ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 88, 2 June 1843, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Colonist. Wellington, May 30, 1843

Sir, — I shall feel obliged by your inserting in your paper the following correspondence between the New Zealand Company’s Principal Agent and myself, in reference to a claim made by me for compensation for losses sustained in endeavouring to gain possession of land nominally mine at Wanganui; and am, Sir, your obedient servant, W. ALFRED WANSEY.

(Copy Letter No. 1.) Wellington, April 20, 1842

Sir, —As the New Zealand Company’s Principal Agent, I address myself to you, requesting compensation for expenses incurred by me in endeavouring to obtain possession of my land sold by the New Zealand Company. After the land had been-given out for selection by the Company’s Surveyor, I proceeded to Wanganui ■with three laboring men, for the purpose of building a house and clearing the land, my intention being to farm it.

Soon after my arrival, and after the house was built, the natives came in great numbers, declaring that the land was theirs, that they had never sold or received any compensation for it, and that they would tomahawk me, if I persisted in interfering with it. I then made propositions to purchase the land, according to your recommendation when you were at Wanganui, “ That any expenses the settlers were put to in obtaining their land the Company would repay.” The natives refused to sell the land, saying they wanted to live there themselves. They afterwards broke into my house, and took all they could lay their hands on, and these annoyances compelled me to leave.-the place. On my returning ten days ago, 1 found iriy house occupied by the Maories, and a pah building close by. Under these circumstances, I trust you will see that I am entitled to liberal remuneration for the expenses I have been at, in endeavouring to obtain possession of land bought on the faith of the New Zealand Company’s.professions ; and am, Sir, your obedient servant, W. ALFRED WANSEY. Col. Wakefield.

(Copy Letter No. 2.) Wellington, April 22, 1842. Sia, —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th inst., requesting compensation for expenses incurred by you in endeavouring to obtain possession of your land sold by the New Zealand Company. It appears that you did so far obtain possession of the land in question as to erect a house thereon ; but ' that, subsequently, the natives broke into it, and compelled you - by their annoyances to leave the place. I cannot, on the part of the Company, acknowledge the principle implied in your demand for compensation, that the Company is bound to reimburse purchasers of land from them for the • losses incurred by the illegal proceedings of the natives. In all the neighbouring • colonies, and in other parts of this island, outrages on property have been made by the Aborigines without the seller of the land being held responsible for the loss. I shall, however, be happy to forward to the Court of Directors any statement and estimate of damage and loss of property incurred by you, for their decision, and K have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant, W. WAKEFIELD, • Principal Agent New Zealand Company. W. Alfred Wansey, Esq. (Copy Letter No. 3.) Wellington, May 4th, 1842.

Sib, —I feel obliged by your reply to my letter, and give on the other, side an estimate of expences and

damages iucurred by me in attempting to gain possfesaioh of my land, trusting you will forward it to the board of Directors, pressing their earnest consideration, feeling justly entitled to compensation, as I came here for thd purpose of agriculture, and gave a great advance on the Company's price for an early choice, and have done my best to become a settler; and am, Sir, your obedient servant, W. ALFRED WANSEY.

Col. Wakefield. (Copy Letter No. 4.) Wellington, May 5, 1843. Sir, — I am instructed by the court of Directors of the New Zealand Company to decline to give compensation on their part for the losses which settlers may undergo from the aggressions of the natives, as in the instance which you represented to me on the 4th May, last year. The Directors consider it to be the duty of the Government, and not of the Company, to proteet the settlers, and compel the natives to respect the law and to seek redress, in case of their thinking themselves aggrieved, from the constituted authorities, and not by acts of violence and rapine. I am,.Bir, Your obedient humble servant, W. WAKEFIELD, Principal Agent to the New Zealand Company. W. A. Wansey, Esq. ' ;—o- ' r, \ (New Zealand Gazette.) > We have much pleasure in being enabled to present our readers with a letter from our late distinguished visitor, Captain Bdrard, to Colonel Wakefield.

The favourable opinion entertained of this settlement by the writer, is to be considered especially valuable, from the high -position he holds in Europe as a scientific and experienced commander. We are sure that the community here reciprocates cordially the friendly sentiments of the officers of Le Rhin. On board the corvette Le Rhin, May 21, 1843.

Sir,-—I send you the results of the observations we have made near your house. They may be looked upon as exact, because I had good instruments and excellent chronometers—

Port Nicholson, Colonel Wakefield’s house.

Latitude 41deg. 16m. 46sec. South Longitude 174 deg. 47m. 29sec. E. of Greenwich, “ . 172 deg. 27m. ssec. East of Paris.

I beg of you to be good enough to apologize for me to those persons whom I could not §ee before my departure, and to thank them for the kind and friendly reception they gave to all the officers of Le Rhin. We shall always speak of the pleasure we had in your town, and our countrymen shall know that henceforth they will find at Port Nicholson all requisite supplies, and the most cordial hospitality. Although I had not time to appreciate all the advantages which the position of your settlement presents, I cannot refrain nevertheless, from congratulating you on your choice. Port Nicholson contains at once a vast anchorage and a real harbour, in which all possible repairs of vessels of any size can be effected. Its geographical position, in Cook’s §tjrait, to it for the future all the success which can be attained in a'great commercial capital.

Permit me to take this opportunity of recommending the Pilot, who took charge of us. I can speak strongly of his practical knowledge, and of the intelligence with which he directed our corvette.

Be pleased to accept the assurance of my sentiments of esteem and friendship. A. BERARD, Captain, Commanding the French Station in New Zealand. To Colonel Wakefield, Agent to the English Company in New Zealand.