REPORT OF THE LAND PURCHASE DEPARTMENT RELATIVE TO THE EXTINGUISHMENT OF NATIVE TITLE IN THE AHURIRI DISTRICT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1862 Session I, C-01

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REPORT OF THE LAND PURCHASE DEPARTMENT RELATIVE TO THE EXTINGUISHMENT OF NATIVE TITLE IN THE AHURIRI DISTRICT.

{In completion of Papers presented 14.A June, 1861.)

PRESENTED BY COMMAND TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

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SCHEDULE.

NAPIER DISTRICT.

a bi M DATE. NAME OF WRITES. TO AVIIOM ADDRESSED. SUBJECT. ■- c o Dec. 21, 1850 Chief Commissioner Colonial Secretary General—Refers to the sale of land in the Waipukurau Plains and to the prohibition of settlers leasing Native Lands. 3 Enclosures. General—Further reference to Waipuku- ;«)' " 28, " Ditto Ditto 308 308 2 8 4 Ditto Ditto Ditto His Excellency Sir George Grey Chief Commissioner Colonial Secretary rau. 309 309 Jan. 23,1851 March 14, " General. General, 1 Enclosure. Approving of proceedings. Respecting the prices and mode of payment for the Ahuriki, Te Hapuku, and Mohaka Blocks. 2 Enclosures. 5 C April 14, 1851 July 9, 1851 Colonial Secretary Chief Commissioner 311 311 Nov. 19, " Ditto Ditto Reporting payment of first instalment for Hapuku's Block. Acknowledging receipt of letter of instructions. MohakaBlock —First instalment of £200. Has Reference to the newly acquired lan<J in the Hawke's Bay. Enclosing Memorandum. 1 Enclosure. Enclosing Plans and Receipts. Enclosing copy of sketch Surveys. Return of sums required for Land purchases in his district. 2 Enclosures. Sums required for Land purchases at Ahuriri. Instructing him to proceed to Hawke's Bay. Has received the sum of £2,500. 1 Enclosure. Relative to the offer of fresh tracts of country in the Ahuriri District. Reporting proceedings at Ahuriri. A large Meeting of Natives is being held at Taupo. Estimates for the ensuing year. Relative to payment for Laud at Hawkes' Bay. Circular to report eligible sites for Government purposes. Reply to Circular of 3rd January, 1857. Sub-Treasurer to pay him £1330. Report on his overland journey. 1 Enclosure. Natives of Porangahau decline to accept £1400. Memorandum on No. 27, March 25th, 1857. Reporting negotiations for 3 Blocks of Land. Reporting negotiations for the 40 mile bush. 312 314 7 6 " 20, " Ditto Ditto 315 9 10 Dec. 15, " " 29, " Ditto Ditto Ditto Colonial Secretary 315 316 11 Jan. 6, 1852 Ditto Ditto 317 12 13 14 July 4,1855 (< << Sept. 22^ 1856 District Commissioner Ditto Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Ditto 317 318 319 15 " 25, " Ditto Ditto ' 320 16 Oct. 7, " Chief Commissioner District Commissioner 320 17 Oct. 18, " District Commissioner Chief Commissioner 321 18 Nov. 29, " Ditto Ditto 321 19 20 " 29, " " 29, " Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto 322 323 21 22 Dec. 20, " Jan. 3, 1857 Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto District Commissioner 324 325 23 " 3, " Ditto Ditto 24 25 96 Jan. 7, " " 12, " Feb. 15, " District Commissioner Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner 326 326 27 March 25,1857 Ditto Ditto 329 April 11, " March 27, " March 29, " Chief Commissioner District Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner Ditto 330 331 332 28 29

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NAPIER DISTRICT— (continued).

\ M h 0 6 v, DATE. NAME OF WRITER. TO AVIIOM ADDRESSED. SUBJECT. o 80 « 31 32 33 84 33 36 37 88 89 40 41 42 Aug. 19,1857 Nov. 4, " Aug. 29, " Sept. 26, " Oct. 19, " Nov. 20, " Dec. 15, " Jau. 26, 1858 Feb. 15, " March 22, " May 5, " " 10, " " 13, " District Commissioner Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Ditto Ditto Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner Ditto District Commissioner Ditto Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner Ditto Ditto District Commissioner Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner District Commissioner Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Reporting hostilities between Te Hapuku and Te Moananui. Acknowledging receipt of his letter dated 19th August, 1857. Reporting further hostilities at Ahuriri. Reporting further hostilities at Ahuriri. Reporting further hostilities'at Ahuriri. Circular—For a General Return. Reporting further hostilities at Ahuriri. Acknowledging receipt of his letter and enclosures. Forwarding returns. General—Receipt of letter of 15th February with enclosure. To furnish information respecting Tautaue and Poraugahau. Roportiug state of negotiations for purchase of land. Further reference to Tautaue and Porangahau reserves. Enclosing letter from Te Moananui. 1 Enclosure. In reference to the recent communications. Relative, to payment for land to Moanauui. Relative to the Porangahau reserves. Reporting that peace has been made. 1. Euclosure. Relative to peace being made at Ahuriri. Purchase of land at Aropawauni sanctioned. Relative to a deputation from the King party being at Ahuriri. Has paid the Natives £150 for Aropawanui. Probable amount required for land purchases. Acknowledging receipt of No. 52. 332 333 334 334 335 335 335 336 336 336 336 337 337 43 July 29, " Ditto Ditto 338 44 45 46 47 Aug. 11, " 24, " Sept. 22, " " 30, " Chief Commissioner Ditto District Commissioner Ditto District Commissioner Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto 338 339 339 339 340 341 341 342 48 49 50 Nov. 2, " Oct. 14, " May 9, 1859 Chief Commissioner Ditto District Commissioner District Commissioner Ditto Chief Commissioner 51 52 " 10, " 25, " Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Colonial Treasurer 343 343 S3 June 3, " Assistant Native Secretary Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Chief Commissioner 344 54 55 56 3, " " 5, " " 29, " Ditto District Commissioner Assistant Native Secretary Ditto Hascreditat Wellington &Napierfor£l 7,000. Circular—To connect Crown Lands. Report on land purchasing operations. 344 345 345 57 July 19, « Ditto Acknowledging receipt of letter relative to £10,000 in Sub-Treasurers hands. General. Kereru—Reporting purchase. 346 58 59 Sept. 3, " " 6, " Ditto Crown Lauds Commissioner Assistant Native SecDitto Ditto 346 3.7 60 Nov. 25, " Chief Commissioner His report on his negotiation has been laid before the Governor. Circular—Requesting Report of Land Purchasing operatians. To report on sums required for land purchases. Enclosing tracing showing position of Ahuriri purchase. Forwarding tabular returns. Kmveka—Not worth survey. Transmitting extract from letter of Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. Enclosure in No. 66. Relative to the Native Runanga. Natives aredesirous to repudiate salesof land. Relative to hoisting Kings flag at Te Hapuku's Pa. 348 61 Jan. 6, 1860 retary Ditto District Commissioner 348 62 Feb. 7, " Ditto Ditto 348 63 March 5, " District Commissioner Chief Commissioner 348 64 65 66 " 8, " " 8, " " 10, " Ditto Ditto Assistant Native Secretary Ditto Ditto District Commissioner 349 349 350 67 68 68 " 12, " " 18, " « 28, " District Commissioner Ditto Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Assistant Native Secretary 350 351 351

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NAPIER DISTRICT— {continued).

M o H M h O 6 •A DATE. NAME OF WRITER. TO WHOM ADDRESSED. SUBJECT. 3 < 70 71 May 14,1860 March 18, " Chief Commissioner District Commissioner District Commissioner Chief Commissioner Regarding state of Stewart's Island. Recommending the postponement of grant for allotment in North Ruataniwha. Will hold himself in readiness to start for Stewart's Island. Acknowledging receipt of letters. General. No more laud is to be purchased for the present at Hawke's Bay. 352 352 72 June 11,1861 Ditto Ditto 352 73 74 75 11, " " 20, " July 22, " Ditto Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Ditto District Commissioner 353 353 355 APPENDI %»a Chief Commissioner His Excellency the Governor Ditto Ditto The Colonial Secretary Auckland Province—General —Report on Whangarei District. Wellinton Province—Return of Sums paid in Wairarapa District. Nelson Province—General—Report on Province. 335 358 364

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No. 1. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HON. TnE COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW MUNSTER. Ahuriri, December 21, 1850. Sir,— I take advantage of a small schooner, the " Rose," sailing direct for Wellington to report that I arrived from Manawatu at te Waipukurau the central Ahuriri plains on the 11th in?t. On the 13th, the whole of the principal Chiefs from Ahuriri and the surrounding settlements assembled to meet me, and on the l4tk, they agreed at a public meeting to dispose of a tract of land, the boundaries of which have been given to me in writing by Te Hapuku the principal Chief. On the morning of the 16th I went out with a body of Natives to examine the boundaries and take formal possession of the block offered for sale ; afterwards I proceeded with Te Hapuku to Pa Tangata, thence to the Aute, where a small but beautiful tract of land was offered to me by the Natives for a portion of which Messrs. North wood and Tiffin agreed to pay them £60 a year, as will be seen by a correspondence herewith enclosed. I am g-lad to state that the leasing of land from the Natives which was becoming general lias been entirely prohibited in this district; the Chiefs, after various arguments in favour of the system, agreeing to co-operate with me in -carrying out the provisions of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, sess. 7, No. 19. Yesterday I had a large meeting of Natives at Ahuriri, when they described the boundaries of the land they have for some time wished to dispose of to Government. There is now sufficient employment for two active surveyors to mark off the Native reserves and cut the external boundaries, where there is no river or other natural feature to mark them. I may here be permitted to add that I should feel most happy if His Excellency would secure Mr. Park's services for conducting this survey, as he is not only an excellent hand at managing Natives, but he is both practical, correct, and expeditious in carrying out any duty with which* he is entrusted. Natives to join the surveyors can be employed here at a moderate rate. It is essentially necessary that the utmost expedition should be used to acquire this splendid district, which is peculiarly adapted for sheep grazing, and which would be readily taken up by the Wairarapa settlers, whose flocks are increasing so rapidly that they must shortly have an outlet for them. I find also that an excellent line of road at a comparatively small expense could be carried across the country to Manawatu, and there is every probability that the central Ahuriri plains about the Waipukurau, will eventually become the site of a flourishing little English settlement ; there i« abundance of wood, water, and rich soil in that vicinity. Hoping you will excuse this hurried communication, I have, &c, Donald McLean, Land Commissioner. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Enclosure No. 1 in No. 1. Waipukuiau, 14th December, 1850. Sir,— Understanding that you are close at hand, and that you have been recently leasing land from the Natives for sheep runs, I should feel obliged if you would make it convenient to come up here to see me on the subject, as I am not able to go your length, from having a large Native meeting at this place to-day. I have, &c, Donald McLean. •—>. Tiffen, Esq., Ahuriri.

