Chap. XV. CONCESSIONS BY SIR GEORGE GIPPS. 417 
direct purchasers from the natives, and the giving 
them a town, Khrbour, and headlands, notwithstanding 
the special reserve of such sites made by the Land 
Claims Hill. Sir George had also promised to recom- 
mend a great boon to the community in their Mu- 
nicipal Incorporation for local purposes. 
The only unfavourable condition was that of taking 
the land in a block ; which would probably carry out Sir 
George Gipps's avowed intention of considering the 
lottery held for order of selection as one in which there 
should be blanks as well as prizes : for much of the 
land within a compact block of 110,000 acres round 
Port Nicholson, and which would fall to the lot of the 
later orders of choice, was looked uj)on at that time as 
inaccessible and comparatively worthless ; and the sec- 
tionists had understood when they bought, that only 
available land would be offered for selection. 
The only objection to the acceptance of this com- 
promise was that the case of the Company might be 
weakened by it ; but, considering that the deputies had 
treated with Sir George Gipps on the part of the 
settlers exclusively, this objection became of little im- 
portance. On the other hand, the recommendation of 
the able Governor of New South Wales was looked 
upon as an undoubted guarantee of a good title, and as 
securing permanence and stability to the future opera- 
tions of the settlement. 
Such were the sentiments finally expressed at the pub- 
lic meeting which, on the 15th of December, " grate- 
fully and loyally " accepted the offer of Sir George ; 
and while the remarkable neglect of our interests ma- 
nifested by Lieutenant-Governor Hobson was severely 
animadverted upon in the course of the discussions, the 
resolutions passed expressed the " unanimous and cor- 
" dial thanks of the meeting to his Excellency Sir 
VOL. I. 2 E 
