P.—No. 2

Sir, — Provincial Council Chambers, Dunedin, 26th April, 1865. I am desired by the Select Committee of the Provincial Council upon Message No. 4, relative to a Reserve, Dunedin, to request that you would be so good as to attend at the office of the Secretary for Public Works, at half-past ten o'clock to-morrow morning, to give evidence relative to the reserve of the water frontage of the City of Dunedin, and any alienation of the said frontage, and to bring with you any documents that you may have that may throw light upon the subject of such Reserve, or of such alienation, if made. I have, &c, A. Rennie, W. H. Cutten, Esq., Dunedin. Chairman of Committee. Sir, — Provincial Council Chambers, Dunedin, 4th May, 1865. In accordance with the wishes of the Select Committee of the Provincial Council on Message No. 4, I have the honor to request that you would be so good as to furnish written replies to the enclosed questions relative to a reserve for public purposes in the City of Dunedin. I have, &c, A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M., A. Rennie, Native Commissioner for Otago, &c, &c. Chairman of Committee. Questions proposed by the Select Committee of the Provincial Council upon Message No. 4, ■ relative to a Reserve for public purposes in Dunedin, to A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M., &c, &c.— I.] Tou are the Resident Magistrate for Dunedin, and Native Commissioner for the Province of Otago ? 2.] When did you arrive in the Province ? 3.] Have you any knowledge of a Reserve being laid off for public purposes fronting the water, and running southward from Jetty Street, Dunedin? 4.] If so, do you remember when the said Reserve was laid off, and by whoso authority ? 5.] Are you aware of any steps having been taken subsequently with the view of diverting the said Reserve to any other purpose than that of a public Reserve ? o.] If so, by whose authority was such diversion proposed to be made ? Replies to Queries proposed by the Select Committee of the Provincial Council upon Message No. 4. I.] I am the Resident Magistrate of Dunedin, and Commissioner for Native Reserves for the Province of Otago. 2.] I first arrived in this Province in the month of April, 1848. 3.] I have no knowledge of the purpose for which the piece of land referred to was originally laid oft". As one of the general public, I was always led to understand it was a public Reserve. 4.] I do not know when the Reserve was originally laid off, nor by whose authority it was so done. .5 and 6]. I recollect being informed, I think in the year 1853, by Mr. Mantell, the then Commissioner of Crown Lands for this Province, that he had recommended for the consideration of the Governor-in-chief, that the piece of land indicated should be appropriated as a Native Reserve; and I also recollect Mr. Mantell subsequently informing me that his suggestion had been approved of, and that the land was consequently set apart for the purposes of a Native Reserve. Dunedin, Ith May, 1805. A. Chetham Strode. Copy of Letter by W. Cargill, Esq., to fhe Colonial Secretary, and mentioning Reserve in question. Sir,— Dunedin, Gth March, 1857. With reference to your despatch No. 39, 11th February, 1850, on the subject of my letter of 26th June, 1855, transmitting a map of Dunedin, showing the public Reserves that had been made by the New Zealand Company for the general purposes declared in Section 12 of the " Terms of Purchase," and of my further letter of 15th September following, enclosing duplicate of the same map in parchment, and requesting that these reserves might be granted in cumulo to the Superintendent as a corporation, in order to be applied to the purposes as set forth in the " Terms of Purchase." In your said despatch you state, " That His Excellency is advised that he would not be justified in granting land upon trust for the public service generally, but that the particular objects for which the grant is made, as, for instance, for the site of a church, or chapel, or cemetery, &c, should be specified." I have therefore the honor to transmit a series of maps (eleven in number), in order that the lands may be severally granted as specified in the Schedule. And with respect to the last paragraph of your despatch, I have to observe that the Reserves for fortifications, as shown on the original map of' town aud harbour, are, the island at Port Chalmers, and the commanding position, Tairoa's Head., at the mouth of the harbour. With respect to the annexed Schedule, I have the honor to propose that Nos. 4, 5, and 10 be granted to the Reverend Thomas Burns and William Cargill, as trustees on behalf of the Presbytery of Otago; and each of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, and 11, to the Superintendent as a corporation ; and No. 8 either to the same or such other party as may be named by the Governor. I have, &c., To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. . W. Cabgell. Auckland.

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OTAGO RESERVES COMMITTEE.