General. Refers to the isle of Uml in the Waipukurau plain?, and to the prohibition of settlers leasing land from the Natives.

See Enclosures N«s. I« 2, 3.

DISTRICT OF NAPIER.

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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General. Further reference to the Waipukuiau.

Enclosure No. 2 in No. 1. Te Waipukurau, 16th December, 1850. Sir,— The Native Chiefs Paraone, Hoani, Morena, Te Waka, and others, informed me that you have been entering into anangements with them to lease tracts of land for sheep runs, that one or two of your flocks have actually arrived within a mile of this place where I am negotiating with the aforesaid Chiefs for the purchase of land, and that you have obtained their consent and signatures to a lease for a certain run for 21 years at (.£6O) Sixty pounds a year. I need scarcely tell you that theae unauthorised arrangements entail various evils, besides operating against purchases of land by the Government; moreover they are a direct violation of the "Native Land Purchase Ordinance, sees. 7, *"O. 19," the provisions of which I am directed to carry into effect. I have distinctly and publicly given notice to the (. hiefs, that the Government will not sanction the leasing of land from the Natives in this District ; therefore that they must consider your lease as cancelled, as no flockholders can be permitted to run their sheep here until the Government arrangements for the purchase of land are completed. I have therefore to request that you will make early preparations to remove your sheep from the Ahuriri plains. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Resident Magistrate. —. Tiffen, Esq.

Enclosure No. 3 in No. 1. December 17th, 1850. Sin,— I fully expected to have met you before leaving for Ahuiiri, when I should explain more fully to you the necessity that exists of your sheep being removed fiom here, and I feel certain that a verbal intimation to that effect would have been sufficient, but having spoken to the Natire Chiefs on the subject, I thought it necessary that you should at once be officially informed of the intentions of Government in reference to leasing runs in this district, 1 have, &c . Donald McLean. —. Tiffen, Esq., Aliuriri.

No. 2. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETART, WELLINGTON Ahuriri, December 28th, 1850. Sir,— I had the honor to address you on the 21st by the schooner " Rose," stating that I had held several meetings with the Natives of this district, at which they agreed to dispose of certain tracts of land, and that there was sufficient employment for two surveyors, to survey the external boundaries, estimate the extent of the purchases, and mark off the Native reserves. My reasons for applying for two surveyors are, first to expedite, as much as possible, the negotiations in which I am employed in this district, in order that a country may be opened up for the Wairaraua settlers, in which most of them may be able to obtain runs from the Government, and discontinue, without much disadvantage to themselves, the present system of leasing from the Natives. Secoudly, Hapuku, the principal chief, would be exceedingly jealous and displeased, if the laud offered by a rival chief Tareha, should be surveyed before his, which ig forty miles distant; although it is essential that Tareha's lar;d, in the neighbourhood of the Ahuriri harbour, where settlers are most likely to form their earliest establishment, should, if there is only one surveyor, be attended to first. By carrying on simultaneous surveys this jealousy could be avoided, and from the preliminary arrangements I shall make, awaiting further instructions, 1 hope to be able to superintend both parties, and conduct the service at less expense of both time, and means, than would eventually result from haying only one surveyor. The inland boundary of the Ahuriri block borders on the Taupo country, which will render a distinct survey of that part very necessary, if His Excellency favors this application by sending surveyors. Shortly, I shall write to the Taupo claimants to meet me at the interior boundary, to prevent their raiting fresh claims or future difficulties. The blocks of laud offered for sale by the Natives are not extensive, but as the tribes with whom I am negotiating are claimants to large tracts of unoccupied country, extending from Hawke's Bay to Manawatn and VVairarapa, I am in hopes that the Government may be enabled to carry on purchasing steadily towards tliese districts. The acquisition of the Ahuriri country will of itself be of great importance, from possessing- the safest, and I may say, only harbour on this side of the island, betweon Wellington and Tauranga on the North East coast. Until the surveys are progressed, and the couutry further explored, I cannot convey any idea of the terms of payment to be submitted for the Consideration of Governmenc.

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COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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The proximity of Wairarapa renders the ideas of the Natives most extravagant on this subject. I have, &c, Donald McLean, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Land Commissioner. Wellington.

No. 3. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, WELLINGTON. Hawke's Bay, January 23rd, 1851. Sir,— I have the honor to report that since my letters of the 21st and 28th ultimo, the Natives off Ahuriri have agreed to sell another fine district of land in extension of the block offered by them at the public meeting held at the Waipukurau, the particulars of which I have already communicated. There are several portions of land such as the head land, and water frontage, at the Ahuriri river and harbour, which the Natives are retaining for the purposes of fishing and trading, and which, together with some belts of timber reserved by them, it would be very desirable to purchase, even at a higher price than is usually paid for waste lands. Wood is rather scarce in this district, and the land about the harbour would be indispensable for the purpose of a Government settlement. To prevent the expense of future negotiations, and obviate the difficulty of hereafter acquiring land when its value is enhanced by the location of English settlers, I shall act until further orders under the impression that it is the desire of Government to acquire, consistently with a due regard to the interests of the Natives, as great an extent of land, especially between this and the Wairarapa, as it is possible for me to purchase. From the desire by several parties, some of whom are named in the margin, to obtain sheep runs for which this country is peculiarly adapted, I have reason to expect that in a few years a considerable revenue may be realized from the Ahuriri. With a view of extending the coast frontage of the block offered for sale at the Ahuriri harbour, T intend in a day or two, to visit some of the claimants at the Mohaka river, about 30 miles north of this place, thence to extend my journey to Turanga, to give the people here time to save their wheat crops, and to acqu're information for the Government respecting the Natives in that quarter, some of whom are interested in the negotiations in which lam now engaged. After my return from Turanga another general meeting of the Heretannga tribes will be held at Pa Tangata, to consider the boundaries and extent of the block recently offered for sale, after which it would he desirable to have the necessary surveys vigorously carried on. Hoping that you will have the goodness to notice these proceedings to His Excellency the Governor in Chief and the Lieutenant Governor. I have, &c, Donald McLean, To the Hon. the Colonial (secretary, Land Commissioner. Wellington. __^_^^__^_^^^__^__^^___^_

No. 4. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO niS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B. Hawke's Bay, 14th March, 1851. Sir,— As your Excellency must feel interested in hearing from different parts of the Island, I beg . to forward, by the present opportunity, duplicate of letter connected with my late visit to Turanga or Poverty Bay district, the (original of which I sent to Auckland,) in case your Excellency might have arrived there. In proceeding to Turanga, I took an inland route from Te Wairoa, returning by the coast to see the country, the principal chiefs, and the different whaling establishments, the largest of which is at Table Cape, a narrow neck of land, about fifteen miles long by six wide. On this peninsula, usually called by its Native name, "Te Mahia," there were twenty-six boats employed this season in sperm whalin", and upwards of 400 souls, including a large majority of Natives : and Europeans from almost all nations are employed, or in some measure depending, on what is realized from these fisheries. This year they have been more unfortunate than usual, having only caught thirty-three tons of oil. This is attributed to the number of whaling vessels from Hobart Town and other places, that hover off the Bay, and prevent the whales from setting into the shoals, where they were usually captured by the land parties. There seems also to bs a great want of unanimity among the different European parties, and an entire absence of such regulations as might prevent them from wantonly injuring each other's interests. The occasional visit of a Resident Magistrate, to adjust disputes at these places, would be productive of much good. Te Matenga, on« of the Chiefs at the whaling station, offered to sell a block of land at Nuhaka, which he pointed oat to me ; and at the vVairoa a small but valuable tract of land was offered by one of the principal chiefs. In coining along, I also obtained an extension of the Ahuriri block towards

General.

J. Thomas, Esq., —, Tiffen, „ Mr. GolUnd, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Munn, Mr. Villiert.

General.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

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the Mohaka river, including several thousand acres of land, which, from being bounded by the Mohaka river, will save a great expense in surveying. I was glad to find the Surveyors at Ahuriri on my return. They have made a sketch of the harbour, and laid down a base line for future operations. On Monday next they proceed with the Natives to mark off the external boundaries, which should have been commenced sooner had I »ot been delayed by Native meetings on the coast, and subsequently by the chiefs of this place, who, in consequence of a marriage feast they are providing, decline leaving till Monday. The surveyors and parties, however, are kept employed, and they will now carry on the more important surveys expeditiously. I shall carefully avoid fixing with the Natives as to the price and mode of payment for their land until yeur Excellency's sanction is first obtained. I herewith enclose the New Plymouth returns for 1850, which are not quite so explicit as I should wish, but at the same time they will no doubt be of interest to your Excellency, exhibiting, as they do, the steadily increasing prosperity of that settlement. I have, &c., Donald McLean, Land Commissioner. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B., Governor-in- Chief.

