company to her Majesty's Government, in accordance with the provisions of an Act of Parliament, 10 and 11 Viet., c. 112, and that in consequence the power of deciding on the question now raised, rests wholly with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. " I am also instructed to inform you, that the whole of the papers relating to the adjustment of land claims in the settlement of Nelson were forwarded to Earl Grey on the 26th December last, together with the copy of an application made by owners of Nelson land, resident in London, similar in purport to that transmitted by you, and an expression of the sentiments of the Directors to thia effect, that they neither intended nor expected awards to be given on the principle or to the extent which the Nelson landowners have received; that they fear the gratuitous disposal of so large a quantity of land as has been already awarded, and still more the larger quantity which will be involved in the extension of the measure to non- residents, will be not only prejudicial to the settlement, but injurious to the landowners themselves by reducing the price, and depreciating their property ; but that there seems to be no reason why the residents alone should receive special compensation; that the non-residents have in lika manner equitable claims to consideration; that the question of allowing or disallowing the awards in favour of the residents, the Directors desire to leave wholly to Earl Grey's decision ; but that if those awards be allowed, they beg to recommend the claims of the non-residents also to his lordship's favourable attention. "In furtherance of the sentiments thus enforced, copies of your letter and its enclosure have now been forwarded to his lordship, with a recommendation, on the part of the Directors, that the advantage of any arrangement which may be adopted with regard to the London applicants, may be extended also to those residing it Halifax. " I have the honour, &c, (Signed) "H. Harington. "New Zealand House, March 7, 1851."

Sir — I beg to forward for insertion in your paper of next Saturday, a copy of a series of Resolutions passed at a meeting of Absentee purchasers at Halifax, and the reply of the Company's Secretary, Mr. Harington, to a communication from the Chairman : the latter