C—3a,

10

I request, as Superintendent of this province, that I may be informed if it is true that Mr. William Nicholl received £150, or any sum of money, from a Native Land Commissioner, to assist to put the Hungahunga Block through, and, if so, that I may be informed of the name of that Land Purchase Commissioner. Sir D. McLean, Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, G. Geet. Waikato, Newcastle.

No. 8. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (Telegram.) Auckland, 23rd May, 1876. Would you be so good as to favour me with a reply to my telegram of the 20th instant ? Sir Donald McLean, Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, G. Geet. Alexandra.

No. 9. The Hon. the Native Ministee to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 25th May, 1876. In reference to your Honor's telegrams of 20th and 23rd instant, respecting a letter which appeared in an Auckland paper from a Mr. H. Alley, to the effect that a Mr. Nicholl received £150 from a Native Land Commissioner to assist to put through the Hungahunga Block, I have to acquaint your Honor that, from information furnished to me by Mr. Mackay, it appears Mr. Nicholl received £100, but for what particular purpose I am not aware, as the Government has nothing to do with the transaction. His Honor Sir G. Grey, X.C.8., Superintendent, Donald McLean. Auckland.

No. 10. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (Telegram.) Auckland, 26th May, 1876. I thank you for your telegram yesterday. Would you be so good as to inform me, was it from Mr. James Mackay, or from any land purchase agent, that Mr. Nicholl received the £100 ? Sir Donald McLean, Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, G. Geet. Waikato.

No. 11. The Hon. the Native Ministee to His Honor the Supebintendent, Auckland. Sib, — Auckland, 2nd June, 1876. Referring to your Honor's telegram of the 26th ultimo, I have the honor to acquaint you that I have no further information beyond what I have already stated in my telegram in reply to yours of the 20th ultimo. I have, &c, His Honor Sir G. Grey, X.C.8., Superintendent, Auckland. Donald McLean.

No. 12. His Honor the Supebintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 2nd June, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, in reference to my telegrams respecting the Hungahunga Block. I do not quite understand the statement made in your telegram of the 25th ultimo, that you do not know for what purpose Mr. Nicholl received the sum of £100, as the Government had nothing to do with the transaction. According to Mr. Mackay's sworn testimony, he merely made the suggestion for this transaction, which was agreed to by the Government and carried out with their sanction. As Superintendent of this province, it is my duty to say that the interests of its inhabitants, and a due sense of their rights, make it in my belief incumbent on you, as Native Minister and Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, to institute a searching inquiry into the matter I have brought before you in this correspondence, as well as into the allegations, in connection with this subject, which are made in the leading articles of the Thames Advertiser newspaper of the 23rd and 24th ultimo. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister and Chief Land Purchase G. Geet. Commissioner, Auckland. Note.—For remainder of Return, vide C. —3 ante.

By Authority: Geokgb Didsbuey, Government Printer. —1876.