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 4. Turanga, February 20th, l85l. Sir,— I have the honor to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief that I arrived at Turanga or Poverty Bay, by an overland route from Te Wairoa on the 6th instant. The interior of the country between Te Wairoa and Poverty Bay is very poor and broken, presenting nothing to the eye, from the highest hills I ascended, but, a continued succession of fern ranges, raupo flits, and lagoons, with here and there a few patches of wood, where the Natives cultivate. The country, however, as we approached within a few hours walk of Turanga, gradually changes for the better. In descending from the interior ranges I had a splendid view of the country round Turanga Bay (as it does not now deserve the appellation, given by its illustrious discoverer) which formed a pleasing contrast to the barren hills I passed over: the land is rich and fertile, intersected by three rivers, which strike their serpentine course through handsome clumps of Kahikatea and Puriri forests, numerous wheat cultivations, and groves of peach and other varieties of English fruit trees. We reached the first settlement on the banks of the Arai river about sunset, when the Natives were returning from their reaping fields, some leading horses, others driving cattle and pet pigs before them; they gave us the usual welcome, and presented us with fruit, and honey just taken from the hive. The fat cattle, large wheat stacks of last year's growth, fine alluvial soil, and contentetl appearance of the Natives, made an impression that this was certainly anything but a land of destitution or want ; nor has this impression been deranged by what I have subsequently seen ol the beautiful Turanga valley, which contains about 40,000 acres of splendid land, covered with rich grasses and well supplied with wood and water. The Turanga Bay affords tolerable shelter for shipping excepting with southerly gales ; Turanganui is the largest river and admits vessels of 40 and 50 tons ; a moderate outlay in blasting a few rocks at the entrance would clear a safe passage for vessels of 100 tons. The Native population as nearly as I can ascertain, may b3 estimated at 2,5^0 : the exports in 1850 at the lowest computation for wheat, maize, pork, and other produce to £2 890. For instance, there were 10,502 bushels of wheat reckoned only at 3s. per bushel; it is expected tint 1851 will show a much larger return. The Natives possess 100 horses and 150 head of horned cattle; their houses and other domestic comforts, if I may except one or two neatly carved cottages, are still of a very inferior description. The Europeans possess 202 head of horned cattle, 20 horses, 20 weather-boarded cottages, 105 acres of land in cultivation, a few excellent fruit gardens (including the Mission garden,) Mr. King's and Mr. Harris'—who is one of the oltlest settlers at the place. There is a population of 79 Eutopeans, including chddren ; besides 25 half-castes from 1 to 18 years of age. The Natives have held several me tings respecting the sale of their land, one of which was attended by Te Kani Takirau, the great Chief of the iiast Coast, who along with Mr. W. Baker, junr., came from Tologa Bay to meet me. There is a disposition on the part of some of the Chiefs to have a township, that they may more readily dispose of their produce ; but they generally dread the idea of a gaol. As yet 1 do not consider that they are sufficiently unanimous to enter into a formal treaty for the cession of their land, which they will probably be better prepared to do in the course of another year. There have been various differences between the F.uropeans and the Natives, in which the latter have repeatedly taken the law into their own hands, by seizing cattle and horses when it suited their purpose. These cases are not of recent origin, they have existed for several years ; one of four years standing was brought before me a few days a=;o, which resulted in a mare Ukcii from one of the settlers being restored. The Natives had also several grievances redressed, and all the cases in which I could, with propriety as a Government Agent interfere, have been satisfactorily adjusted. I can easily foresee, however, that misunderstandings will continually arise in this Bay

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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until the Native title is fairly extinguished to such land as may be required for grazing or other European purposes. I have, &c, Donald McLean. To the Hon. 'Ihe Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 5. THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO SIR. COMMISSIONER m'lBAN. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 14th April, 1851. I am directed by the Governor-in-Chief to inform you that His Excellency has received your reports of the 20th February and the 14th March last, and that His Excellency is entirely satisfied with all your proceedings at Ahuriri. I am, however, to request that you will have trie goodness to ascertain as soon as practicable, the lowest price which the Natives will take for their land, which you are about to purchase, and that you will forward your report on the subject to Wellington, where it will reach His Excellency the beginning of May. I have, &c, Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary. Donald McLean, Esq., Land Commissioner.

Approving of proceedings

No. 6. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETART WELLINGTON. Wellington, 9th July, 1851. Sir,— I have the honor to submit for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, the terms of payment which the Natives of Hawke's Bay agree to accept for the blocks of land they offer for sale to the Government. 1st. The Ahuriri block of Three hundred thousand (300,000) acres, including the harbour, was: valued by Mr. Park the Surveyor, and myself, at One thousand five hundred pounds (£1500), which sum the Natives agree to take for it, by receiving a first instalment of One thousand pounds (£1000), and a second and last instalment of Five hundred pounds (£500) next year. 2nd. Te Ilapuku demands for a block of similar extent as the former, although much superior in quality, a sum of Four thousand eight hundred pounds (£4800), to be paid in four yearly instalments, and requests that he should receive a first instalment of One thousand eight hundred pounds (£1800), to satisfy all the claimants, and induce many of them at Hawke's Bay, as well as at Wairarapa, to dispose of their lands to the Government; the remaining instalments he wishes to be paid in three equal annual amounts of One thousand pounds (£1000) in each year. 3rd. A block of about One hundred thousand (100,000) acres at the Mohaka river, recently purveyed, for which a sum of Eight hundred pounds (£800) in four equal annual instalments of Two hundred pounds (£200) a year, will be a sufficient payment. 4th. The total amount of land in the three blocks may be estimated at (700,000) Seven hundred thousand acres, for the payment of which a first instalment of Three thousand pounds (£3,000) will be required. This sum may at first sight appear large, although when divided among the several claimants, it will scarcely amount to Eighteen shillings (18s.) each, while the average price of all the iiurchases, inclusive of Native reserves, will be under 2 Jd, per acre. 5th. The remaining instalments will be comparatively moderate, amounting to One thousand seven hundred pounds (£1700) the second year, and Twelve hundred pounds £1200 in each year for the two subsequent instalments, I herewith enclose a translation of a letter from Te Hapuku to His Excellency, in which, with a few slight deviations, he relates the substance of a conversation I had with hira and his followers, at a meeting held with them in April last, respecting the price of their land. At this meeting the Natives used some forceable speeches and appeals for a payment of from ten to fifteen thousand pounds for Te Hapuku's block, stating what was quite true, that they were in the habit of receiving large sums of money for letting small spots of land to whaling parties, with whom they carried on a profitable pork and flax trade, besides supplying the stations with provisions, and receiving during successful seasons, considerable sums as their share for working in the boats, and the various other employments about the fisheries; therefore they considered, when parting for ever with their greatest property, the land, that they should be handsomely paid for it, and repeatedly alluded to the large rents, now amounting to upwards of Eleven hundred pounds (£1100), annually paid to the Wairarapa

Respecting the prices mi noie of Payment for Ahuriri Block, Te Hapuku>s Blockj ' and M# . ha-- Block,

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COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

Natives, with whose system of leasing land they would more fully sympathise, if the Government did not pay them liberally for the districts they were now offering. I told the Natives that the price of the land, in its present wild, and to them, almost valueless state, should not be the principal object for them to keep in view, neither should they attach such importance to the suras they had been adventitiously receiving from, whaling and other sources; but that they should rather- direct their attention to the benefits that all of them, who were disposed to be industrious, would derive from the introduction of a body of European settlers, who would constantly reside among them, and create a demand for their labour and productions. I have already demonstrated to the Natives of Hawke's Bay that the system of leasing land from them would not be any longer tolerated by the Government, pointing out to them at the same time, that they suffered less injustice by this prohibition than they imagined, inasmuch as the actual sale of their land, even at a very much lower rate than the Government afterwards resold it at, would be the means of gradually introducing a numerous English population, who would diffuse wealth and prosperity among them, and who would be restrained by English laws from committing any aggressions on themselves or their permanently reserved properties or estates. The sum which I mentioned to Te Hapuku and his tribe as an equivalent for their block, was Three thousand pounds (£3000), informing them that I had no power to fit with them for any definite amount until the matter was referred to His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, to whom I should advise them to appeal if dissatisfied with my proposals. Te Hapuku and his followers willingly agreed to refer their case to His Excellency, and after a day or two's consideration reduced their demands to £4800, a sum which they earnestly expect to receive for their land, and which it may be advisable to grant, to ensure the co-operation of Te Hapuku in purchasing the country from Hawke's Bay to Wairarapa, as he certainly appears to be not only the cleverest, but the most influential and powerful Chief in thatpart of the island, whose co-operation will be found of great value and importance to the Government. The success which has attended the Government operations for the acquisition of land at Hawke's Bay, combined with the proposed liberal regulations for depasturing stock on Crown Lands, which are now being passed in the Legislative Council, has given a severe shake to the unauthorized squatting on Native lands at Wairarapa; and I trust that a system so injurious to the welfare of the community at large will soon be effectually stopped. It is quite certain, that while such squatting exists, the Natives even as far North as Auckland will oppose the sale of land in the expectation, although valueless to them at present, that they may realize high rents for it. If it could be shown that the Natiyes themselves were much improved by such a system, it would be a strong argument in its favour; but from all that I can learn, these rents obtained without much care or labour, are injudiciously expended, and the greatest recipients are frequently, if not always, the most idle and dissolute characters of their tribe, whose reckless conduct, and increasing cupidity, render the position of the settlers holding land under them not only disagreeable and precarious, but in every way repugnant to the independent feelings of an Englishman. Several of the Wairarapa settlers, as well as many from Wellington and different other places, are preparing to remove to Hawke's Bay immediately after the Natives have received the first instalment, which I shall he prepared to pay to them at any time His Excellency may direct. I herewith enclose a report from Mr. Park, in which he gives a detailed description of the surveyed blocks the Natives agree to sell, as well as of the general capabilities of the Ahuriri district, which promises before many years to contribute greatly to the wealth and importance of this part of the colony. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Commissioner for acquiring the cession of Native lands, To the Hon. the Colonial Secretrry, Wellington.

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 6. FROM TE HAPUKU TO GOVERNOR GREY, AUCKLAND. Wakatu, May 3rd, 1851. Friend the Governor, Wishing you well; great is our love for you, in having given up our land to Mr. McLean for you, that is to you for the Queen. Friend, we have talked with Mr. McLean about the payment; he did not agree to our having a large payment for our land, for our ancestor and parent " Papa" or the earth under us. Mr. McLean said Three thousand pounds would be enough; this we did not like, neither did our Queen Hineipaketia like it; what we wish for is Four thousand eight hundred pounds. Mr. McLean said that he had no power to agree to such a sum, that the money was not in his hands to give, that it was public money in the hands of this European, and that European, all of whom would say, when he went to their places, that he wasted their money; but he said, it is with your friend the Governor that the thoughts rest, respecting the money you should get for your land; he said he had not the power to consent to the payment of such sums, without being found fault with for so doing, but he said he would consult with the Governor about giving us a good payment; therefore I write to you, Governor, to request that you will fully agree to what we now ask, £4800, that our land

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may be properly settled for, in the terms we all agreed to at our meeting at te Waipukurau and Te Aute, that is, the gathering of all the people and the Chiefs who agree that the land should go to Mr. McLean. Friend, the foregoing conversation took place at our meeting at Te Aute on the 17th April. This is a further word of Mr. McLean, that lam holding or thinking of. If you consent that the payment should be over four years, let the first year be £1800, that the people who own the land may be satisfied. These are Mr. McLean's words, that he cannot make large or increase the payment for these lands, as the matter rests entirely with the Governor; to these wotds I full consent, as he, Mr. McLean is situated like myself, the land is not entirely mine, it is the property of this man and that man, mine is merely handing it over to Mr. McLean. Do not consider the payment should be the same for this land, as for these other lands, as these lands of yours have been enslaved by Waikato and the Rauparaha but this land has never been enslaved; now for the first time it has, by turning it over to Mr. McLean, therefore the people all agree that the land is wholly in Mr. McLean's hands, that is Heretaonga. This is all our word to you; this letter is from Hineipaketia, Hori Nia Nia, Kiranime te Nahu, Paora te Ropitia, Tuhua and Seventy others. This is from your loving friend, who has agreed to give Mr, McLean the land for you, that you, the Governor, may have the land and send me Europeans for my land, as soon as possible, at the sametime with the payment, that we may soon have respectable European gentlemen. lam annoyed with the low Europeans of this place; let the people for this place come direct frcm England, new Europeans, to live on our lands at " Tawitikuri;" let it be a large, large, large, very large town for me. Friend the Governor, listen to the years for the payments; I say let it be in four years, and the first payment be £1800; the 2nd. year, £1000; 3rd. year, £1000; 4th. year, £1000: then it will be what I wish. From me, from the fish of the sea, Te Hapuktj. Of Heretaonga te Kuriperehi, or good place. To Governor Grey, Auckland.

