No. 14.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago.

Sir,—

In reply to your Honor's letter of the 21st ultimo on the subject of Public Reserves at Otago, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to state that, in a letter of the 15th September last, page 113your Honor requested a grant in a particular form, under the Public Reserves Act, of certain Public Reserves at Otago. It may be quite true that the inhabitants of Otago may have a purchased interest in those reserves, and a claim to have them dealt with in a manner satisfactory to themselves, but this is not the question for the Governor's consideration, but it is whether such a grant as that asked for can be properly made under "The Public Reserves Act, 1854."

His Excellency is advised that he would not be justified in granting land "upon trust for the Public Service" generally; but the particular objects for which the grant is made, as for instance the site of a church or chapel, or cemetery, &c., should be specified.

It also appears from the "Notes on the subject of the Lands reserved for Public Reserves in Otago," that some of the land asked for by your Honor has been set apart for fortifications, and the granting of such is especially excepted from the power given to the Governor by the first section of the Act.