the Wangaehu and Mangawhero rivers. No. 3. In the same voucher there is an expence of One pound seventeen and eight pence for food supplied to Ngatiapa claimants visiting Wanganui. No. 4. A charge of Three pounds five shillings for food to the Natives attending the meeting when the 1st instalment of One thousand pounds was paid to the Ngatiapa. No. 5. A sum of nine shillings for stationary. I have caused the charges in this voucher amounting in all to Thirty one pounds three shillings and eight pence to be divided as above enumerated that they may if necessary be more easily classed under whatever heads of expenditure it may be desirable to place them. The receipts of Aperahama and Wunu the two chiefs who distributed to the natives most of the different articles specified in Voucher No.1 are herewith forwarded. Voucher No. 2 amounting to £7.15.3 was expended in presents to the native chiefs of Wanganui and Waitotara who attended by invitation the several meetings in connection with the land question held at Manuatua Rangitikei and Wanganui. Voucher No. 3 amtg. to 19/4 is for food supplied to sick claimants and other natives. Voucher No. 4 amounting to £1.18.9 is for stationary purchased at different times up to the 29th of June. I have the honor to remain, etc. (Signed) Donald McLean, Inspector of Police. Wanganui, Hurae [?] 2nd, 1849. Kua homai e te Makarini Kia matou ki nga tangata o ngatiapa nga hate nga tarauite nga parai kete nga tupeka me etahi atu o nga me a i tangohia mai mo matou i te whare e Wiremu wate hei utu mo a matou toko i nga a waka i Rangitikei i Whangaehu mo te haerenga hoki e a matou tangata e wha te kau 40 ki te wakaatu i e matou one one kia te Makarini. his Aperahama X Tipae mark his Te Wunu X Rangiwerohia mark his Hamuera X te Rangiao mark Kai titiro ki mei tuhinga ingoa Sigd. Alex. Campbell. W. Elwis, Lieut. 65 Regt. Wanganui, 2nd July, 1849. Mr. McLean has delivered to us the people of Ngatiapa the shirts, trowsers, blankets, tobacco and other articles which were purchased at Mr. Watts Stores as payment for our Canoes in going up the Rangitikei and Wangaehu rivers and for our people forty of whom accompanied Mr. McLean to point out their respective land claims. his Aperahama X Tipae mark his Te Wunu X Rangiwerohia mark his Hamuera X te Rangiao mark Witnesses to the writing of these names. Sigd. Alex. Campbell W. Elwis, Lieut. 65 Regt. A true translation. (Sigd.) Donald McLean, Inspector of Police. Wanganui, 26th June, 1849. Sir, I have the honor to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Lieut. Governor that on the 11 Inst. I proceeded up the Wanganui river with the Revd. Mr. Taylor to attend a meeting of natives at Mangamuotene a river which empties itself into the Wanganui district from this settlement about one hundred miles. Having ascertained that various jealousies and misunderstandings existed on the part of the chiefs in the interior respecting land and other subjects I was induced to attend this meeting which I considered as affording a favourable opportunity to explain ar and remove any unfounded misapprehension these chiefs might entertain. Nothing of particular interest occurred in going up the Wanganui the natives on the river quite disregardless of the severity of the weather which blew and rained heavily seemed animated by the utmost anxiety to attend the meeting and we were accompanied from each Pa as we passed with a numerous train of natives and canoes. We experienced considerable difficulty in getting up the Mangamuotene the winter floods had occasioned the channel of this river is narrow bounded on each side by steep high clay slate banks with several dangerous rapids requiring activity and skill on the part of the canoemen to pass over them with safety. Several accidents occasioning loss of life are said to have taken place on this river; the waters of which descending from the snowy ranges of Tongariro are so completely shaded from the sun by high mountainous ranges and heavy timber that a person falling in becomes very soon benumbed with cold. An unfortunate woman in one of the last canoes of our party was drowned when attempting to save her child who fell overboard at one of these rapids all efforts used by the husband and others to save her were unavailing. Although we entered this river at 2 o'clock in the day and our encampment was only three miles distant evening had set in before we reached Te Arero Pa where we hauled our canoe on a small flat covered with 120 besides. We ascended to the Pa with some difficulty being like most of the positions occupied by the natives in this district admirably selected for guarding against the sudden approach of an ememy a very necessary precaution when these tribes lived in a state of perpetual hostility. Several of the Pas in this part of the country are so well fortified by rocks and natural bariers that they can only be approached by ladders which are let down and taken up at pleasure. On the morning of the 15th we started to Otatake, the village where the meeting was held passing over a continued succession of hilly and broken country, with here and there small spots of taro, kumera and potatoe cultivations.