C—3

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

SALE OF AURIFEROUS LAND AT SWITZERS, (REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. Bradshaw to the Hon. the Premier. Sir, — Dunedin, 16th December, 1872. "With reference to the correspondcnco (which is now printed and is a Parliamentary paper) which has taken place between the miners at Switzers and the Colonial Government relative to the sale of 50 acres of auriferous land by the Waste Lands Board of the Province of Otago to Mr. McDonald, and also the report of Gold Fields Committee during last Session of the Assembly, and the evidence of J. C. Brown, Esq., M.H.R., which was given before that Committee, I have the honor to bring to your notice the fact that, since that report was made by the Gold Fields Committee, in which a recommendation is made that the Provincial authorities should, at the request of your Government, institute an inquiry on the spot into the circumstances of the sale, one of the owners of the said land has accepted and now holds tho responsible position of au Executive officer of the Province of Otago and Secretary for the Gold Fields of that Province. My reasons for now calling your attention to this matter are:— 1. Because the correspondence originally passed through my hands to the Government. 2. Because I represent the Switzers District, where the fifty acres are situated, both iv the General Assembly aud the Provincial Council of Otago. 3. And because the miners generally, as expressed by their representatives in Conference assembled at Tuapeka, Lawrence, wish that your Government should appoint the Commission of Inquiry, instead of leaving the appointment of the Commission to the Provincial authorities. I have, &c, J. B. Bradshaw, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. M.H.R. for Wakaia.

No. 2. The Hon. Mr. "Waterhouse to Mr. Bradshaw. Sir,— "Wellington, 20th December, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, having reference to the report of the Gold Fields Committee of last Session on the sale of 50 acres of auriferous land at Switzers, Otago, and beg to inform you that the Government do not deem any action on their part desirable until the Provincial Government of Otago have had the opportunity of giving effect to the resolution of the said Gold Fields Committee of the House of Representatives. I have, &c, J. B. Bradshaw, Esq., M.11.R. G. M. "Waterhouse.

No. 3. The Hon. J. Hall to His Honor J. Macandrew. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, 24th December, 1872. Adverting to your Honor's letter No. 12,791-7, of the 17th June last, forwarding a letter from the Warden of Switzers relative to the sale of auriferous land in that district, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of the report of the Gold Fields Committee of the last Session of the General Assembly. I have to draw your Honor's attention to the paragraph relating to the sale of land at Switzers, and to request that you will be good enough to favour the Government with information relative to the steps the Provincial Government of Otago proposes to take in the matter. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. John Hall. I—C. 3.