FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TARANAKI REINSTATEMENT FUND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1864 Session I, A-03

A.—No. 3

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TARANAKI REINSTATEMENT FUND.

In Continuation of A, No 3, Sessional Papers, 1863.) PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THli GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY, AUCKLAND: 1564.

No. I. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, TARANAKI. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland. 19th December, 1863. Sir, — As the settlers of Taranaki are no doubt anxious to learn what the General Government propose to do with reference to the Reinstatement Fund, I have to convey to your Honor the following information on that subject. First.—The Government will cause some enquiry to be made into the accuracy of Mr. Sewell's award. Secondly.—The Loan, out of which the Fund is to be raised, will be negociated with the least possible delay, and the amount payable on account of Taranaki will be distributed as soon as the money is received. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor The Superintendent, Taranaki. No. 2. COPY OF A LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT, TARANAKI, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 2nd April, 1864. Sir,— I have the honor to transmit a Resolution passed by the Provincial Council on the subject of your letter of the 19th December, 1863, No. 456. The question is one on which a good deal of anxiety is felt, and the postponement of its settlement has been productive of much real inconvenience and disappointment, deferring as it does that restoration and reinstatement that might in many cases now be proceeded with. I have, &c, Chas. Browv, Superintendent. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary. EXTRACT FROM MINUTES OF COUNCIL. New Plymouth, Ist April, 1864. Resolved, — That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to urge upon the General Government the absolute necessity of immediately winding up and finally determining the claims for compensation for lossea sustained during the war. (True extract), Wm. M. Crompton, Speaker.

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FUKTHEK PAPERS RELATIVE TO TAEANAKI REINSTATEMENT FUND.

A.—No. 3.

No. 3.

COFV OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKIIAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 17th May, 1864, Sir,— I have the honor to enclose you a Commission appointing you a Commissioner to investigate claims to compensation at Taranaki. You will act under the " Commissioners' Powers Act, 1861," so as to be able to examine witnesses on oath. In the year 1861 Mr. Sewell was appointed a Commissioner for the same purpose, and lie made awards in the cases brought before him. Since then much has been said as to the exorbitant amounts recognized by some of these awards, arising from the alleged fact that claim 9 of an extravagant amount were made, and so supported in many instances as to lead to erroneous conclusions. The people of Taranaki are anxious that the question of the amount of their claims should be determined without delay, and the Government admits the reasonableness of their wish, and desire to comply with it, but, before doing so, feel it proper to clear up the charge of unfairness that has been made. The object, therefore, that the Government has in view in requesting you to undertake the duty of Commissioner is that you should select as many cases as you may think sufficient (probably 5 or C will be so) to test the fairness, or otherwise, of the amounts awarded. If you should come to the conclusion that, upon the wholo, they are reasonably fair, no further steps will be taken, but the amounts awarded will be admitted by the Government. If, on the other hand, you should come to an opposite conclusion, it will probably be necessary that a new Commission should be issued to investigate the claims de novo. I have, &c, William Fox. T. Beckham, Esq., Auckland. No. 4. COPY OF A LETTER FROM T. BECKHAM, ESQ.. TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Resident Magistrate's Court, Auckland, sth July, 1864. Sir,— Adverting to your letter of the 17th of May, requesting me to undertake the duties of Commissioner for the purpose of testing the fairness of the amount of compensation awarded to the settlers at Taranaki by Mr. Sewell in 1861— I have the honor to report that I at once proceeded to that Province, and, after examining the Records of the claims for compensation, I selected those named in the margin, whicii comprise two of the largest awards, two claims which were fully recognised, and three which were much reduced ; and, after a careful investigation and consideration of the evidence adduced, which from the time elapsed was of an uncertain character, especially with regard to house property, I find that there is little or no reason to differ with the decisions given by the late Commissioner, except in the case of Armstrong, iv which he was, in my opinion, wrongly allowed One Hundred Pounds (£100) in a supplementary claim, to be divided between himself and a Mr. McKellar, for 'the loss of seven acres of potatoes they planted eight months after they were compelled to abandon their homesteads, and lor which land Mr. McKellar was awarded one and a quarter year's rent. From enquiries I have made I believe there is no other case of a similar nature. Assuming, then, the claims I have investigated to be a fair sample of the whole, I feel that it would be undesirable to re-open them. I have, &c, Thos. Beckham, Commissioner. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, &c., &c. No. 5. COPY OK A LETTER FROM T. BECKHAM, ESQ., TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. .Resident Magistrate's Court, Auckland, sth July, 1864. Adverting to my communication of this day's date, relative to the Taranaki claims for compensation, I have the honor to report that I should have been prepared to return to Auckland by the

