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No. 6. The Hon. the Native Minister to Mr. E. Heskbth. Sir,— Auckland, 27th March, 1878. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th March, requesting a settlement of Mr. Thomas Eussell's interests in the Waiharakeke and other blocks at the Thames. In reply, I must first express my regret that your previous letters and telegrams should have remained unanswered. The delay has, no doubt, arisen from the fact of my being compelled to be absent from Wellington during the greater portion of the last three months. I have telegraphed to the proper officers in Wellington to send me the whole of the original papers, and, when they arrive, I will see what can be done to dispose of the matter finally. I have, &c, E. Hesketh, Esq., Solicitor, Auckland. J. Sheehan.

No. 7. Mr. E. Hesketh to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir,— Auckland, 2nd May, 1878. Ec Mr. Thomas Bussell's agreement relating to Waiharakeke and lands in the Thames District. I have the honour to request that I may be informed if you are now in a position to give me a definite reply to my letter to you of date the 26th March last, and answered by your letter to me of date the 27th March. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Auckland. Edwin Hesketh.

No. 8. Mr. E. Hesketh to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sic,— Auckland, 12th July, 1878. Waiharakeke East and West, and Mr. Thomas Bussell's Agreement as to same. I have the honour to draw your attention to my letter of the 26th March last, in this matter, and to request that I may be favoured with the reply promised me by your letter of the 27th March last. I would respectfully remind you that, notwithstanding all my letters and applications in this matter since the 18th January last, I have not as yet received any intimation as to what the Government proposes to do to satisfy Mr. Eussell's claim to have the land which is the subject of his agreement with the Government. As Mr. Preece appears to be endeavouring to obtain the titles to these blocks for the Government, I most respectfully request that you will inform me when Mr. Eussell's agreement with the Government will be carried out. The matter is of the greatest importance to Mr. Eussell, and it is of great moment to all parties concerned that the question should be set at rest finally by the agreement being carried out. I have, &c, The Hon, the Native Minister, Wellington. Edwin Hesketh.

No. 9. Mr. E. Heskbth to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir,— Auckland, 13th November, 1879. I have the honour to draw your attention to the Parliamentary Papers, 1876, C.-3a, and to the agreement therein referred to, by which Mr. Thomas Russell, of this city, but now residing in England, was to retire from negotiating certain purchases of Native land in the Thames District, and allow and assist the Government to make and complete their purchases, and to receive therefor a title to a certain portion of the block called Waiharakeke, and situated on the west side of the Eiver Waihou, and adjoining the Hungahunga Block. Since March, 1878, I have been acting in this matter on behalf of Mr. Eussell, and I have from time to time applied to the Government to carry out their part of the arrangement referred to. On the part of Mr. Eussell the arrangement has been faithfully carried out, he having conveyed to the Government his interest in Waiharakeke East, and withdrawn from competition with the Government in the purchase of lands in the Thames District. Long prior to my communications with the Government Mr. Eussell had exerted his best endeavours to obtain that which he was to have, but failed. As Mr. Eussell was to pay for this land the sum which it cost the Government to obtain it, he has applied for an account of the cost, and expressed his readiness to pay the same ; but, notwithstanding all this, no account has been rendered to him, and the arrangement has not been carried out, and Mr. Eussell is without the land. I would respectfully draw your attention to the correspondence relating to this matter, and inform you that the same is one of the greatest importance to the Government, and that all that is now asked for is simply a small portion of the land which Mr. Eussell might have secured for himself if, instead of conceding to the Government, he had maintained his position and pressed his purchases to a conclusion. Mr. Eussell had the means of doing all this; and, indeed, he could not only have had the land he now asks for, bufthe Aroha Block, and much more, notwithstanding the Government were purchasing also. The Government were tied to price, and Mr. Eussell was not. I would refer you especially to' Mr. Mackay's letter of the 2nd January, 1874, to Mr. Eussell, and forwarded by the latter to the Hon. J. D. Ormond in Mr. Eussell's letter of the 25th June, 1877. The, following is a copy of Mr. Mackay's letter: —