Taranaki. New Plymouth. 18th. June 1847. Sir, I do myself the honour to acquaint you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that the purchase of the Block of land from the Taranaki natives South of the settlement, which I was instructed by His Excellency to attend to in the first instance was concluded in May last, the first instalment of One Hundred (£100) having been handed over to the natives, as acknowledged by them in the Deed of Transfer, of which a copy and translation is herewith enclosed. In order that the numerous claimants to this small purchase, estimated by Mr. Carrington, at Three thousand five hundred and sixty-three (3363) acres, should at once participate in a share of the purchase money, which was fixed at One hundred and fifty pounds (£150) I was induced to make the first payment One hundred pounds (£100) of the amount, the most of which I am glad to observe they are judiciously expending in the purchase of cattle; and the remaining balance of Fifty pounds (£50) to be handed to them on the 28th. of May 1848 as a full completion of the Deed executed by them, copies of which have been furnished to themselves, with plans annexed, shewing the name and boundaries of the lands they have disposed of. That there should be as little deviation as possible from His Excellency's instructions to extend the payments over a period of three years, I have told the natives they should receive a third instalment of £50 in May 1849, if within that time they relinquish their claims, and abandon their cultivations on a patch of land not comprised in the present purchase, though naturally connected with it by a river boundary (as is more distinctly shewn on a map handed to Capt. King for transmission to Auckland (; to which terms, I have reason to believe, they will accede, as the arrangements already concluded, appear to give entire satisfaction; and may, in all probability, lead to the acquisition of a greater extent of the fertile and beautiful country of which this tribe are possessed. Mr. Carrington, with a party