C—No. 6

4

PAPERS RELATING TO AN ALLEGED SALE

We are most anxious to hear from you on the fifty-acre A. Macdonald question. We have taken no further steps, the Committee concluding it were better to leave the matter in your hands, until you should instruct us how to proceed. Should McDonald get it, he need not much regret the loss of the station. Apologizing for the trouble, I am, &c, E. Shaw, J. B. Bradshaw, Esq., M.H.E. Secretary, S.M.P. Association. P.S.—The Chinese petition from Switzers District I will forward you by mail from here of 14th instant. ~&.&.

No. 2. Mr. Or. S. Coopeb to the Commissionek of Ceown Lands. (Telegram No. 801.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 20th October, 1871. Eepoeted here that fifty acres auriferous land within proclaimed gold field at Switzers has been sold by Waste Lands Board to Allan McDonald, without report from or knowledge of the Warden; same land previously refused to William Acton. Please report immediately by telegraph full information. G. S. Coopee.

No. 3. Mr. E. Shaw to the Chaieman, Waste Lands Board. Sie, — Switzers, 22nd October, 1871. I am instructed by the Committee of the Switzers Miners' Protection Association, to request from you full information on a grant of fifty acres of auriferous land, sold to Allan McDonald, 13th May last, with a copy of his application to Waste Lands Board; the date of the paper the application appeared in; and under what section of the Waste Lands Act the application was granted. As the Committee is in correspondence with Mr. Bradshaw, M.H.E., on the subject, a reply in course of post will be gratefully received. I am, &c, The Chairman of the Waste Lands Board. E. Shaw, Secretary.

No. 4. The Hon. W. Gisboene to Mr. J. B. Beadshaw. (No. 539.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 26th October, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, enclosing two letters from Mr. Shaw, of Switzers, relative to the disposal of fifty acres of auriferous land to Mr. Allan McDonald by the Waste Lands Board of the Province of Otago ; and, in reply, to transmit for your information the enclosed copy of a telegram which has been received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Dunedin. I have also to state that the Crown grant of the above land will be withheld for the present. I have, <fec, J. B. Bradshaw, Esq., M.H.E., Wellington. W. Gisboktte.

Enclosure in No. 4. Mr. J. T. Thomson to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 20th October, 1871. Pipty acres sold to Allan McDonald, the transferee of William Acton, by Waste Lands Board, on 4th May, 1871, under clauses 83 and 123 "Waste Land Act, 1866." Plan by Government Surveyor shows gold workings outside of section, but no report of Warden was recently obtained, such not being obligatory by regulations, and as the same Warden was favourable to the sale in 1868.

No. 5. The Hon. the Coionial Seceetaey, Wellington. The humble Petition of the undersigned Miners and other Residents on the Switzers Gold Meld, in the Province of Otago. Most Respectfully Showeth, — That your petitioners have heard with great alarm that the Provincial Government have sold to one Mr. Allan McDonald fifty (50) acres of auriferous land, situated in the centre of this gold field. We, therefore, pray that your honorable Government will take immediate steps to prevent the issue of a Crown grant for the said land, and will cause the same to be immediately thrown open for mining purposes. And we beg to submit the following reasons for our request, viz.: —■ 1. That the said block of land is known to be highly auriferous, including, as it does in its area, the celebrated claim known as the " Break-'em All," which was formerly held by Mr. William Acton, and has now been in work for the past six or seven years, yielding handsome returns. Said block is