Enclosure No 2 in No. 6. ROBERT TAEK, ESQ., SURVEYOR, TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Ahuriri, 7th June, 1851. Sir — According to your request I send you a brief report upon the three blocks of land lately agreed to be purchased by you from the Natives of Ahuriri and others. The first lying nearest Wellington and called Hapuku's Block, contains nearly 300,000 acres, and is bounded as follows. On the East by the .'ca, along which it extends from Matalmia the Northernmost Point, to Parimahu the Southernmost Point, a distance estimated at 17 miles in a straight line partly cliff and sandy beach. There is no harbour but there is a sufficient shelter at Tuingara for vessels; several small ones having anchored there and landed and received goods, as also wool from a Station belonging to Messrs, Northwood and Tiffen close by, on the South from Parimahu to a Stream called in the Ruatauiwha plain ; the boundary runs in nearly a straight line, a distance of about 23 miles following the line passing over low hills covered principally with fern ; on the west, along the said stream called flowing Northwards to the Tukituki river across to the Waipawa River and from thence up a small stream calltd to the Northern boundary, the whole distance being about 21 miles, and in nearly a straight line—the Streams well defined. This boundary passes through rich grass land and embraces a small portion of the Ruataniwha plain (some 40 miles long by 10 miles wide), a plain which for beauty of position, fertility of soil, mildness of climate and abundance of wood and water, stands unrivalled in New Zealand; and on the North and North-East partly by the edge of a swamp and stream as far as Pa Tangata on the Tukituki River, and partly by that river ; from thence, upwards, along the Ngakoutavva Stream to a range of hills, along said range for a short distance, and t'.ien Eastwards to the sea at Matahuia; the whole distance being from 36 to 38 miles. litis block is nearly square and is a most valuable one ; beautifully diversified by hill and plain ; the soil is generally very rich and is nearly all covered with excellent grass. The Tukituki River (which is navigable for canoes in the winter time as far as the Western boundary) runs through the richest parts, and there are minor streams ; the road from Port Nicholson via Wairarapa will likewise pass through it, and every where roads can be made at a moderate expense; there is abundance of good timber (Matai, Kahikatea, Totara, &c ), and although the largest portion is included in the Native reserves, this will be no detriment, as the Natives are willing to sell the wood at a moderate rate. There is also a fine site for a town near Waipukurau, and close to a range of low hills, composed of a shelly limestone adapted far building purposes.

Reporting on three block* of land, Hapuku's, Aim riii, and Mohaka.

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Hr porting pay incut of first instalment for Hapuku's block.

The next, the " Ahuriri Block", is distant from the last about 20 miles, and contains also about 300,000 acres. It is bounded on the East partly by the VVaiwhinganga Stream, and partly by the coast, a low shingly spit dividing the harbour from the sea and runs from Petane on the Waiwhinganga to Motuwhahou at the entrance of Ahuriri harbour, a distance of about 7 miles. Embracing the harbour, the Southern boundary runs across to the Tutaikuri River and continues along it to Owhakou, where it leaves the river to run in nearly a straight line to Waiharakeke at the base of ahigh mountain range, Kaweka, the whole distance about 35 miles; on the West by Kavveka some 16 miles to Mangatutu on the Mohaka River; and on the North and North-East partly by the Mohaka River, partly by the Native road to Taupo, and partly by the aforesaid Waiwhinganga to Petane, a distance in all of about 32 miles. This block is very much broken by hills and streams and is principally covered with fern, but wherever the fern has been burned off, or along the footpaths, the grass springs up abundantly, and it only requires sheep and cattle to make it a rich pastoral country ; there is little or no wood towards the sea, but inland there are some fine groves of excellent timber. The most valuable part however of this block is the Harbour, consisting of a large sheet of water or lagoon, about five miles long by two wide, indented on the Western shore by beautiful little bays fit for residences, and should be parcelled off in 10 or 50 acre lots ; and on the coast, defended from the sea by a shingly spit; the depth of water nowhere exceeding 9 feet. At the mouth of the lagoon is the harbour proper, being several channels cut into the sea with a depth of from 2 to 2 J fathoms at low water; there is no bar, and it is perfectly safe and easy of access at present for vessels of from 40 to 100 tons; on the North Spit there is room for a small town where the present European houses are. But supposing a settlement should be formed here, the harbour might be made available for vessels of much larger tonnage. By reclaiming about 18 acres (see sketch), at the base of Moturoahou (or the island as it is called), the body of water would have a clean sweep out, deepening and widening the Channel, and on this reclaimed land might be built the lower town, on the Island the higher; forming a depot for the produce of the country for 100 miles round; great portions of the lagoon might also be reclaimed; as you are likely to purchase the whole of the laud from East Cape to Port Nicholson, I cannot imagine a finer site for a settlement than the district altogether would form. The unpurchased land lying between the two blocks and generally known as the Ahuriri plain, is as you are aware, covered with large swamps, but all of them drainable; the lower part being a dead flat, the drains might form (Channels) canals intersecting the plain in every direction, making an easy and cheap mode of transport, the distance from Wellington by the Wairarapa is somewhere about 150 miles, and the road from what I have seen of the country, would not be an expensive one to make, the greatest obstacle being a bush of about 40 miles long between the Ruataniwha and the Wairarapa. The Mohaka block is distant about 21 miles from the Ahuriri block, and contains from 80,000 to 90,000 acres. On the South-east it is bounded by the sea, the distance from Mohaka southwards to Waikari being above 7 miles, all cliff; the beach at the base is passable in the summer time, but is rather dangerous fram the cliffs constantly falling. The Southern boundary is formed by the Waikari river, along which it runs to its source about 16 miles to a place called Patuwahine on the Mangaruru range, from thence down to the Mohaka 2 miles further. On the West and North by the Mohaka river, following it until it joins the sea, the whole distance may be 30 miles. This is a fine river and navigable for canoes as far as the Ahuriri block, but much impeded with rapids and large blocks of stone; there is a whaling station at the mouth, the boats belonging to it passing in and out at almost all weathers. There is a regular traffic between Mohaka and Ahuriri carried on by the Natives when they have produce for sale. The soil is very good : there is sufficient timber for all purposes, and the land not too much broken, as in the Ahuriri block, and a little more grass, than on the Mohaka, some table plains above the river, and pleasant spots at the bends below. Altogether it is a very pretty little purchase, and would make three or four good runs, the great drawback being the badness of the road, which is, as it at present runs, execrable. It appeared to me, however, that one might be got further inland, and which accords with the Native opinion ; but I had not time to examine it. There is some good building stone inland : on the Mohaka and Waikari rivers, sand and limestone. The former would make excellent grindstones, the Natives using it for that purpose. I have only to add that the climate is magnificent, nothing can be finer. I have only lost th.ee days in as many months from wet weather, as it generally rains at night, or early in the morning ; the wind steady and bracing, and not too strong : in fact, quite a summer in the depth of winter. Accompanying 1 se;id two sketch maps, one of the district generally, and one of the entrance of the harbour, And have, &c, To Donald McLean, Esq , Robert Park, Land Commissioner. Surveyor.

No. 7. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, WELLINGTON. Ahuriri, 19th November, 1851. Sir,--I havo the honor to report to you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor-in-Cliief, that the first instalment of purchase money for te Hapuku's district was paid to the Natives at

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the Waipukurau on the 4th instant, on which date the deed of sale, signed by 377 claimants, was duly executed. There was a numerous attendance of Natives from different parts of the island, and the utmost care was taken with the assistance and co-operation of the principal Chiefs, to make a fair and impartial distribution of the amount, not only among the several claimants residing in the district but also to those who arrived from the Wairarapa, Manavvatu, and other distant places. Te Hapuku had a neat house built for the occasion, abundance of food provided, and every preparation made for the reception of his numerous guests. On the 7th instant I arrived at Ahuriri, where I found that Tareha and his followers were not behind Te Hapuku in making similar preparations, messengers were dispatched by him to collect the tribes from the different parts of the coast, and on the 17th instant, the deed of sale was signed and the first instalment of One thousand pounds (£1000), for the district and harbour of Ahuriri was handed over to the claimants. The original deeds for both purchases, with translations, are herewith forwarded. In the course of a few days I intend to proceed to Mohaka to pay the first instalment of Two hundred pounds, (£200) for that district, and shall afterwards take an early opportunity of reporting more fully on the several arrangements entered into with the different tribes at Hawke's Bay. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Land Commissioner. To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Wellington.

No. 8. Ahuriri, 20th November, 1851. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of instructions of the 29th t September, received to-day. i I shall not fail to attend to that portion of your instructions which has reference to the further purchases of land from the Natives of this District. I have, &c, Donald McLkan, L:.nd Commissioner. To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

No. 9. Ahuriri, loth December, 1851. Sir, — I have the honor to report to you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor in Chief, that I have returned from Mohaka, having paid the Natives the first instalment of Two F hundred pounds for that District. To-day I shall proceed with the surveyors to the interior toward* Manawatu, to examine a block of land which Te Hapuku and other Chiefs are prepared to offer to the Government. After the boundaries of this block are ascertained, I beg to submit that I shall proceed with Mr. Assistant-Surveyor Pelichet to Castle Point, where I have an appointment to meet some Chiefs in reference to the purchase of land in that quarter; thence I shall go by way of Wairarapa to Wellington, where I shall have an opportunity of reporting more fully on the progress of the several duties which have occupied my attention during the time I have been stationed at Hawke's Bay. I may add that the European statistics of the Bay have been completed; that several cases of debt at the whale fisheries have been adjusted; and numerous cases, some of them, of very old standing, between Natives and Europeans, have been arranged in such a manner, as to ensure the tranquility of this district, as well as of Poverty Bay, for some time to come. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Land Commissioner. To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

No. 10. Wellington, 29th December, 1851. Sir, — In continuation of my several reports in reference to the progress of negotiations for the purchase of land from the Natives of Hawke's Bay, I have now the honor to state to you, for the u

Acknowledging receipt of ette of instructions,'

Mohaka Block. 'irst instalment of £20&

_Generat.. las referen* to Hit newly

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

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acquired tracts of land in the Hawke's Bay district, and thegeneral eligibility of its position.

