PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OF STEWART'S ISLAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1861 Session I, C-07

C—No. 7

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OF STEWART'S ISLAND.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives of 14th June, 1861.

(Mr. Dick.)

C—No. 7

No. 1. ME. MACANDEEW TO THE COLONIAL SECEETAEY. Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 22nd October, 1860. Sik, — I have the honor to enclose herewith, copy of an application by Mr. John Bullock, for a lease of a portion of Stewart's Island, and my reply thereto. As the applicant details so fully what he proposes to do, it is unnecessary for me to point out the advantages this Province would derive from such an undertaking. I therefore beg to leave the matter in your hands, strongly recommending it to your favourable consideration. I have, &c, James Macandkew, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. ME. JOHN BULLOCK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, DUNEDIN. Dunedin, 12th October, 1860. Sib, — Having been engaged for some time past in examining the capabilities of the Province, with a view to the erection of Saw Mills to supply the various markets of the Province with sawn timber, I have visited with that object, the Waikawa, Bluff Harbour, and Paterson's Inlet in Stewart's Island; the last mentioned port is the only one which combines the advantages of a good supply of timber, available land, and easy water carriage, and I beg respectfully to apply to your Honor for such assurance as you can give or obtain from the General Government, that I shall be secured in possession of a sufficient tract of land, (by paying for the same when open for sale) whenever the the Native title (if there is one) be extinguished, and the island be subject to the jurisdiction of the laws and authorities of this Province. I am aware of the difficulties of giving any guarantee of value without the sanction of the General Government, and also the trouble involved in procuring such guarantee. It is, however, my intention to erect a Mill capable of supplying at once the whole requirements of the Province, so as entirely to supercede the necessity of importing sawn timber at all, and when the large amount that has been annually withdrawn from the Province to pay for an article which might just as well have been produced within its limits is considered, I feel assured your Honor will deem this a matter of public as well as private interest, and do what lies in the power of your Honor's Government to forward the undertaking. It is my intention to erect a Steam Saw Mill capable o£ cutting upwards of thirty thousand feet of superficial, weekly ; with planing and other machines. Such an establishment will not only be very expensive in itself, but will also involve a large outlay in roads, jetties, and other works to make the timber accessible, and give proper facilities for shipping. It will be obvious to your Honor that should such works be completed by me, unless protected by the Provincial or the General Government, it will be quite competent for any other person to make use of such advantages although erected at my expense. I would suggest as the readiest way to overcome such difficulty, that your Honor should give or procure an exclusive right to use the timber and improvements within a given distance, say one mile from the mill, together with the right to purchase the same whenever it shall be open for sale, I have, &c, John Bullock. His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OF STEWART'S ISLAND,

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Enclosure 2 in' No. 1. ME. MACANDREAY TO ME. JOHN BULLOCK, DUNEDIN. Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 15th October, 1860. Sic, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, stating that you propose to erect extensive Saw Mills at Paterson's Inlet, Stewart's Island, provided you can get the assurance either from the Provincial or General Government, that you will be se«ured in possession of a sufficient tract of land, you paying for the same when open for sale. In reply, I have the honor to state that at present the Island in question is not included within the boundaries of the Otago Province, but in event of its being included, I shall be quite prepared to comply with your request, and to secure you the exclusive right to the timber within a given radius of the spot on which your works may be erected, assuming of course that they shall be capable of sawing the quantity mentioned in your letter. In the meantime, and pending the question as to the future administration of Stewart's Island, I shall transmit a copy of this correspondence to His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand (who is the only authority that can deal with the Island), strongly recommending his favorable interposition in the matter, and pointing out the great importance to this Province of your being protected and encouraged in the proposed enterprise. I have, &c, James Macandrew, Superintendent. Mr. John Bullock, Dunedin.

No. 2. ME. TANCEED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, DUNEDIN. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 23rd January, 1861. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter from a Native named John Topi, in which he offers part of Stewart's Island for sale to the Government, and to request that your Honor will be good enough to inform me whether the Provincial Government of Otago require this land, and if so, whether they will provide the necessary funds for extinguishing the Native title thereto. I have, &c, Heney John Tancred, In Mr. Stafford's absence. His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin.

Nβ. 15.)

Enclosure in No. 2. JOHN TOPI TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. Raupuke, 2nd August, 1860. Sir,— I beg to address your Excellency respecting the sale of Stewart's Island, and I beg to offer to your Excellency for sale, all that portion of the said Island westward of the one hundred .and sixty eight degree of longitude, under the regulations enacted for the sale of Maori lands. . Hoping to receive an answer as early as convenient, / I have, &c, John Topi. To His Excellency Colonel T. Gore Browne, C.8., &c, &c, &c.

No. 3. MR. MACANDREW TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 20th February, 186 L Sir, — With reference to your Despatch No. 15, of 23rd ultimo, respecting the purchase of Stewart's Island, I have the honor to state that the Provincial Government of Otago will be pre-

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO PURCHASE OF STEWART'S ISLAND.

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pared to provide the funds requisite for extinguishing the Native title, assuming of course, that the price is not unreasonably high, and that the land so acquired will be administered by, and its proceeds be at the disposal of the Provincial Government of Otago. I may state that I have had repeated and numerous applications from Otago settlers to acquire timber land at Stewart's Island, and that there are now several individuals erecting Saw Mills and otherwise squatting on the Island, so that it is highly desirable that something shall be done towards its regular colonization. Looking at the proximity of the Island to this Province, and the fact that there are weekly steamers from Dunedin, passing almost within hail of it, it would appear that the work of settlement or colonization can be best performed by, and naturally devolves upon this Province. I am not aware as to the nature or extent of Native claims to Stewart's Island; if occupation may be regarded as any test of this, that claim is very small, if it exists at all. If compatible with the Native policy of the Government as respects the Northern Island, I feel assured, that if authorised to do so, the Provincial Government could deal with John Topi and his co-partners, upon very moderate terms. While upon this subject, I would call your attention to the Native Eeserve at the lower Tairie Ferry, regarding which I spoke to Mr. McLean, when here, last year. It is most desirable that this shall be in the hands of the Province, and if the few Natives living in the neighbourhood could be induced to dispose of it, the Government would be prepared to pay a fair price, the spot in question is one of the most important town sites in the Province, and it would tend greatly towards the public convenience if a town could bo laid off on it at once. I have, &c, James Macandrew, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO PURCHASE OF STEWART'S ISLAND.