NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 45, 7 January 1846, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

THE CONCLUSION" OF THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THi: NEW ZEALAND COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT. Looking nevertheless, to recent events in New Zealand, and to the possibility that the natives may feel an increased unwillingness to pait with.their possessions and rights, and may demand a-larger price or corupsnsatnn ; having regard likewise, to the fact that the land purchased fro.re the natives will go in satisfaction of the amount clamed by the New Zenland Company in respect of their extendil ure, Lord Stanley will waive in the Company's favour any doubts which he may himself entertain as to their strict right to a reimbursement in land at the rate of ss. per acre of the monies they shall advance in buying up the natives' claim in any bud which the Company may select, snbject to tbe limitation that the Company's Agent and the Governor, or other proper officer cf the Government, shall concur in the reasonableness of tbe terms of such purchase. It has been communicated to Lord Stanley that the Company are desirous that measures should be taken forexnuining into the native title in tbe Middle Island, a"d for distinguishing on a map hinds which are respectively subj ct or not subject to native chirr.. Upo 1 this point I mii dhee.ted to state to you that Lord Sanley has already pressed on Govemoi Grey's attention lhe necessity of ascertniniug and registering native titles within a limited period; and, if desired by the Company, bis lordship will further especially point out to him the es-

pc'i.-tnry of c<,mirrneiiig v.ifh a? li'fic d 'n; ni possible the i;<c-.'.-iry rji*-aw,re. for ibis purpose in the Middle I ] n!; in the fust iiistn.nce. where lhe scantiness of the po; uiatjf.n will r• mif-r lhe !n,k compari iv.ly e.hy, and tu ;i in ']i -. Company's dij-tricU in the North- n Island; and ),;s lordship will also rimer that *uch a rn-p m you b .vc tu<;gftsted shall l-e preparul. I .-iirj further to advert to the desire expressed by the Company i i your le:t.-r that iuhoul J in: ;iKren:jitnily declared that no native bhall sell lind (o any one but the Government, and tlu-.t as to the puichasss which may lnve been made um.'er Cap Vm Fit/roy'a pr chmation, the pmcha'-es should only be entitled to an acre fortv-ry £\ p-rid, ine!u<l;n" the payments to the natives tog-.ther with the Vt-., or the one penny paid to the. Government, and I am desired U state that L;;rd S anjey b.imoi disturb the purchases which rxay already r.cenmarie under the provision above alluded to, and which are understood to be but lew in number ; and that with r,gard to the proih.tmtion in question Lord Stanley has addressed a further communication to Captain Grey, which in connection with the instructions already givers, and having regard also to the grant of the Crown's right of pre-emption to the Company in thrir own district, will be i-.und sufficient to remove the apprehensions of the Company on tLis fcubj-ct. I have not hitherto adverted to the extent cf the period which the Company are to be allowed for tbe selection of their lands. Upjn ibis point J am to observe that Lord Stanley considers it of importance that the Company shall finally select tbeir land wi:b the hast possible delay, and his Lrdship understands that the Company concur in the expediency of this course. With a view, therefore, to faci itate this object, Lord Stanley would (if the Company were to derire it,) despatch forthwith to the colony a properly qualified person whese duty should it should to give his best assistance to the Company in tbeir selection of laud, to aid in surveying the exterior boundaries of men selections, and to judge cf the reasonableness of tbe terms of any purchase which the Company may make from tbe natives, with reference to the Company's to reimbursement in laud in respect of monies paid (or such purchase. As a fuithsr means of avoiding drlay in the final adjustment of the Company's claim to laud, and wuh a view to give the Company the advantage which may result from tbeir having a definite knowledge of the extent of their resources. Lord Stanley is prepared to entertain any proposal on the psrt of the Company for simplifying the investigation of the amount of laud to which they are entitfed ; and f,,r the recognition without further delay of the of the Ccmp*ny to a grtss total quantity of laadrin lespect of tbeir expenditure up to the present time. if avin.-ithiis ex; ressed ;o you Lord Stanley's view on that part of the coramuiucati n wh:cb reLtes to the land titles of the Company. I am to address you on the other impel taat su'jcct of your l=t er ; viz., the legislative and municipal iustitu-.ions to be cstso.isbed ia New Zealand. Upon these points I am to obserre that Lord Stanley recognises in the peculiar circumstances of tbe settlements formed in New Zealand sufficient grounds for giving to each settlement a full measure of municipal authority, as well as respects the police and police regulations; as also with respect to the administration of justice, and to the imposition aad expenditure of the taxation necessary ior the local affairs of such settlement. With respect to the militia, the arrangements for which you suggest as proper to be left to the municipalities:. I am to enclose for your informatian an Ordinance lecently passed in the colony on that' tuoject. With regard to tbe constitution of the general legislature of New Z-.almd, as tbe Company are aware of the objections which exist to a representative assembly, it is unnecessary to enter upon them. I am to state, fco*ever, that Lord Stanley acquiesces in tbe view of the Company that tbe Council shouid have more of a representative character than at present, and Lord Stanley will not objeci to giving such instructions to the Governor as may secure the presence in the Legislative Council of a limited number of peisons delegated from the respective municipalities, though not to such an extent as to give an absolute majority to such delegated portion cf the Council. I am to add, thht the constitution and powers of tbe proposed municipal bodies, and of the districts which they are t> superintend, the mode iv vvhich delegates to the Council >hou:d be sel-.cted, tbe organisation and fund ons of the Council itself, are subjects which wai require much careful deliberation, and upon which Lord Stanley caunot iorm a definitive opinion until there shall have been ample time for preparing and considering the de ails requisite for arrangements of ih:s natuie. I have the honour tc be, my lord, Your lordship's most obedient bumble servant, The Yisccunt lagestre, &c. G. \Y. Hope.