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fact: It has been affirmed that the instructions were intentionally withheld, but only that there having been no record of any power given to the local Military Authorities to take the necessary steps to complete the transfer, that which is supposed to be a transfer when Lieut. De Butts, the then Major Military Officer, Commanding Royal Engineer, was in command, that it was completed. The reality is that the claim to the ownership of the land which it is supposed the Colonial Authorities rest upon this action of Colonel De Butts is worthless.
Even if this were so, I would suggest to Your Lordship that it is somewhat singular proceeding on the part of Colonel Nafans, knowing he admits that he knew that the War Office had informed Your Lordship, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, that instructions would be sent to the local Military Authorities to transfer the land upon the conditions specifically mentioned in that Despatch, that consequent upon this Despatch the Commanding Royal Engineer and Senior Military Officer, Colonel De Butts himself took the ...