No. 30.
Lord John Russell to Governor Sir George Gipps.

Sir,—

I have received your Despatch No. 66, of the 29th of May last, transmitting a copy of the address with which yon opened the session of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, and in which you stated that a Bill to empower the Governor of New South Wales to appoint Commissioners to examine and report on claims to grants of land in New Zealand, would be proposed for the consideration of that body.^*

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I transmit to you, herewith, copies of a correspondence which has passed between this Department and the gentlemen associated under the name of "The New Zealand Company,' with regard to the rights which may have been acquired by the Company, and the terms on which their corporate existance would be sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government.

You will defer the execution of any powers that may be given to you by the Bill above alluded to, should it pass into a law, until yon shall receive further instructions from me on the subject.

You will understand, however, that it is not my intention to abandon the plan of instituting a commission to inquire into the titles or claims to land in New Zealand, but that, on the contrary, I fully intend to carry it into execution; and that I write the present instructions in order that means may be taken for executing it with the greatest accuracy, as well as acknowledged impartiality. For this purpose I shall probably find it necessary to send out a Commissioner from this country.