A.—4

1895. NEW ZEALAND.

WEBSTER'S LAND-CLAIMS. [In continuation of A.-4, 1894.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goveenoe. (New Zealand, No. 32.) My Loed,— Downing Street, sth July, 1894. I duly received your Lordship's despatch No. 7, of the 28th of April, 1893, forwarding A _ l] lg g 3 a memorandum drawn up by Sir Bobert Stout, in connection with the claim of Mr. William No. 21. Webster', a citizen of the United States, to compensation for land-purchases and other interests in A..-4,1893. New Zealand ; and I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, a copy of a note which has been addressed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Mr. Bayard on the subject. The Earl of Kimberley has been informed that this note would be at once transmitted for the careful consideration of the United States Government. A copy of a previous note from Mr. Bayard, dated April 19th, 1894, is also enclosed. I have, etc., Governor the Bight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. Bipon

(Enclosure No. 1.) My Loed,— Embassy of the United States, London, 19th April, 1894. Under instructions from my Government, I have the honour to draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the claim of William Webster, a native citizen of the Dnited States, which has been heretofore the subject of much correspondence, and concerning which your predecessor in office, the Earl of Bosebery, wrote to Mr. Lincoln (my official predecessor), under date of the 25th February, 1893, from which I make the following extract : "I have to state, in reply, that a fresh communication on the subject was made to the Government of New Zealand in August last, that their attention will be again called to it, and that, on receipt of their reply, I will consider the matter, in consultation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies." A reply from the Government of New Zealand has no doubt been received, and I trust it has been of a character that will lead to a satisfactory adjustment of the claimant's case ; and awaiting your Lordship's communication, I have, &c, The Earl of Kimberley, &c. p. Bayaed.

(Enclosure No. 2.) Youe Excellency,— Foreign Office, 15th June, 1894. In the note you did me the honour to address to mo on the 19th ultimo, your Excellency drew the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the claim of Mr. William Webster, a native citizen of the United States, in respect of compensation for land-purchases and other interests in New Zealand. This claim had, your Excellency pointed out, formed the subject of correspondence between Mr. Lincoln and my predecessor in office, and you reminded me that a further communication on the part of Her Majesty's Government had been promised on receipt of the further report from the Government of New Zealand, to whom the case nad been referred. I now have the honour to transmit to your Excellency, for the information of the United States Government, copy of a letter from the Department of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, enclosing an exhaustive memorandum, drawn up by the Government of New Zealand, on the claims in question. Your Excellency will perceive that the Colonial Office letter deals very fully with the whole matter, and that all the points raised in Mr. Lincoln's note of the 11th October, 1890, have been carefully and thoroughly investigated. As the papers which I have now the honour to communicate to your Excellency give full details of the case, it appears unnecessary for me to enter into them at any length. I—A. 4.