REPORT OF THE Select Committee ON TAIRUA GOLDFIELD.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2113, 12 October 1875, Page 2

REPORT OF THE Select Committee ON TAIRUA GOLDFIELD.

[By Telegraph.]

Cfjeom ova special cobbespondent.)

WELLINGTON. .<'•• This day. The Tairua Committee report that they were appointed to enquire into the circumstances connected with the question of the transfer of the Tairua and Pakirarahi blocks, in the province of Auckland, to the provincial administration. The Tairua block of 36,000 acres was conveyed by the Natives to the Queen on the 7th Uecemb,er, 1873, without any reservation being expressed in the body of the deed, except of timber rights. On the 24th of June, 1874, the block was proclaimed under the Waste Lands Act, subjfctto the Auckland Waste Land Law. On the 25th of July, 1874, Mr Mackay wrote to the Auckland Provincial Government that the Natives wanted a reserve of 1000 acres at Tairua, but the reserve svas not defined on the grant. On the 11th of July the conveyance from the Natives to the Qneen was registered, and on the 14th of April, 1875, the surveyors appointed by the Provincial Government reported the desirability of reserving the available site for a township. On the 25th of May, 1875, the Provincial Government heard that this same site was being surveyed on behalf of the natives, and Mr Mackay did not report the selection of the reserve until after the survey had been made. On 2nd of July, 1875, the Provincial Government learned for the first time that the only township site had been taken as the Native .Reserve of 1000 acres, and that the natives had leased it to an interpreter named Guilding in Mackay's employ. Guilding had full knowledge of the transaction connected with the reserve from the very first. Guilding subsequently admitted Mr O'Halloran, another of Mackay's clerks, as a partner in this lease. Mackay was not cognizant of this transaction until after its completion, and he says in evidence that he expressed his disapproval of ifc. Guilding and O'Halloran were employed by Mr Mackay both in his private and public capacity. The Committee expressed ; >n opinion that the leasing of the reserve by persons employed by Mr. Mackay, presumably with special information on the subject not accessible to the public generally, is open to general objection. The facts relating to the acceptance by Mr. Crippen, a clerk of Mr Mackay, of a share of the Prospectors' Claim at Tairua are as follows:—The prospectors asked their agent, W. A. Graham, to offer a share to Mr Mackay, the General Govern? ment Agent. Mr Mackay refused, giving as his reason that it would perhaps be used against him in,his oilicial capacity.

He was then asked if he wetfldlike^it' to* be given to Mr O.'Halloran, and he objected, as O'Halloran was connected witt him by marriage, but he suggested Crippen, who had been a faithful servant of bis. It. was accordingly giveu to Crippen, and from O'Halloran's evidence it appears that the share was divided equally, between them. It was afterwards sold for £2000, and O'Halloran got £800. Mackay states positively that he himself was not directly or indirectly interested in the share. v t he Committee consider this into »ac;» tion highly improper, and that whilst Mr | Mackay declined a share himself, he should have peremptorily refused to allow any of the persons in his employment to accept it. ': The Committee proceeded to comment" on the terms of Mr Mackay/s employ-/ menfc as a Land Purchase Commissions^ partly acting for the Government apP partly for private individuals. This*the Committee condemn, and are of opinion that an agent situated in that way should not be allowed to determine the natives and rights of private persons. The Committee also suggest legislation to settle such rights, and strongly condemn the system under which O'Halloran and Crippen were able to use information^ not accessible to the ; public/ and recommended that all.■persons employed as agents of .the Government, paid by salary or by commission, shouldl? be taken to be Government Officers/^subV ject to the ordinary rules regulating the service. The .Committee, also! reported thsff W man employed by Government to/purl chase land should be allowed to traffic in. land for himself..