A.—4.

Mr. Webstee to the Colonial Seceetaey, New Zealand (bringing forward his Land Claims). Sic, — Coromandel Harbour, 20th July, 1841. I have sent seven copies of titles to land and seven* statements of purchases, which I beg you will lay before the Commissioners, for examination only. I have sent all my claims to land in this country before the United States Government, by the advice of the American Consul of Sydney, and I trust His Excellency Governor Hobson will not suffer any of my lands to be interfered with until the question is settled. I have been a resident in New Zealand for seven years, and have expended a large sum of money and undergone a great deal of trouble and hardships. I am willing to come forward and prove all my purchases ; but I trust that I shall be allowed time to do it, for I am very busy now with ships, and am under heavy penalties for the fulfilments of my agreement, and I find it will take a long time to get all the Natives and witnesses to my purchases of lands together, and the expense will be very great. I find myself already at a great loss, and it appears to me that I am to be put to much more, and I do not know who to look to for it. I trust, when my claims for purchases to land (in this country) are examined, that they will prove to be all well understood by them that hear them, and it was all bought before that any Government was formed here; and I further consider that all I have has been dearly earned, and I trust that, before I am dispossessed of any of it, it will be proved who has the best right to it. Hoping that I have not made any unjust remarks, I have, &c, Wm. Webstee. The Colonial Seceetaey to Mr. Webstee (requiring him to declare whether he claims Land as a British or Foreign Subject). Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 7th August, 1841. I have had the honour to receive and lay before His Excellency the Governor your letter of the 20th ultimo, transmitting copies of titles of claims to land in New Zealand, and am instructed to acquaint you that you must distinctly state whether you claim the land as a British or American subject. If the former, your case will take the course the law prescribes; if the latter, your claims must depend upon the decision which may be arrived at by the joint consent of both Governments. The Governor further directs me to inform you that in seeking assistance from a foreign Government you must relinquish all the rights of a British subject, such as the ownership of a British vessel which you are now understood to possess; but, if the claims be lodged as a British subject, His Excellency will consent to their being laid before the Commissioners in the usual way. I have, &c, Mr. William Webster, Coromandel Harbour. Willoughby Shoetland.

Mr. Webstee to the Colonial Seceetaey (in reply to the foregoing). Sic, — Coromandel Harbour, 3rd October, 1841. In reply to yours concerning my claims to land, I wish my claims to be laid before the Commissioners, and am willing to take my chance with all others. But I trust that they may be left until the last, for it will put me to a serious inconvenience to attend to them now. I have, Sec., Wm. Webstee.

Memoeandum for the Goveenoe. The information furnished regarding these claims is sufficiently full to enable them to be referred for investigation. It appears, from Mr. Webster's letter of July, that these are only a part of his claims : he mentions twenty-seven as the total number, but states that the documents referring to the other claims are mislaid. 30th October. Willoughby Shoetland.

Minute by Goveenoe. Let Mr. Webster's claims be submitted in the usual way. 2nd November, 1841. W. Hobson.

Mr. Webstee's Claims referred to Commissioners. Cases Nos. 305 to 305 m. William Webster, of Coromandel Harbour, Claimant. Beferred to the Commissioners appointed under the Ordinance of the Governor and Council, 4 Victoria, No. 2. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, N.Z., 18th November, 1841. Willoughby Shoetland. [Notification of Mr. Webster's claims being referred to the Commissioners published in the New Zealand Gazette No. 19, 24th November, 1841, pages 123, 124.] Erom the foregoing correspondence no other inference can be drawn but that Mr. Webster intended to have his claims heard as those of a British subject; and, Firstly, That the Governor so interpreted his intention is apparent from the minute of the 2nd November, 1841, where, in directing Mr,

* Numbered by the Commissioners as Cases Nos, 305 to 3QSF.

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