4th Nov.. 1831, Te Hapuku's Block. £1800. 17lh Nov., 1831, the Ahunri Block, £1000. Ah Dec, 1831, the Mohaka' £200'

information of His L'xcellency the Governor in Chief, that the several arrangements with these tribes for the cession of

Te Hapuku's Block of 279,000 acres at £4800, The Ahuriri Block of 265,000 acres at £1500, The Mohaka Block of 85,700 acres at £800,

have been carried out, the separate deeds of sale for each purchase duly executed, and the first instalment of £3000 handed over to the claimants, on the dates and in the proportions specified in the margin. The terms of payment granted by His Excellency for these districts have given general satis-

faction to the Natives; so much so, that Te Hapuku (in consideration of having received the sum he applied for in his letter, forming an enclosure to my report of the 9th of July last), has freely granted and pointed out to me the boundaries of another beautiful block in the Ruataniwha plain in extension of the late purchase, which may be estimated at twenty miles long, by one to two miles wide. I consider, moreover, that this liberal treatment of Te Hapuku's claim is likely to ensure that Chief's friendly co-operation in purchasing the whole of the country from Hawke's Bay to the Wairarapa, of which district, comprising upwards of three millions of acres, he is allowed to be the most influential and powerful Chief. Tareha and other Chiefs at Ahutiri were anxious to have several portions of valuable land reserved for them on both sides of the Harbour, especially on Mataruahau Island, which they had always considerable reluctance in transferring, from a fear that they might be eventually deprived of the right of fishing, collecting pipis, and other shell-fish which abound in the Bay ; these rights, so necessaryfor their subsistence, I assured them they could always freely exercise in common with the Europeans, and in order that they should be fully satisfied on this point a clause has been inserted in the deed to that effect. With reference, however, to the reservations for fishing villages and other purposes, I objected to all of them excepting one pa, in the occupation of Tareha, where some of his relatives are buried, and which he is to retain until such lime as the Government may hereafter require the spot for public improvements, such as deepening or reclaiming some portions of the Harbour. In lieu, however, of these reservations so much demanded by the Natives, and which would materially interfere with the laying off a Town, I pronosed to Tareha that he, as the principal Chief, on relinquishing all claims to such spots, should have a town section granted to him in any place he might select on the North Spit of the Harbour, which he has agreed to accept, and I hope that His Excellency will approve of this arrangement; I also informed the Chiefs that His Excellency had instructed public reservations to be made, which would most probably include a site for a church, hospital, market-ground, and landing place for their canoes, and that every facility would be afforded them of re-purchasing land from the Government. The various questions of boundaries, Native reserves, price of land, and other details, had been so frequency and fully discussed, and all other arrangements and conditions inserted in the deeds of sale were ea>ily understood, and their importance as binding treaties fully comprehended, and readily subscribed to by the great majoiity of the claimants, whose conduct at the several meetings was marked with the utmost regularity and propriety. Copies of the original deeds, with plans attached, are being prepared to forward to Te Hapuku and other principal Chiefs of the Ahuriri district; and it will be observed that a clause has been inserted in both Te Hapuku's and the Ahuriri deeds, securing to the Governor of New Zealand a right, at any time he wishes to exercise it, of forming public roads through all the lands that have been reserved for the Natives. I need not allude to the various advantages of these purchases further than to state that they secure to the Government and the colonists a permanent interest in the most valuable and extensive grazing and agricultural districts in the North Island of New Zealand ; the best—indeed I may say the only comparatively safe Harbour from the Port of Wellington to the 37th degree of latitude on the North-east Coast of the Island ; the best position for forming a new township, from having, in contra-distinction to the other settlements, a large extent of back country to support it ; the most eligible situation to occupy for preventing smuggling, overlooking the sperm fisheries on the East Coast, and for controlling the reckless characters and runaways who have been in the habit of shelteiing themselves at Hawke's Bay, and who with the Natives, sometimes influenced by their example, are beginning to feel the salutary effect of having English law administered at these distant places. before I left Ahuriri, settlers were arriving with their flocks and herds on the interior plains, which are covered with peculiarly fine grasses for sheep grazing. Mr. Park has made considerable progress in laying off a town at the Ahuriri Harbour; and subject to His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief's approval, I have made, preliminary arrangements, which 1 shall submit in a few days, for the purchase of additional tracts of country, extending from Hawke's Bay to Wairarapa. I have, &c, Donald McLean. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Land Commissioner. Wellington.

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No. 11. Wellington, 6th January, 1852. Sir, — I have the honor to request that you will have the goodness to bring the enclosed Memorandum, in reference to the purchase of the country between Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, under the consideration of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief. I have, &c, Donald McLean, To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Land Commissioner. , &c, &c, &c, Wellington.

Enclosure to No. 11. Memorandum to be submitted to His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, in reference to the purchase of land between Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa. I have received several letters from the Natives in reference to the sale of the country from Hawke's Bay to the Whareamu river south of Castle Point, forming a tract of coast line of 80 miles long, and extending inland as far as Ruahine and Taraiua ranges. lam anxious to know if His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief will authorise me to negotiate the purchase of that district, by sending, after I return from Manawatu, a Surveyor to mark off the external boundaries and Native reserves, as it is desirable that the Native messengers now in town should be advised of His Excellency's wishes on the subject. I should obsetve that within the boundaries offered for sale, one party, Mr. Guthrie, pays a rental to the Natives of nearly £200 a year, which would at once be discontinued by making this purchase, and the whole of the land offered for sale would, in less than nine months, be occupied by respectable stockholders who are particularly desirous to establish themselves on that line of coast. I would further submit that it would be most advisable for the purchasing operations of the Government to be carried on towards the Wairarapa, so as to include the best and most extensive grazing districts, and eventually to lead to the possession of that valley; the country from Hawke's Bay to Wairarapa is very extensive, and the Native population does not exceed above 3,000 souls, or rather less than 1,000 to each million of acres, that is the whole country South of Hawke's Bay and lying East of the interior ranges that divide the East from the West coast of the South part of the island. Donald McLean, Land Commissioner.

No. 12. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONER, AUCKLAND. Ahuriri, July 4th, 1855. Sir,— I have the honor to enclose the ropy ofaplanmrde lyMr. Pelich«t of the land at Waipureku, which was sold by Te Moananui during your last visit to Ahuriri. I also enclose a copy of Moananui's reeeipt for £100, which does not quite correspond with the map ; he having, when the survey was being made, extended the boundaries a little, at the Opaewai stream. In connection with this subject, I have the honor to report to you that TeWaka Te Kawatini, immediately after your departure, made a claim upon me lor payment on account of this land, to which he asserted an equal right with Te Moananui. of course I was obliged to refuse him anything upon account of it, and he then offered it I would give him a small sum, to sell the whole of the plain up to the Wairua bush, finding that he was supported by several other Chiefs, I, after considerable discussion, took upon myself to pay him thirty pounds, a copy of his receipt for which, I herewith enclose. This transaction has given rise to much discussion, and ever since the payment was made 1 have been endeavouring to get the natives to meet to settle the question, but hitherto without avail. I have therefore been obliged to leave the matter to be decided, upon my return from Wellington,when I shall have the honor of reporting the resultfor your information. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner. To Donald McLean Esq., Chief Land PurchaseCommssioner, Auckland.

Memo, on land between Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa.

Enclosing Mr. Pelichet's plan of land at Waipureku, Moananui's reeeipt for £100, andTeWaka's receipt for £ 100. Enclosure No. 1. Flan of Walpureku. Enclosure No. 2. Moananui's receipt for £100. Enclosure No 3. Te Waka's receipt for £50.

Knciosing copy of skeich r^^FitumlXfcßouiHeld.

No. 13. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONER, AUCKLAND. Ahuriri, July 4th, 1855. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose the copy of the sketch survey made by Messrs. Park, Fitzgerald and Bousfield, of the lauds offered for sale by the natives in this district. The boundaries of the several Blocks are tinted red and I have numbered each block for the convenience of reference. Block No. 1 on the north side of the Ngaruroro river, comprises the land offered by Tawhara and Te Hapuku. It contains about 85,000 acres and parts of it are valuable plains. For this Block I had agreed to pay, Two thousand pounds, leaving the land between the Mangatarata stream and Moteoforthe money drawn by Te Mo.inanui in Wellington. Great opposition is, however, made by Te Moananui and the Ngatiteupokoioi natives to this sale, as far as regards the lands between Okawa and Ngaruroro, to which they state they will maintain their claims at the risk of their lives. I fear therefore that in the present state of feeling of the natives, it would not be safe to attempt to take possession of this land. All my endeavours to bring the various claimants to an arrangement, have been unavailing, each party being equally obstinate. Block No. 2, containing about 30,000 acres, has been settled at £1000, being £800 less than the price originally demanded. For Block No. 3, I have agreed at a price of Two Thousand Pounds, it consists of about 38,000 acres, and contains the Aorangi and other valuable plains. There is one small reserve in this block. Block No. 4, contains about 6,000 acres, and for this 1 have agreed to give, Two hundred pounds. Block No. 5, is perhaps the least valuable of all, though comparatively extensive ; it contains about 50,000 acres for which I have agreed to pay, One thousand pounds. I have not been able to effect any satisfactory arrangement, regarding Block No. 6 in the Ruataniwha plain. For this land, Te Hapuku demands Two thousand three hundred pounds, i.e. £1,300 for the plain, up to the dotted boundary line, and ,£lOOO for the forest land, up to the Ruahine ranges. This land is much wanted by intending settlers, who are anxiously awaiting with their flocks, the opportunity of occupying it, but the plain alone, without any timber, would be of little value to them. These considerations induced me to go as far as £2000 in my offers ; but Te Hapuku refusing positively to abate anything of his price, I have left the matter to your decision, to which arrangement Te Hapuku has agreed. I have agreed upon £1200 as the price of Block No. 7, which contains a little over 31,000 acres. The forest land between this block and the Ruahine Mountains, is subdivided into so many small parts, that I have found it utterly impossible to treat for them. This is of less consequence as the plain contains sufficient timber for the immediate wants of the settlers. The small portion of plain between the Waipawa and Mangaonuku rivers, which contains about 12,000 acres, has been reservetl by Te Hapuku for a sheep run. He is anxious to have a Crown Grant for this land, on which subject I have referred him to you, not considering that I had sufficient authority to give him a definite answer. The land bounded by the Mangaonuku and Mangomauku streams, and the Ngawhikarara range, containing about 57,000 acres is claimed by a great number of people under fe Hapuku Moananui, Puharaand others. This land therefore I have for the present left untouched, though it contains some valuable portions. I regret to say that I have been unable to bring Moananui and his party to any definitive arrangement, in regard to their lands contained in these blocks, although I have made many attempts to do so, and have even delayed my departure for Wellington until this time for the purpose. As, however, an opportunity now offers of a vessel sailing immediately for Wellington, I feel that I cannot any longer defer my departure, even though it should involve a considerable delay in completing the pending purchases. The natives above mentioned, admit however, that the portions they own are not large, and except in the case of the Okawa block, I do not anticipate much difficulty in dealing with them. I trust that this explanation, together with the accompanying map and the information you will receive from Te Hapuku, will be sufficient to enable you to arrive at an opinion on these purchases. I have &c, G. S. Cooper, To Donald McLean Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, Auckland. l ' '