J. H. Armstrong. W. K. Collins. R. Greenwood. H. Kinir. James Pearce. Henry Shuttleworth. Heury Wright.

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" Lady Bird," on the 14th ultimo, had I not been confined to my bed, from severe indisposition, for several days immediately after my arrival at Taranaki ; and I was further detained until the 24th instant in consequence of the steamer " Auckland" not having called there on her last voyage to this Province. I have, &c, Thos. BeCkham, Commissioner. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary. No. 6. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 9th July, 1864. Sir,— I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Fox, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the sth instant, reporting the steps which you had taken, in the fulfillment of your duties as Commissioner, for the purpose of testing the fairness of the amount of compensation awarded to the settlers at Taranaki, by Mr. Commissioner Sewell, in 1861. Mr. Fox desires me to return to you the thanks of the Government for your services in the execution of your Commission. I have, &c, W. Gisborne, Under Secretary. T. Beckham, Esq., Auckland. No. 7. COPY OF A LETTER FROM COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 9th July, 1864. Sir, — I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Fox, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth July, 1864, reporting your unavoidable detention at Taranaki beyond the date at which you expected to return to Auckland. I have, &c, W. Gisbornb, Under Secretary. T. Beckham, Esq., Auckland. No. 8. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 11th July, 1864. Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Fox to authorise you to draw from the Colonial Treasury, in consideration of your recent special mission to Taranaki, as Commissioner to enquire into compensation claims, the usual travelling allowance of one guinea per diem while in that Province, and an honorarium of fifty pounds (£5O) in all for your services. The Government will also pay the expenses of your passage to and from New Plymouth, and also of your conveyance from Auckland to Onehunga and back again. I have, &0., W. Gisbornk, Under Secretary. T. Beckham, Esq., Auckland.

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No. 9. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, September 7th, 1864. Sir,— In reference to the correspondence which has taken place on the subject of the distribution of the sura voted by the Assembly for the Reinstatement of the Settlement and Inhabitants of Taranaki, I have the honor to inform you that the Government is prepared to admit Mr. Sewell's award as the basis for the distribution of the Fund ; and as the money is not likely to be available for some time, certificates will be issued in the mean time to those who may be desirous of obtaining them. I hare, &c, Fredk. Whitaker, In the absence of Mr. Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, New Plymouth. No. 10. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 22nd September, 1864. Sib,— I have the houor to acknowledge your letter of the 7th instant, No. 266, informing me that the Government is prepared to admit Mr. Sewell's award as the basis for the distribution of the reinstatement Fund, and that certificates will be issued in the mean time to those who may be desirous of obtaining them. I beg to recommend strongly to the favourable consideration of the Government that, as it will take some months to conclude the claims, the Sub-Commissioners here be instructed at once to inquire and report on the Supplementary and Military Claims, as well as to issue the Certificates above mentioned. I have, &c, Chas. Brown, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland, No. 11. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THF, COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T, BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 28th September, 1864. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 67, of the 22nd instant, and in reply to inform you that immediate step 3 will be taken for the issue of certificates in connexion with the distribution of the Taranaki Reinstatement Fund. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, of Taranaki. No. 12. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, sth November, 1864. g IR ' I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Fox, to request you to be good enough to proceed to New Plymouth by the first opportunity, and there to enquire into and determine the amount of loss sustained by the Taranaki Settlers during the War of 1860 and 1861, as represented in certain . Supplementary and Military claims made by them in addition to those reported on by Mr. Commissioner The Commission issued to you on the 17th of May last, will be your authority to perform these functions.

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The papers connected with these claims are with the Sub-Commissiouerg at New Plymouth, and they will be requested to hand them over to you, and to give you every assistance in their power. You are authorised to employ such clerical assistance as you may consider necessary. I have, &c, W. Gisbourne, Under Secretary. T. Beckham, Esq., &c, &c, &c. No. 13. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUB-COMMISSIONERS, RELIEF FUND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, sth November, 1864. Gentlemen,— I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Fox, to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter gee Ante to Mr. Beckham, who is about to proceed to New Plymouth, to enquire into the loss sustained by the Taranaki Settlers during the War of 1860 and 1861, and to request you to be good enough to furnish him with any documents he may require, and to render him every assistance in your power. I have, &c, W. Gisborne, Uudet Secretary. The Sub-Commissioners, Taranaki Relief Fund, New Plymouth. No. 14. COPY OF A LETTER FROM T. BECKHAM, ESQ., TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Provincial Council Chamber, Taranaki, 12th November, 1864. Sir,— Adverting to your letter of the 6th instant, requesting me to enquire into and determine the amount of losses sustained by the Taranaki Settlers during the War of 1860 and 1861, as represented in certain Supplementary and Military Claims, and informing me that the papers connected with these Claims are with the Sub-Commissioners, I have the honor to report that only twelve (12) Supplementary Claims have been lodged with those gentlemen, and that there are about three hundred (300; persons desirous of placing their Supplementary Claims in my hands for investigation, and that they amount to about (£20,000) twenty thousand pounds. May I request that you will be pleased to inform me if I am authorised to receive and entertain them ; if so, is Rent to be allowed where the Settlers have been unable to occupy their farms from the end of June 1861 to March 1863, at the rate awarded by Mr. Jewell ? I understand from Major Atkinson that he estimated for such a contingency in the One hundred and seventy-five thousand pounds (£175,000) voted to repay the Settlers'losses at Taranaki. There also a few Military Claims not delivered to the Sub Commissioners ; am I to receive and investigate them ? I am informed by the Sub-Commissioners that they refused to receive the Supplementary Claims ; informing the claimants that when a Commissioner arrived they would be called for. I have, &c, Thomas Bbckham. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. No. 15. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO T. BECKHAM, ESQ. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, November 14th, 1864. Sir, — I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Fox, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, and, in reply, to authorise you to investigate every Supplementary Claim which may be brought before you, and to receive any evidence of loss whether of Rent or of anything else.

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But you will be good enough to take care to inform such claimants that your doing so is only in the way of an investigation, and that the General Government does not pledge itself to pay such claims, either in part or in whole, without the special sanction of the General Assembly. I have, &c, W. Gisborne, Under Secretary. T. Beckham, Esq., New Plymouth, Taranaki.

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