A compendium of official documents relative to native affairs in the South Island, Volume One.

No. 16. — Despatch from Lord Stanley to Lieutenant-Governor Grey

No. 16.
Despatch from Lord Stanley to Lieutenant-Governor Grey.

Downing Street, 18th December, 1845.

Sir,—

With reference to the letter of 7th August last from Mr. Hope to Lord Ingestre, enclosed in my Despatch of 15th August, No. 28, I have now to inform you that Major McCleverty, of the 48th Regiment, having been appointed Deputy Quartermaster-General to the troops in the Australian Colonies, will proceed immediately to Sydney, and from thence to New Zealand, for the purpose of undertaking the duty of "giving his best assistance to the Company in their selection of land, to aid in surveying the exterior boundaries of such selections, and to judge of the reasonableness of the terms of any purchase which the Company may make from the Natives, with reference to the Company's right to reimbursement in land in respect of moneys paid for such purchase."

Her Majesty's Government, you are aware, are most anxious that the selection of lands by the New Zealand Company should be made within as short a period as circumstances will admit; and I conceive that by placing in Major McCleverty's hands the extracts of the correspondence which I enclose, * he will be made aware generally of the nature and object of the civil duties which will be required of him in New Zealand.

In addition to this, you will of course give him such particular instructions as you may consider necessary for carrying out the general objects specified in those extracts.

The mode in which and the extent to which the New Zealand Company will avail themselves of the aid of Major McCleverty in the selection of land, must land, must depend upon their views, either as expressed by the Company itself here or through their Principal Agent in the Colony. Having ascertained this, you will direct Major McCleverty to take such steps as may appear most advisable for the purpose of rendering them the assistance they may desire.

A copy of this Despatch will be communicated to Major McCleverty.

I have,'&c.,

Stanley.

Lieutenant-Governor Grey, New Zealand.

* Mr. Hope to Lord Ingestre, 7th August, 1845. Extract, Mr. Young to Lord Stanley, 8th August, 1845. Extract, Lord Stanley to Governor Grey, 15th August, 1845. Extract, Mr. Hope to Mr. Young, 28th October, 1845.