No. 75, Miscellaneous

Referring to my Despatch No 61 dated 19th July 1865 relative to the
disposal of the Crown Lands of this Colony I have the honor to
transmit a letter from Mr G.H. Wilson Brown containing proposals for
working coal seams in this Colony.

I trouble you with these papers for the purpose of illustrating the
complications and detriment to the Colony which arise out of the
unsettlement of the Crown Lands question.

I have informed Mr Brown that I am unable to conclude with him such
an arrangement as he proposes under existing circumstances, and I
think it would be productive of future embarrassment to deal
separately with isolated cases rather than to wait until general
rules affecting such matters shall have been laid down and
promulgated, and for instructions in which behalf I addressed to you
the Despatch above quoted.