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The Founders of Canterbury

J. A. Smith, Esq., M.P. Reigate, 2nd April, 1850

[Most confidential.]

J. A. Smith, Esq., M.P. Reigate, 2nd April, 1850.

My Dear J. A. Smith,

—I expect that the Canterbury Committee will send to day a letter to the Directors, to which their answer in private will be "Yes, provided you give us the guarantee." But it is proposed that the whole subject shall be discussed by the parties on Friday next at the New Zealand House. Until after that discussion, the Directors will not, of course, reply to the official proposal of the Committee.

It would help things forward if you and Aglionby and I could meet here on Thursday: and, at any rate, you must settle for my being present at the meeting on Friday, in Broad Street Buildings.

page 242

A mere accident has put in my way the most favourable opportunity of propounding the idea of a grand New Zealand Colonization, to those who could give effect to it if they would, and if the Government would let them. The latter "if" is quite as important as the former. But there is a question as to which party should be spoken to first. At present, I only wish to tell you, for your own information, that the very opportunity I desired of fully developing the idea in the right quarter, has tumbled into my hands.

Yours ever,

E. G. Wakefield.

P.S.—Lord Lyttelton has told me that he will gladly cooperate with you and the Bishop of Norwich about the Norfolk squire. That would settle all Canterbury questions, and would help New Zealand colonization, not to say colonization in general, in a remarkable degree.