TO A GRANT OE LAND.

15

G — No.

15

Query—His present or late men ?

It is important to notice the date of the above Minute, and also that there is no allusion whatever to other than one grant of land to the Forest Rangers, and that the existing corps. The next letter on the subject is from Major Jackson, dated Bth November, 1864, and contains an account of the circumstances under which the first corps was raised, and the interview between Sir G. Grey, the Hon. Mr. Russell, and himself. Hero Major Jackson identifies himself with the men of his first corps, but does not state, in so many words, that he claims land in addition to that referred to in his letter of 28th October, 1864. I will quote the whole of tho Hon. Mr. Russell's Minute in reply. It is dated tho 15th November, 1865 (tho day before the Minute promising to give the Forest Rangers a separate block of land at Rangiawhia) : — " Reply that the Government recognize the claims of Major Jackson and his men to a grant of good land, in accordance with His Excellency's promise made to Major Jackson in August, 1863. " State that tho Government think Major Jackson and his men should be located at Rangiawhia; but as the present Government retire from office in a few days, they can do nothing more than recognize tho claim he prefers." At the time the Hon. Mr. Russell wrote the above he had before him his previous Minute, of 15th October, 1864. and which, if two grants of land to Major Jackson (or others who had belonged to Ist and now to 2nd Company, had been intended) the last quoted Minute contradicts; there is, however, nothing to show that Mr. Russell considered the two decisions in any way contradictory. The next letter from Major Jackson is dated 12th November, 1864, and asks that the company of Forest Rangers may be detached from the AVaikato Militia, for the reasons stated. I will give the one bearing upon land : — " That I consider my company entitled to a special selection of land, which it will not get while attached to the 2nd. AVaikato Militia, as each company will have to draw lots." The Hon. Mr. Russell's Minute on this letter is dated 21st November, 1864, and is as follows : — " I think the Forest Rangers should be separated from the Waikato Regiment." The above is the last Minute by the Hon. Mr. Russell on the subject. It is unnecessary for me to refer to the action of subsequent Governments on the question; the whole is summed up in the following letter to Major Jackson, of the 23rd November 1865:— " In reply to your letter of 18th June, 1865, I have the honor to inform you that the Government, after full consideration of the subject, consider that your claim to land has been fully met by the allotment of 400 acres, at Rangiawhia, of the most valuable land in the AVaikato District; and that those men who belonged to the first company of Forest Rangers, and who, on their disbandment, did not re-enrol for the completion of the period of service, which alone could entitle them to the ordinary grant of land, cannot now claim it. They will not therefore reverse the decision conveyed to you in Mr. Russell's letter No. 2,458, of 19th October, 1864." If the claim of Major Jackson bo admitted, the claims of Ensign Hay, the representatives of the late Major Yon Tempsky (who was an Ensign in the first company of Forest Rangers), nine sergeants and about fifty privates, who formed the first corps, will also have to be satisfied. The quantity of land promised to the first company was never stated ; unless the " ordinary grant" means the quantities given to military settlers under tho Waikato Regulations, in which case the following would be required:— For 2 Ensigns at 200 acres ... ... ... ... ... 400 acres For 9 Sergeants at 80 acres ... ... ... ... ... 720 acres For (say) 50 Privates at 50 acres ... ... ... ... 2,500 acres Major Jackson's claim ... ... ... ... ... 400 acres Total ... ... ... ... 4,020 acres T. W. Lewis, Chief Clerk.

No. 47. Mr. Cooper to the Hon. D. McLean. I directed Mr. Lewis to make a Memorandum from the papers, assisted by his own recollection, upon the subject of Major Jackson's petition for an additional grant of land. As the Public Petitions Committee has reported in favour of tho petition, I think this Memorandum will be found useful when the Motion comes on for adopting the recommendation by the House. Mr. Lewis has thoroughly exhausted the subject in this very able Memorandum, and has very properly pointed out that if Major Jackson's grant be given, it will result in the loss to tho Colony of upwards of 4000 acres of land. August, 20th, 1871. G. S. Cooper.