5

H.—B

* Note. —Each of theso land orders represents a purchase of the right to select fifty acres of land. No selection was made in virtue of land orders Nos. 187,115,170, belonging to R. Bateman, J. C. Bulteel, and R. Singlehurst, respectively. It has been assumed that, as the district most coveted at the time the Taranaki settlers first made their selections was the Waitara, these three gentlemen or their agents would naturally, had a choice been made, have selected as near as might be to the Waitara, and to the sections of those persons who hold the next preceding orders of choice. Values have accordingly been assigned to their land orders as if they had so chosen their sections of land. The list shows all the unexercised land orders of which the Commissioner of Crown Lands has any records m his possession, J. W. Hamilton, Commissioner, March, 1873. " Taranaki N.Z. Co.'s Land Claims Act, 1872." Claim of Sir Edward St. Aubyn, by Ids Attorney, Michard Chilman, under " The Taranaki New Zealand Company's Land Claims Act, 1872." The claimant purchased two suburban land orders from tho New Zealand Company in October, 1840, for one of which he selected suburban section No. 80, near the Waikakaiho River, within two miles of the town. This land is a portion of the Pukutotara Reserve, given to the Natives by Governor Fitzroy. It was a very valuable section, partly fern and partly bush. The present value is about £6 (six pounds) per acre, but at tho time the claimant was dispossessed of it, it was worth a great deal more, owing to its proximity to the town, and to the circumstance that there was then very little land in the market. No compensation has been received by the claimant from the New Zealand Company on account of non-possession. Richard Chilman, New Plymouth, 19th January, 1873. Attorney for Sir Edward St. Aubyn. Claim of liobert Bateman under " The Taranaki New Zealand Company's Land Claims Act, 1872.'' The claimant purchased a suburban land order from the New Zealand Company on the 21st December, 1813. No selection was made under it, owing to his agent not having a power of attorney. The land selected for land orders issued at the same date was in the Mangaraka District, near what is called the Railway Reserve, and adjoining land granted to the late Colonel Leppcr, the present value of which is about £2 per acre. Richard Cuilman, New Plymouth, 19th February, 1873. (for Robert Bateman). Mr. W. Halse to Mr. J. W. Hamilton. Sir,— New Plymouth, 3rd March, 1873. I have the honor to state that I am instructed by Mr. Cutfield, the mortgagee, to submit the claims of Mr. John Lewthwaite, the holder of six rural land orders, for settlement under " The Taranaki New Zealand Company's Land Claims Act, 1872." Mr. Lewthwaite was for some years a resident in the Province, having arrived out in the year 1841; but being unable to deal with the land selected for his land orders, he returned to England some years since, after mortgaging the land orders to Mr. Cutfield. I understand that Mr. Lewthwaite signed the agreement made by the New Zealand Company with their resident purchasers ; but he did not avail himself of its provisions, or subsequently of the Land Act of 1858, from the inability of the authorities to offer him land in any way equivalent to the original selections. These were made at Waitara, Waiongona, and Mangoraka districts—as regards position and quality of soil, not equalled by any other in the Province. The Act does not provide for holders of land orders appearing and urging their claims, and in this respect contrasts unfavourably with " The Carrington Land Act, 1871," dealing with claims in no respect differing from Mr. Lewthwaite's, by giving a rate of compensation already assented to by the claimant. It will therefore, I trust, not be deemed out of place to ask on behalf of a claimant absent from the Colony that his land orders may be dealt with at not less than £5 the acre. I have, &c, W. Halse. Mr. C. W. Pembeeton to Mr. J. W. Hamilton. Sir,— Office, Rangiora, Bth February, 1873. As I have been informed that you have been appointed Commissioner to investigate the claims of original holders of New Zealand Company's land ordcr3 in certain books in the Province of Taranaki, I beg to inform you that I hold, under power of attorney from Robert Pemberton, Esq., land order No. 5, order of choice No. 3G. This land was selected near the town of New Plymouth, and subsequently taken possession of by tho Natives. I believe it is situate on the Devon Road. I shall feel greatly obliged if you inform me what steps it will be necessary to take in the matter. I have, &c, W. J- AY- Hamilton, Esq. C, W. Pemberton,