Kaipara 26th June 1871 Sir, With reference to your letter dated Feby. 9th last and June the 8th, numbered respectively in the margin, requesting me to furnish you with a report on several points in connection with the present working of the Native Lands Act. I beg to express my regret that circumstances have prevented me from giving the subject of your letters the attention I should have wished, at the proper time, yet, I hope the observations submitted to you will be in time to accompany reports from other officers, if they should be of sufficient interest to be placed before the Assembly Before giving any distinct reply to the points alluded to in your first letter, I propose to make a few general remarks, being the result of events indelibly impressed upon my mind, in relation to the purchase of land from the New Zealanders about the period when the