No. 14. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, September 22nd, 1856. Sir, — In compliance with your request, I have the honor to transmit to you the "enclosed returns of the sums required for payments to Natives on account of Land Purchases in the Province of Wellington, during the three remaining quarters of the currant financial year.

Return ef sums required f- r wan d .PurCi7^f™ '" the Wellington Province, .ntiuiiiftg Hawke'i B»y,

C—No. 1

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

18

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

19

C—No. 1

No. 1 is a return of sums required to complete purchases of lands surveyed, partly paid for, and the balance fixed—£4,055. No. 2. Estimate of sums required to complete purchases of lands partly paid for, and the balances of the purchase money for which, depend on surveys—£1480. No. 3. Estimate of sums required to effect new purchases, negotiations for which have been opened, and the sums named to the Natives, but no instalments paid-—£7000. 2. These amounts will probably be required in the following proportions:— No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. Total. December Quarter, 1856 £1625 £2600 £4225 March Quarter, 1857 1130 700 2200 4030 June Quarter, 1857 1300 780 2200 4280 £4055 £1480 £7000 £12,535 3. I have not made any return in regard to the sum of £765, estimated for opening new negotiations. It may not be required at all this year; and is not at any rate likely to be wanted sooner than the beginning of the June Quarter, 1857. 4. The sums requiied during the ensuing Quarter will be— Under No. I.—Cape Kidnapper £1000 Te Mata 500 Scinde Island 25 Tutaikuii ....:.... 100 £1625 Under No. 2.—Maraekakaho £500 Otaranga 500 Porangahau 1000 Waimarama 600 £2600 In all, £4225. —All these sums will be absolutelj' required immediately, as those under return No. 1 are now overdue; and lam aware that the Natives are prepared to receive payment for the Maraekakaho and Otaranga Blocks, and that settlers are waiting to occupy the land. The sums estimated for Porangahau and Waimarama will not, I think, be accepted by the Natives: but provision ought nevertheless to be made for the service, in case I may be mistaken on this point. 5. The amounts put down under March Quarter, will be required for the Forty-mile Bush, in case satisfactory arrangements can be made to purchase it, and for payments in Wairarapa. On these points, I shall do myself the honor more fully to report, when the time approaches. I am not aware what arrangements have been made to enable Commissioners to draw such sums as they may be authorized to expend in Land Purchases and contingencies; but I trust that instructions upon this subject, as well as the mode in which the Accounts of the Department are to be kept, may be furnished to me, prior to my departure from Auckland. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Auckland.

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 14. Return of all sums required to complete purchases of lands which are surveyed, partly paid ibr, and the balances fixed. hawke's bay. Cape Kidnapper, due March, 1856 £1000 Te Mata 500 Scinde Island, due April, 1856 25 TutaeKuri 100 Ruataniwha, due March, 1857 100 Aorangi 1000 £2725 G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

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20

Respecting sums required for Land Purchase, at

Enclosure No. 2, in No. 14. Estimate of sums required to effect new purchases, negotiations for which have been opened, and the amounts named to the Natives, but no instalments paid and for which the money should be provided. Hawke's Bay, Porangahau, North Block, £1,400 do. South do. 1,500 Forty mile Bush 1,500 Maraekakaho 1000 Otaranga 10C0 Waimarama 6)0 £7000 G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner1 i

No. 15. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, September 25,1856. Sir,— I In reference to my letter of the 22nd instant, I have the honor to state, that of the sum of Four thousand two hundred and twenty^five pounds required for the service of the Land Purchase Department in the Wellington Province during the ensuing quarter, an amount of Two thousand six hundred and twenty-five pounds will be sufficient for present emergencies in the Hawke's Bay District, if further arrangements can be made, by which the balance of £1600 can be made available within a reasonable time. For this purpose, I think it will be sufficient to remit a sum of £2,500 to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, directing that officer to pay me, on my requisition, an amount not exceeding the £2,625. in the whole, pending further instructions. I am not aware what arrangements are to be made as to the repayment of advances made to Native Chiefs; but, if recoveries under this head are to be paid over, as received by Commissioners, to the nearest public Accountant, the payments which I shall make to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, will more than provide for the additional £125. I have, &c., 1 G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Auckland.

No. 16. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO G. S. COOPER, ESQ., AUCKLAND. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, October 7th, 1856. Sir,— - I have the honor to request that you wlil proceed to Hawkes Bay in the schooner Krin, 0 which vessel will sail hence in the course of a few days. Upon youi arrival you will be good enough to make the payments to the Natives of that District, for services enumerated in the schedule enclosed herewith, amounting to the sum of Two thousand six hundrett and twenty-five pounds. The money for this purpose will be remitted by the Colonial Treasurer to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, who will be instructed to advance to you from time to time, upon your requisition, such sums as you may require. You will account to the Sub-Treasurer for these advances as soon as possible, in the usual form of an account current, supported by the original deeds as vouchers. You will pay over to the Sub-Treasurer any monies recovered from Native Chiefs on account of advances made to them. The sums thus deposited will be subject to your requisition, should a necessity arise for your drawing them. You will inform the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Hawke's Bay of all arrangements you may make. With reference to the Blocks offered by the Natives at Porangahau and Waimarama, I should feel obliged by your ascertaining, if possible, whether they will accept the sum of One thousand four hundred pounds for the former, and six hundred pounds for the latter, reporting the result to me. You will also endeavour, as far as time will admit, to ascertain the sentiments of the Natives respecting the Forty Mile Bush. Mr. Bousfield has been appointed to lay informations under the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, in the place of Mr. Fitzgerald. You will be good enough to direct him to proceed at once against all squatters upon lands not acquired by the Crown from the Natives.

inducting District Commisaioner to proceed to

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

C-No. 1

21

You are hereby anthorised to incur the necessary contingent expenditure in passages, horsehire, &c., to cover which expense, an advance of twenty-five pounds will be maue to you prior to your leaving Auckland ; for which you wiil account to the Colonial Treasurer on your return. Having completed this service you will return by the Erin, bringing up with you the Chiefs Hapuku and Moananui, If they express a desire to come to Auckland. I have, &c„ Donald McLean, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Auckland. Chief Commissioner. SCHEDULE. Matau a Maui Block, 2nd inst. £1,000 Mata Block do. 500 Tutae Kuri do. 100 Scinde Island do. 25 Maraeknkaho, on account 500 Otaranga ~ 500 £2,625 | t

No. 17. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONER, Auckland, October 18th, 1856. Sir,— I have the honor to acquaint you, that in obedience to positive orders I have received from the Honble. the Colonial Treasurer a sealed bag, said to contain Two thousand five hundred pounds i in gold and Bank of Issue notes, and addressed to the Sub-Treasurer at Ahuriri. I enclose a copy of the receipt which I have given for this package. I shall use my best endeavours to deliver this package safely as addressed; but in taking charge of it, I beg to be understood as protesting in the strongest manner against being held responsible for its security or safe delivery, either against accidents by sea, or fire, or robbery during transit. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, Auckland.

Enclosure 1 in No. 17. Colonial Treasury, Auckland, lßth Oct., 1856. Received from the Colonial Treasurer, by the hands of James S. Baylis, one leather bag, addressed to Wm. Seed, Sub- Treasurer at Ahuriri, and said to contain Two thousand pounds in gold coins and Bank of Issue notes. G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner.

No. 18. TnE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Ahuriri, November 29th, 1856. Sir, — ! I have the honor to acquaint you that in consequence of disputes originating at the divisian of the payment for the Maraekakoho Block, an additional piece of land has been offered by the Ngatiteupokoiri Natives, adjoining the eastern boundary of that Block, and touching upon the Ngatarawa plain. This offer has given rise to some talk about other pieces adjoining, which will probably lead to a sale of the whole of the above-named plain, and of the hills aud grassy downs between that and Poukawa. The time fixed for the sailing of the "Erin," will not admit of my sifting more than the first of these offers. Of this, however, I have obtained the boundaries, and left instructions for the land to be immediately surveyed by Mr. Bousfield, as also any of the adjoining land, the boundaries of which should be pointed out by certain Natives, whose names I gave him, if no opposition were offered to his proceedings. The importance of securing additional lands in the neighbourhood indicated, cannot be overrated. The land in question is highly valuable besides which it breaks into what the Natives look upon, as the heart of the District, which, if it can be obtained, will most probably lead to a sale on the North bank of the Ngaruroro, and other parts much desired by the Europeans.

Ha* received the sum of £2,500, but will not be held responsible.

Relative to the offer of fresh tracts of country in the Ahuriri District.

C—No. 1

Reporting proceedings & negotiations at Ahunri, and enclosing receipts for deeds deposited with the Sub-Treasurer there.

