No. 16.
Memorandum by the Lieutenant-Governor on the above.

Mr. Domett,—

Inform Mr. Mantell that I quite approve of the course he has taken, and think that he had better leave the question as it stands for the present, as the two blocks claimed by the Natives and not yet arranged for are unimportant, for the objects of either the French claim, the Canterbury Association, or the New Zealand Company, and they may be arranged more easily hereafter. Mr. Mantell probably is not aware that the English N.Z. Company have purchased all the rights and interests of the French claim; at least I am so informed by their Agent here, Mr. Fox.