them that if they parted with the land on which the forest stood, that they should never be allowed to exercise their periodical custom of bird-snaring in the interior. On the morning of the 28th. the rain which had set in the preceding day, continued to fall very heavily. I found it would be impossible, from the disposition of the natives, and broken character of the country, to proceed further up the banks of the Turakina. We therefore diverted our course across the country towards the Rangitikei, ascending from a low, grassy flat to a ridge of hills, on the top of which is rich table-land, well adapted for agriculture orpasture; and here and there interspersed with clumps of timber, and streams of water. At one of these inviting situations for the erection of a settler's cottage, we pitched our tents, finding it impossible to make a long journey, the rain continuing to pour incessantly. Our party were not long in erecting shelter for the night, and procuring an abundant supply of bush pigs and pigeons. In the evening I informed the natives, who were collected by a large fire in front of my tent, that as an ample Reserve was made for them between the Turakina and Wangaehu rivers, I would not recognise any boundaries, or pretended claims, limiting the Europeans from going as far into the interior as their present rights as a tribe extended; that they might still exercise the privilege of bird-snaring, so long as their doing so did not interfere with the future operations of the settlers; but the whole of their country north of Rangitikei, excepting their Reserves, must, in accordance with the understanding I repeatedly had with them at their several public meetibgs, now pass into the hands of the Government. On the morning of the 29th. we made an early start, the old men expressing themselves greatly pleased with the prospect of not being prohibited from bird-snaring; as they were previously under an impression that they should be not even allowed to travel further into the country, when it became European property. After proceeding about four miles from our encampment, we opened on a beautiful plain clothed with the richest and most luxuriant natural grasses I have observed in any part of the Island. The interior forest, which skirts this plain, may be estimated, as nearly as I could judge without the assistance of a surveyor, to lie from the sea coast at distances ranging from ten, fifteen, to fifty miles, the level of land gaining on the forest as we approached the Rangitikei. Many parts of the country we passed over have indications of having been numerously populated; and my attention was frequently diverted by the old Chiefs, to the fact that the Ngatiapas were formerly a numerous and powerful tribe; of which their existing representtatives are only a diminutive remnant. In confirmation of their statements, they carefully noticed the traces of every deserted village or