A.—4

6

with his claims. He then asked that his claims should be laid before the Commission ; and he significantly added, " I am willing to take my chances with all others." Who are the "all others" meant here? It is clear that the "all others" could only refer to British subjects. No one but British subjects had their claims submitted to the Commission ; and Mr. Shortland stated in his letter of the 7th August, 1841, that if Mr. Webster did not claim as a British subject then his claim would have to be sent to Britain for advice. Is it fair now to allow him to repudiate his action at this distance of time, when perhaps necessary evidence regarding his claims may not be forthcoming ? It is now nearly fiftyone years since his claims were ordered to be adjudicated upon. He did not protest against the tribunal set up for the purpose, or against the Statute by which the tribunal was guided, for he submits his claim to the tribunal. To allow him now to repudiate his own act, and deny the validity of the tribunal that decided his claims, is surely contrary to all law both international and municipal. 8. In my former memorandum, I showed the exact quantity of land that Webster claimed, and what was granted by the Commission. I put it now in tabular form, showing all the claims that were lodged in his behalf and what was done with them : —

Schedule of Purchases of Land in New Zealand, made by William Webster.

I may add that it will be seen by reference to this Schedule that the Committee of the Senate has been deceived, for several of the statements in the report are inaccurate.

J ,- u tt-H O 6 z Si 1° O 111 Locality. Area Award of claimed. First Commission. 111 ■a 8.3 Q <D r] Pj ft O j< Grants issued to Webster and his Co-claimants. 105 !05a June 4, 1837 Deo. 8, 1836 Nov. 23, 1839 Jan. 30, 1837 1836 1838 £ s. a. I 343 16 0 284 3 6 £ 208 260 Coromandel .. Coromandel .. Acres. 250 250 250 acres. Bona fide purchase 250 acres. Bond fide purchase 550 acres. Bond fide purchase 800 acres. Bond fide purchase No grants recommended. With- ■ drawn by claimant, 23rd May, 1844 1,944 acres. Bond fide purchase No grant recommended. Not purchased from the rightful owners 1,187 acres. Bond fide purchase No grant recommended, t Maximum already received. 2,560 acres. Bond fide purchase No grant recommended. Purchase not completed before 14th Jan., 1840 Acres. 250 250 Acres. I Webster .. 125 \ Downing .. 125 J Webster .. 125 \P. Abererombie 125 D. E. Munro .. 550 105b 215 15 G 102 Thames 1,500 550 !05c !05d !05e 268 10 0 203 400 1,200 Coromandel .. Goromandel .. Great Barrier Island* 800 1,000 20,000 800 (Webster .. 400 I Downing .. 400 !05f !05l 105g 1836 1839 1839 .. _ * " ! 421 4 0 80 90 490 Coromandel .. Thames Point Eodney 200 3,000 10,000 1,944 Webster .. 1,944 S05H Nov. 23, 1833 169 3 450 Bay of Plenty (Tairua) 3,000 May 8, 1838 May 20, 1839 202 16 0 Waiheki Island 3,000 Webster .. 1,187 )0Si 108 1,187 105j 278 0 0 948 Mercury Island 6,000 Dec. 31, 1839 1838 1,720 8 0 Piako Eiver .. 80,000 (Webster .. 1,219 \His co-claimants 11,455 105k 1,195 12,674 (05m 80 0 0 Waiheki Island 3,500 Great Barrier Island No grant recommended, claimants having receivodmaxiinum. Bond fide purchase [W. Abererombie 8,119 J J. Nagle .. 8,070 (Webster .. 8,080 32 Mar. 20, 1838 580 15 0 1,149 20,000 (estimated) 24,269 152,500 41,924 41,924§ Totals 4,570 11 0J 6,983 end c cost i Webi See infra, claim 32: Abo) >f island. t The Sei at buildings erected by V rter, 13,080 acres; his co-c L-crombie L'ond Cor /ebster o ilaimanti i, Nagle, and Webst nmission inoreased >n the lands claimi s, 28,844 acres. :or. \ 1 this amoui ed, and int Bond fide purchase pr nt to a total of £7,787 13i erest on his outlay fre •oved of s., by ad( 3m tho ( a small piece of land at south ling thereto the estimate of the late of purchase. § Total,