CLAIMS OE JOHN KELLY.

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G.— No. 33

they would not realize more than Is. Gd. per acre. By the non-completion of the flax mill, machinery, and other buildings and improvements, which were required, by the terms of the lease to Brissenden, to' be left upon the ground in good order at the expiration of the lease, I estimate that my father has sustained a loss amounting to £4,000. Myself and my two brothers were engaged in farming on the land previous to the commencement of proceedings by O'Neill, but were by those proceedings thrown out of employment, and have been idle up to the present time. Taken before me this 16th day of May, 1872. Thomas Beckham. No. 3. His Honor T. B. G-illies to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sib,— _ Wellington, 18th July, 1872. Referring to yours of the th instant, enclosing copy of Mr. Beckham's report in the case of John Kelly, I have the honor to call your attention to several circumstances in relation thereto. In the first place, if Mr. Kelly's grievance was a Provincial grievance, liable to be satisfied by the Province, then I apprehend the Provincial authorities were the proper parties to deal with it. If it is a Colonial concern, with which the Colonial Legislature and Government have occasion to deal, then the Colonial Government and the Colony must accept the responsibility of the report. In the next place, I would call your attention to the fact that no intimation of the inquiry by Mr. Beckham was conveyed to the Provincial Government, by the Colonial Government or by the Commissioner appointed by them : that the whole evidence is ex parte, and the conclusions arrived at simply absurd. Although, in my view of the matter, the Province or Provincial Government have no direct interest in the result of a claim which originated before they existed, and which must be satisfied by the preexistent authority, that is, tho Colony, I think it would have been in the interests of the Colony had there been an opportunity afforded for protecting those interests by the production of evidence by the Province in relation to the claim made. Such opportunity was not afforded, inasmuch as I was not aware of the existence of such an inquiry until in receipt of the report. In such circumstances, you will, I think, consider me not to be without justification in giving every legitimate opposition to the giving practical effect to the report transmitted. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Thomas B. Gillies. No. 4. The Hon. W. Gisbobne to His Honor T. B. Gillies. Sib,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd July, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, relative to Mr. Beckham's award in the case of Mr. John Kelly's claim for compensation. The papers relating thereto shall be laid before the House of Eepresentatives for their consideration. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent of Auckland, Wellington. W. Gisboene. No. 5. Mr. O'Neill to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaby. Sib,— North Shore, Auckland, Bth August, 1872. Seeing in the Herald of the 6th current a copy of Mr. John Kelly's compensation claim, wherein Mr. Beckham awarded him the following, viz. : — £ s. d. For 148 acres taken by the verdict of the Supreme Court, &c. ... 4,821 17 0 Severance, loss of Mr. Brissenden's outlay, &c. ... ... ... 5,834 1 6 I beg to inform you that the Government may have at once from me the 148 acres, with all the improvements, for ten pounds per acre. On inquiry you will find this to be a fair value, taking into consideration how property in the vicinity of Auckland is now selling in the market. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Allan O'Neill. No. 6. Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. A. O'Neill. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd August, 1872. I am directed by Mr. Gisborne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, adverting to Mr. Beckham's award in the case of John Kelly, and offering to sell your land, taken by verdict of the Supreme Court from Mr. Kelly, for ten pounds per acre, which you consider to be the present value of the land, and to state that a copy of your letter will be added to the former papers on this subject already before the House, as the whole subject will probably be brought under their consideration. I have, &c, G. 8. Coopee, Allan O'Neill, Esq., North Shore, Auckland. Under Secretary.