I trust that his Excellency's Government will concur in the advisability of concluding these purchases as speedily as possible, and that with this view I may be empowered to carry on the negotiations with all possible activity, and that means may be found of supplying the requisite funds, even should it be necessary to exceed the estimate made for land purchases in the Ahuriri district during the current financial year. The results to be anticipated from a speedy completion of these purchases are such as to induce me to hope that I may be entrusted with authority to conclude them, if possible, upon my return to Ahuriri. For this purpose, I would venture to suggest that a maximum price per acre should be fixed, which I may be authorised to give for the land, according to quality as — For fern hills, and the inferior description of pastoral land, For medium pastoral land. For grassy hills and terraces. For plains, and medium agricultural land worth 10s. per acre. For the best description of agricultural land, such as would be reserved by the Provincial Government as Suburban or Special Agricultural Lots (as the Aorangi plain). I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Auckland. i

No. 19. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Ahuriri, November 29th, 1856. Sir,— I have the honor to acquaint you for the information of his Excellency's Government, that since my arrival here I have paid, according to instructions, the final instalments for the purchases made from T-ueha in April, 1855, at Tutae Kuri and Scinde Island, atnountiug to the sums of £100 and £25 respectively, as per copies of Deeds enclosed herewith. Te Moananui declined to receive the final instalment for the Cape Kidnapper Block, because I refused to make a payment for certain lands belonging to him near the Ruahine Mountains, included in Blocks for the purchase of which no negotiations have ever been opened. I have reason to think that this demand was made advisedly by Te Moananui, knowing that it would not be acceded to, in order to afford a pretext for refusing to take the balance of the Cape Kidnapper Block, as he imagines that by adopting this course he wdl be able to get back a part of the land. No allusion, however, was made to this subject, either by himself or any of the Natives who take his side in the land question ; and I did not think it advisable that I should open a discussion. But from what fell from Tareha, and other Natives interested in the payment, I have no doubt that on my return an application will be made for the money, which I left in the hands of the Sub-Treasurer for the purpose. These Natives left for Taupo within a short time after my arrival. Their journey and its object, form the subject of a separate letter of this day's date, which I have dope myself the honor of addressing to you. The final payment for the Mata Block, was the occasion of a great deal of discussion, arising chiefly from an attempt made by Te Moananui to obtain the money for himself. This, of course, I was obliged to resist ; and I finally made the payment to the party for whom it was originally intended, although some dissatisfaction was exhibited by their relatives. I enclose a copy of the Deed. I found the Hapuku and his followers so unwilling to divide the payment for the Maraekakaho and Otaranga Blocks, that I considered it advisable to pay the £1000 intended for these two Blocks, for the Maraekakaho in full. The division of this money gave rise to a good deal of grumbling, and Te Hapuku in order to satisfy the other claimants, gave up his share of the payment to be divided amongst them. This removed the difficulty and the purchase was concluded. I would venture to suggest that the conduct of Te Hapuku, in thus abandoning his right to payment for his share of the land—whereby he has actually ceded a considerable piece to the Government for nothing—is deserving of notice at the hands of his Excellency's Government. I trust that the course which I adopted in this case may meet the approval of his Excellency's Government, as had I strictly adhered to the division of the money, as per schedule to your letter of the 7th October last, no payment could have been made upon either block ; whilst by the course I adopted, 30,000 acres of valuable land have been acquired for settlement, and as will be seen by another letter, there is now a probability of procuring an additional supply of land in the centre of the District, which would not have been the case had I not made this payment. I have the honor to enclose a copy of the Maraekakaho Deed. The original Deeds were deposited, in obedience to your instructions, with the Sub-Treasurer, whose certificates I have the honor to enclose. I regret to say that in consequence of no payment being made for the Cape Kidnapper Block, and of the mode in which Te Hapuku divided the money paid for the Maraekakaho Block, I have been unable to recover any sums on account of advances made to Te Moananui and Te Hapuku.

22

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

23

C—No. 1

A large meeting of Natives is being held at Taupo.

The only repayments which I received were £40 from Hiriwini, advanced to him on 20th August, 1855 ; and £2 from Renata Te Potangaroa, advanced to him on the Bth February, 1856. I have the honor to enclose the Sub-Treasurer's receipts for these amounts. With respect to the Waimarama Block, 1 have the honor to state that the Natives will not accept the sum of £600 for this land. From the enquiries which I made respecting Porangahau, I learned that the Natives there are greatly in want of money, and that although they state at present that they will not accept the sum offered for the North Block, it is probable that were the money placed before them they would take it, I therefore considered it advisable to avoid meeting them until I should have the money ready and in the meantime I wrote to let them know what the determination of the Government was in in the matter. I had not an opportunity of making satisfactory enquiries upon the subject of the Forty Mile or Tamaki Bush, but from what I can elicit from Natives at Heretaunga, I am inclined to think the Manawatu people will not listen favourably to overtures for its purchase, so long as the question relating to the lands in dispute between themselves and the Ngatiraukawa on the West Coast, remains in its present state. I have, &c , G. S. Cooper, D. McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Auckland.

No. 20. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Ahuriri, November 29th, 1856. Sir, — I have the honor to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that < a large meeting is being held at Taupo, called by the Chief Te Heuheu, to which the Chiefs J Moananui, Tareha, and Karaitiana have gone, from this place, accompanied by the greater number of their relatives and adherents. This meeting is attended by delegates from nearly every tribe of any importance in New Zealand, and its object in as far as I can learn, is the inauguration of a Maori Parliament, to be composed of deputies from all the Tribes, who join the confederation. This Parliament to have regular Sessions at stated times, and to be presided over by a Chief to be named at the present meeting. It is generally supposed that Te Heuheu will be the Chief nominated for this post. The principal subject proposed for discussion in this Parliament, is the devising some plan by which by a united action on the part of the Maories as a nation, some check may be applied to the growing influence of the colonists, whilst the power of the Native Chiefs which they perceive to be waning in proportion as that of the colonists increases shall be restored in as far as possible to its former status. As a principal means towards this end, it is to be proposed to put an immediate stop to all sales of land to the Government, aud to use every possible means to induce squatters to settle with flocks and herds upon the extensive plains in the interior ; such squatters to occupy the position of vassals to the Chiefs under whose protection they may live, whose orders they are to obey in all matters, and to whom they are to afford a revenue, by way of rent for their runs, to assist in maintaining the power and influence of their landlords. Various other matters of minor importance are proposed for discussion, such as the repeal of the " Sale of Spirits," " Aims," and "Gunpowder Ordinances." It is also intended to propose a treaty with the Government, for the purpose of placing the criminal law on a footing more satisfactory to the Native race, who complain of the uncertainty and tardiness of the British Law, especially as regards cases of homicide, with which they would propose to deal summarily, in cases effecting their own countrymen, after a trial conducted in their own fashion. The question of cattle trespass and other matters of real or imaginary grievance, too numerous to be here alluded to, are also to be discussed at this meeting. About a month previous to my arrival, the district was visited by Te Heuheu himself, who invited the Ngatikahungunu Chiefs to attend his meeting, and gave them the above outline of the intended proceedings. I regret to say that his visit has had the effect of unsettling the minds of some of the Natives of this district, and instilling into them, ideas to which, until very recently, they have been strangers. To this I attribute the refusal of Te Moananui to take the Cape Kidnapper payment, alluded to, in my financial report of this day's date. A good deal has also been said about returning the money for Okawa, and about resuming possession of a part of the Ahuriri block, in consequence of the low price which was paid for it. I do not think that threats of this sort are worthy of much attention, or that those who make them seriously imagine that they could carry them into effect. But I deem it my duty to bring them under the consideration of His Excellency, as an indication of the unsettled state of the Native mind, and of the mischief that may flow from the ill considered, and crude advice, which is sometimes given to the Natives by persons located amongst them for a widely different object. Te Heu Heu while at Ahuriri was stoutly opposed by Te Hapuku, who warned him against interfering with him or his lands, and refused his invitation to the meeting.

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24

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

Estimates of sums required in Wellington Province for the remainder of the financial year.

But this very circumstance has had the effect of almost neutralizing the good which might have resulted from the recent reconciliation between Te Hapuku and Te Moananui. The jealousy between those Chiefs is as bitter as ever, and though they will now recognise each other when meeting accidently, it is still impossible to get them to join in the discussion of any land question. Notwithstanding all this, I have no fear of a stop being put to the operations of the Native Land Purchase Department at Heretaunga. It is probable that the very magnitude and importance of the subjects under discussion ; may destroy the unanimity of the meeting at Taupo, and lead to its dissolution without any fixed plan of action being decided upon, but even were it otherwise, I believe that the necessities of Ngatikahungunu will oblige them to sell more land in a very short time. The money they have to receive at present is insufficient to pay their existing debts, and they can no longer get goods upon credit, the late fall in the markets has put a temporary stop to the production of grain and potatoes; and the habits they have contracted unfit tbem for labour, so that they have no alternative but to continue selling their lands as a means of obtaining supplies which have now become necessary to their existence. Besides this, my letter of this date will shew that their own internal jealousies are leading them to extend the sale of their lands, and now that certain of the Ngatiteupokoiri and Ngatihinepari have commenced offering lands, I trust there is reason to hope for further and extensive acquisitions being speedily made to the Waste Lands of the Crown in the Ahuriri district. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, To Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. &c, &c, &c, Auckland.

No. 21. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, 20th December, 1856. Sir,— Referring to my letter of the 22nd September last, covering estimates of the sums that would probably be required for the purchase of land in the Wellington Province, during the current financial year ; and to my letter of yesterday's date, enclosing an estimate for the ensuing quarter, I have the honor to state that since the date of my former letter, circumstances have taken place which lead me to anticipate that new purchases in the Ahuriri district can be carried on on a more extended scale than was at first calculated upon. My letter from Ahuriri of the 29th ult., explains these anticipations. At the same time savings can be made of certain items in the original estimate which will not be required before the 30th June next, and by applying these sums to the service of new purchases, in addition to the sum of £765, already appropriated under this head, very little, possibly not any, expenditure in excess of the total sum of £13,500 awarded to Wellington out of the appropriation of £40,000 need be incurred. The amounts referred to as not immediately required are : — Porangahau, South Block £1500 Waimarama GOO £2,100 —which, with the addition of the £765 originally estimated for opening new negociations, will make a total of £2865, available for this service out of the £13,500. The information I at present possess, does not enable me to give a reliable estimate of the amount which will be required for this service ; but under the most favorable circumstances I donot anticipate a necessity for a larger sum than £4000 to £5000 for new negociations, during the remainder of the current year. I think for the March quarter, £1000 will be sufficient. With reference to the returns enclosed in my letter of 22nd September, I have the honor to state, that of the £4,055 included in No. 1, £625 has been expended, and £1000 is in the hands of the sub-Treasurer at Ahuriri. The balance of £1,430 will be required in addition, during the March quarter. The sum of £1,480 included in Return No. 2, will not be required until the June quarter. One thousand pounds of the £7000 included in Return No. 3, has been expended, £2,100 will not be required this year, and may as above stated, be applied to " new negociations." The balance of £3,900 will be required for the March quatter. The Estimate for the year will then stand thus :— Old. New. Expended in December quarter £1625 Required for March do 7330 £1000 do. June do 1480 3000 £10,435 4,000 Total, £14,435.

