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Evidence.
The Rev. Dr. Burns, examined:—
| 1. | You were officiating as minister to the first body of settlers arriving in Otago? I was. |
| 2. | In what year did you arrive? In 1848. |
| 3. | Have you any knowledge of a reserve being laid off in the Town of Dunedin, fronting the water, from Jetty Street southwards, by Captain Cargill, as the Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company? There was such a reserve laid off for wharfages. Instructions were given to Mr. Kettle, the Chief Surveyor, to strike out the whole of the sections fronting the water, and I have reason to know that this was done. It was done by orders of the Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company. The parties selecting under the first ballot were exceedingly sorry that the whole of the town sections fronting the water had been thus cut off and reserved, so that they could not select them. The map that was submitted to the first selectors had these frontage sections simply coloured pink, and Captain Cargill informed them that these sections were reserved. The only special reserves then were for the Church, the Manse, and the School. |
| 4. | Do you know why these frontages were reserved? There had been some discussion about thus reserving the water frontage, and the Chief Surveyor had instanced the case of London, in which city the not following such a course had been found extremely inconvenient. |
| 5. | Have you any documents that would give the Committee any information on the subject of that reserve? No; but I recollect when the Ordinance for reclaiming the harbour was sent to the Governor at Auckland for his sanction, it was returned on the ground that the parties owning the water frontages had not been dealt with; when it was stated that the three reserves before mentioned were all that existed having such frontage. |
| 6. | When did that occur? During the Superintendency of Major Richardson. |
| 7. | Have you heard of any alienation of that reserve? No. |
| 8. | Then you have never heard of any such reserve as one for Native purposes having been made there? No; this is the first I have heard of it. |
(Initialed) T. B.
Mr. A. H. Ross, Survey Office, examined:—
| 1. | What is your occupation? I am Chief Draughtsman in the Survey Office. |
| 2. | You produce two maps—what are they? One is the original map of the Town of Dunedin, south end, showing blocks and sections as originally laid off by the Surveyor. The other is a map of the south end of Dunedin, showing areas having water frontages as "Reserves for Public Purposes." |
| 3. | Are these maps kept in strict custody? They are; they are kept in the safe at the Survey Office, and are never allowed out of the office except in charge of an officer of the department. |
(Initialed) A.H.R.
W. H. Cutten, Esquire, examined:—
| 1. | Have you any knowledge of a reserve being laid off fronting the water in the Town of Dunedin southward from Jetty Street, by Captain Cargill, as Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company? Yes. |
| 2. | If so, when was this reserve made, and for what purpose? The first I knew of the reserve being made was upon my landing in the Province, in March, 1848. I was one of the early purchasers of land under the New Zealand Company, and was desirous of selecting one of the sections that had been laid out fronting the water. Captain Cargill, the New Zealand Company's Agent, declined to allow me to make such selection, and stated that none of the water frontages would be sold, as they would be reserved for a quay fronting the water, and the selection of any of them by any private person would interfere with any future improvement of the harbour. Consequently I selected elsewhere. I was one of the first purchasers, and the only available spot that I could then secure was in Stuart Street. The whole frontage was reserved as far as Pelichet Bay. |
| 3. | Do you know of any reserve for Native purposes in Princes Street? As Commissioner of Crown Lands, I know of such a reserve. I never was aware of this land being reserved for Native purposes until I became a Crown Lands Commissioner, in the year 1858. |
| 4. | Are you aware by whose orders it was alienated, and upon what grounds? Mr. Mantell, as Crown Lands Commissioner, recommended by letter to the Governor that a portion of the water frontage, the piece of land in question, be reserved for the Maoris, as a place on which to draw up their boats, &c., and also a piece at Port Chalmers for the same purpose; and the Governor authorized him to make a reserve for that purpose. The land is not yet alienated; the fee-simple is still in the Crown. |
| 5. | Is there any portion of this frontage let? As Crown Lands Commissioner, I found that parties were continually squatting upon this frontage reserve, and I wrote requesting that I might be allowed to let it for short periods, and received permission to do so. This was accordingly done, and the land yields a revenue of about £2,000 a year; at present about one-third of the reserve is occupied by Provincial Government Buildings, and is consequently unlet. |
W. H. Cutten.
Sir,—
You are requested to attend a meeting of the above Committee, at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, for the purpose of giving evidence relative to the reserve of the water frontage of Dunedin, and to bring with you the original map of Dunedin, and signed by Mr. Kettle, the late Chief Surveyor, tinted to show the reserves.
I have, &c.,
A. Rennie,
Chairman.
A. H. Ross, Esq., Survey Office.
Reverend Sir,—
In accordance with the wishes of a Select Committee of the Provincial Council, I have the honor to request that you would attend at the office of the Secretary for Public Works at 10 o'clock a.m. to-morrow, to give evidence relative to a reserve of the water frontage of the City of Dunedin, and any alienation of the said frontage; and to bring with you any documents that may throw light upon the subject of such reserve, or such alienation, if made, that you may have.
I have, &c.,
A. Rennie,
Chairman.
Rev. Thomas Burns, D.D., Dunedin.
Sir,—
I am desired by the Select Committee of the Provincial Council upon Message No. 4, relative to a reserve, Dunedin, to request that you would be so good as to attend at the office of the Secretary for Public Works, at half-past 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, to give evidence relative to the reserve of the water frontage of the City of Dunedin, and any alienation of the said frontage and to bring with you any documents that you may have that may throw light upon the subject of such reserve, or of such alienation, if made.
Sir,—
In accordance with the wishes of the Select Committee of the Provincial Council on Message No. 4, I have the honor to request that you would be so good as to furnish written replies to the enclosed questions relative to a reserve for public purposes in the City of Dunedin.
I have, &c.,
A. Rennie,
Chairman.
A. C. Strode Esq., R.M.,
Native Commissioner for Otago, &c., &c.