Land Orders.

The following is a memorandum of an agreement entered into on 16th September 1848, between the New Zealand Company and the resident purchasers and holders of Land Orders from and under it.

Extract.—“It is agreed, subject to the sanction of the Governor in Chief, as follows:—‘That all resident holders of Land Orders shall be at liberty to throw up, or abandon such sections as have heretofore been chosen in respect of such land orders and re-select other land in lieu thereof out of the districts hereinafter mentioned. That the value of each land order is to be considered as assessed at the value or equivalent of 100 acres, excepting however, the land orders in respect whereof sections have been chosen in either of the districts of Porirua or Wellington. That resident holders of land orders shall decide among themselves, either at a general meeting or in a Committee to be appointed at a general meeting what parties shall be entitled to compensation with reference to:—

Ist	Original purchasers who still hold their land orders.
2nd	Purchasers who bought unexecuted land orders or became owners previous to selection. – 59 –
3rd	Purchasers of land at the market value subsequent to selection either here or in England.
4th	Purchasers who have had beneficial possession or occupation of any land.
5th	Purchasers who have already made beneficial changes.
6th	Original or derivative purchasers who have only recently sold their land orders or selections.

“That all selections, whether for land abandoned, or land in compensation, shall be made in every district to be provided and surveyed for that purpose within 6 months after the survey of the district shall be completed.… .” “Decision shall be determined by a committee of reference, to be appointed by the holders of land orders solely, if to any point, or matter, or interest, concerning the holders of land orders, and the Company, then by Isaac Earl Featherston on the part of the holders of land orders and on the part of the Company and such third person as the Governor in Chief may appoint; the decision of any two of them to be conclusive and final; as witness the said hands of the said parties.”

Signed

Geo. Moore.

Signed

Samuel Revans

Signed

W. Mein Smith

Signed

Per N. Levin.

Signed

Jas. Parker.

Signed

A. W. Shand.

Signed

Abraham Hort, senr.

Signed

Wm. Bushell.

Signed

H. W. Petre.

Signed

F. Logan.

Signed

R. Barton.

Signed

– Cameron, per Angus Cameron.

Signed

T. F. Drake.

Signed

Edward Catchpool.

Signed

Francis Bradey.

Signed

Robert Glasgow.

Signed

D. S. Durie.

Signed

Geo. Compton.

Signed

H. St. Hill.

Signed

F. A. Weld.

Signed

C. Clifford (per F. A. Weld).

Signed

Jas. Boddington.

Signed

H. S. Harrison.

Signed

Ken. Mathieson.

Signed

per N. Levin.

Signed

Edward Daniell.

Signed

Ridgway, Hickson and Co.

Signed

Charles Sharp.

Signed

Thos. Northwood.

Signed

Robert Stokes.

Signed

Kenneth Bethune.

Signed

R. J. Deighton.

Signed

Richard Baker.

Signed

George Hunter.

Signed

A. Hornbrook.

Signed

Robert Park.

Signed

James Blyth.

Signed

A. de Bathe Brandon.

Signed

W. B. Rhodes.

Signed

Robert Roger Strang.

Signed

Nat. Sutherland.

Signed

Wm. Swainson, F.R.S.

Signed

Wm. Fitzherbert.

Signed

I. E. Featherston.

Signed

J. H. Wallace.

Signed

Robert Waitt.

Signed

John Dorset.

Signed

Wm. Dorset.

N.Z. Journal, 21/2/1849, p. 40.

Many letters touching on land matters were written by the settlers to the Editor of the “N.Z. Journal” and other publications. Extracts from one are given as follows:—

“I have seen the Chief Land Commissioner, who informs me the only available land near this is at Wanganui.… I was introduced to Mr. Tollemache, who is one of the largest landowners in New Zealand, both in the Northern Island and the Wairau, and he tells me that he has visited every district in New Zealand and knows them well, and that he gives the preference to Otago.”