3

C—B.

I transmit herewith copy of a petition from certain settlers upon the same subject, and the reply sent thereto. Will you be good enough to bring the correspondence before the Land Board, and obtain its concurrence to the wishes of the Minister as conveyed to Messrs. Sharp and Shine. H. J. H. Eliott.

The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. (Telegram.) 27th February, 1889. The Government desires Euns 228 and 228 a withdrawn from land sale to-morrow, pending obtaining a report as to their suitability for smaller division. James Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. H. J. H. Eliott.

The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. (Telegram. Urgent.) 28th February, 1889. Telegram last night should have referred to Euns 28 and 28a, Otekaike, not 228 and 228 a. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. H. J. H. Eliott.

Dalgety and Co. (for G. F. Dalgety) to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. (Telegram. Urgent.) Dunedin, 28th February, 1889. Be Euns 228 and 228 a : Have just received notice that it is not intended to proceed with sale of these runs to-day. We are advised that this is a violation of our rights; that the determination to relet under section 180 can only be made once for all, and is final, and the gazetting gives us a right to claim that the auction shall proceed. Unless our rights are respected we shall proceed to move for a mandamus. Dalgety and Co. (for G. F. Dalgety). The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington.

The Hon. G. F. Eichardson to Messrs. Dalgety and Co. (Telegram. Urgent. Take precedence.) Wellington, 28th February, 1889. There appears to have been a mistake. It is not intended to withdraw 228 and 228 a. Have wired Maitland urgent to this effect. Dalgety and Co., Dunedin. G. F. Eichardson.

The Hon. G. F. Eichardson to Thomas Duncan, Esq., M.H.E. Wellington, 28th February, 1889. The Government has withdrawn the Otekaike Euns from immediate sale, until further information is obtained as to their suitability for smaller division. Thomas Duncan, M.H.E., Pukeuri, near Oamaru. G. F. Eichardson.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 28th February, 1889. Be your telegram this day : Euns 28 and 28a were sold prior to receipt of your telegram intimating that you intended to withdraw them, not 228 and 228 a. J. P. Maitland, The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

The Hon. G. F. Eichardson to Thomas Duncan, Esq., M.H.E. (Telegram.) Wellington, Ist March, 1889. Eegket, owing to error in telegram to Commissioner night before sale, Euns 28 and 28a were not withdrawn from sale. Thomas Duncan, Esq., M.H.E., Pukeuri. G. F. Eichardson.

J. P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. (Telegram.) Dunedin, Ist March, 1889. Eobert Campbell and Sons purchased Euns 28 and 28a. J. P. Maitland, The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Extract from Memorandum from the Commissioner of Grown Lands, Dunedin, to the Undersecretary for Crown Lands, Wellington, dated Ist March, 1889, on the Eesult of Sale of Otago Euns. With reference to Euns 28 and 28a your telegram notifying that it was the intention to withdraw them from sale, and not Euns 228 and 228 a as previously telegraphed, was not received until after 12 o'clock, by which time the runs in question, being the first on the list, had been knocked down to Messrs. E. Campbell and S,ons (Limited). Euns 228 and 228 a were at first withdrawn; but, on receipt of your telegram explaining the error, were again put up, and sold to Mr. F. G. Dalgety, the present tenant, at the upset prices.