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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C—No. 1

Relative to payments for Land at Ahuriri and Wei lngton

—for £925 in excess of the amount set apart for Wellington out of the £40,000 voted for the service of the year, and £565 less than the original estimate of £15,000. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, To Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Land Purchase Department.

No 22. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, AHURIRI. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, January 3rd, 1857. Sir, — In reference to your letter of the 19th and 20th ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that arrangements have been made for furnishing the Sub-Treasurers at Ahuriri and Wellington with the amounts estimated by you as being required foi land purchase in the Province of Wellington during the current quarter. You will be good enough to proceed overland to Ahuriri by way of Taupo, collecting by the way such information as to the late meeting as you may be able to do without losing time in seeking it. You will also forward to this office such information relative to the overland route as you may be able to collect. On arriving at Ahuriri you will complete the outstanding arrangements with the Natives there, for which funds have been supplied on your application. These monies you will draw from time to time from the Sub-Treasurer accounting as before, as soon as possible after drawing the money, supporting your accounts by certified copies and translations of the Deeds, forwarding the originals to me by the first safe opportunity. You will proceed on to Wellington the moment that you can leave Ahuriri, travelling by way of Manawatu when you will endeavour to effect a negotiation for the purchase of the forty mile bush. _ i • ' You will then go on to Wairarapa, when you will complete as far as possible the outstanding negotiations with the Natives, returning to Ahuriri as soon as you can do so without detriment to your Wairarapa arrangements. I will take an opportunity of instructing you further in reference to the employment of a Surveyor at Wairarapa and other matters in time to meet you on your arrival at Wellington. I have, &c, Donald McLean., G. S. Cooper, Esq., Chief Commissioner. District Commissioner, Ahuriri. !

No 23. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, AHURIRI. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, January 3rd, 1857. Sir, — I have the honor to request that in reporting upon all future negotiations for the purchase of land from the Natives, you will be good enough to inform me what portions of each block pur- ' chased should in your opinion be reserved for the construction of trunk lines of road or as sites for ! public buildings for the General Government. ' And when it may appear to you to be desirable that a reserve should be made for military purposes it will be your duty to report on the subject for the consideration of the Government. I have, &c., Dokald McLean, G. S. Cooper, Esq., J. P., Chief Commissioner. District Commissioner, Ahuriri.

No. 24. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, January 7th, 1857. Sir,— In reference to your circular of the 3rd instant, directing me in all negotiations for the purchase of land from the Natives, to report what portions of each block should in my opinion be i reserved for the construction of trunk lines of road or of sites for public buildings for the General Government or for military purposes; i

Cntccr,**. To report eligible sites for Government purposes in their Purcha,e*

no reserves win be re. quired in the Maraeka!^hO. a"d ""'* Blocks for the use of the Genera i Government.

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26

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

Sub-Treasurer is to pay him £1,330,

I have the honor to state that there are no portions of the Mata or Maraekakaho blocks which it will, in my opinion, be necessary to reserve for any of the above-named pnrposes. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Native Land Purchase Department. & -

No. 25. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, AHURIRI. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 12th January, 1857Sir,— j Referring to my letter of the 3rd instant, I have the honor further to inform you that the Sub-Treasurer at Wellington has been instructed to issue to you the sum of £1330, for the purpose of extinguishing the Native Title to land in the Wairarapa District. You will be good enough to account to the Sub Treasurer within one month tor each advance whenever it may be practicable to do so returning the money into the chest if it should appear to you that there is no immediate prospect of expending it when the Treasurer will reissue the sum to you on your renewed requisition as before ; but should it appear to you that the public service would be seriously delayed or inconvenienced by returning the money at the specified, time, yuo will consider yourself authorized to retain it for such period as may appear to you necessary taking care to communicate to the Sub Treasurer your reason for so doing in each case. The object of this instruction being that you are to render accounts for each advance as soon as possible after you receive it I have &c, For the Chief Commissioner, John Rogan, D.C. G. S. Cooper, Esq., District Commissioner, Ahuriri.

No. 26. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, February 15th, 1857. Sib,— I have the honor to enclose a sketch on a plan copied from Arrowsmith's map of New Zealand of the track from Auckland to Napier. I also enclose notes of the route. The track by which I travelled is that generally used ; but from my own observations and from information obtained from the Natives, I am led to believe that a good bridle road might be made at a comparatively trifling expense. The majority of the Natives are anxious that it should be done, and were the objections entertained by Potatau and a few of the other old Chiefs removed there would belittle difficulty, provided the preliminary survey of the line were carried on by a person conversant with the customs and prejudices of the Natives, and that care were taken to avoid arousing their suspicions by the erection of anything like permanent land marks, which are always looked upon by the Maories as a species of "rahui," which, if not immediately removed, might, they fear, afford the white people a pretext for claiming the land. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner. To the Chief Commissioner, Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

Enclosure to No. 26. Notes of the journey overland from Auckland to Ahuriri. The road from Auckland to Papakura is so well known as to need no description here. Through the bush the road is wide, clear, and free from difficulties of any kind; shortly before arriving at the end of the bush is a small Native settlement called Pokeno, about half a mile from the road on the left hand side; where it is advisable to procure a guide as far as the Mangatawhiri creek. After passing through the forest and two small clumps of bush, the road turns to the right,, past a house (at present uninhabited), belonging to Mr. Hare, and thence across a small stream and

Report on his overland journey. Enclosure No. ]. Sketch. Enclosure No. 2. Notes of Route.

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up a ridge, near to Mr. Selby's, through whose fencing it is necessary to pass. The road then leads through a wood, in which are some steep descents, down to the banks of the Waikato river, near, the mouth of the Mangatawhiri creek. From the end of the Papakura forest to Mr. Selby's, is about two miles, and thence to the mouth of the Mangatawhiri, about two miles further. The road after reaching the Waikato, lies through high sedge, close to the bank of the river, about a quarter of a mile to Mangatawhiri. The ground all about here is spongy and damp, but safe in summer, at least, to pass over. We were lucky enough to find a canoe here, in which myself and all the saddles, saddle bags, &e, were ferried across the mouth of the creek. The first branch is forded a few yards from its embouchure into the Waikato. and is rather muddy at the crossing place. A few yards further on, is the other branch, which is crossed at the mouth, making a curve outward, towards the Waikato, so as to ford on a bar. Both these fords are pretty deep, and in the absence of a canoe it would be necessary to carry all baggage across on one's head. After fording the second branch of the Mangatawhiri, the road leads close along the bank of the river, occasionally turning a little inland to pass round a cultivation, on the whole, an unpleasant looking, but not really a bad road. After passing a clearing in the bush, the road leads up a short but steep rise, and follows a ridge in a curve upon a well beaten track, till it again descends to the bank of the Waikato at the mouth of a small deep river called Maramarua ; the landing place is called Whangamarino. There is a settlement on an island in the Waikato, directly opposite, whence the Natives, on being hailed, will come to ferry travellers across Maramarua. The stream has the appearance of having been cut ; it runs through level land and curves from the direction of the head of the Waiho or Thames river. The track again lies along the bank of the Waikato, as close as possible to the water, through thick sedge and flax, not very easy to find, to a settlement called Meremere, where we arrived at 2 p.m., having passed Mr. Selby's house at 10 a.m., riding at a slow pace ;we stopped for food and to rest our borses till 3.30, pm. From Meremere, the road, after passing through a narrow belt of bush, lies over low barren ridges of stiff white clay, covered with short fern ; it is well defined and easy to travel, being free from swamps or steep hills to Rangiriri, a settlement on the banks of the Waikato, which we reached at 5 p.m., riding at a pace of about h\ miles per hour. Here a small stream has to be forded; the ford is only knee deep, and the bottom hard. The road then lies along the bank of the Waikato, through very high flax, exceedingly disagreeabla riding, about 1^ miles to another stream, the ford over which is deep, but with a hard sandy bottom. About two miles of good road, running parallel to, but not very near, the bank of the river, takes the traveller to Mr. Armitage's station. Ihe road still lies along the bank of the river Waikato, and is pretty good to the foot of Taupiri mountain, opposite to the cultivation of Kaitotehe, and about half a mile below the Mission Station. There is one swampy stream to cross between Mr. Armitage's station and this point, which requires examination before crossing ; the ford for horses is to the right of the regular crossing place, and the track to it not very clearly defined. On arriving at the foot of Taupiri, hail the other side, for a canoe to ferry over. This crossing of the river is rendered necsssary by a strict " tapu" on the right bank of the Waikato above this point. On reaching the other side, the track lies through a cultivated ground to the Rev. B. Ashwell's station, which we reached in 2 hours IS minutes from Mr. Armitage's. A ride of half an hour takes the traveller to Pepepe, a school station, where the Waika fo is again crossed, opposite to a new wooden building which is being erected on land the property of the Taupiri school. A distance of about four miles lies between this and the ferry across the Horotiu (Upper Waikato) at a small village called Pukete, thence up the left bank of the river to Te Rapa ; and thence in a south west direction across the Otawhao plain (taking care to avoid two roads branching off to the left to Tieke and Rangiawhia) to the station of the Rev. J. Morgan. Every stream and swamp on this road is bridged, and the ferries are good, so that, though the distance from Mr. Ashwell's to Mr. Morgan's is not much under forty miles, it is not a severe stage for a horse. I rode the whole distance in eight hours. We remained a few days at Otawhao to refresh the horses, and having laid in a small stock of tea, sugar, and bacon for the road, with pannicans, a bill-hook and a bushel of oats for the horses, started at noon to ride to Arowhenua, a distance estimated at 25 miles. An hour's easy riding brought us to the village of Orakau, passing through Kihikihi and crossing two small swamps about twenty yards each, passable at present, but requiring filling up to be sound. At a distance of less than half a mile from Orakau, is another swamp dammed across for a mill. Reached Mr. Morgan's cattle station, Aratitaha, at 3 p.m., after crossing three small swampy streams about five or six yards wide beetween the first stock-yard and the station ; there is no difficulty in getting over these. Finding Mr. Morgan here, we stopped for lunch, and started again at 430 p.m., and found the road very good to the village of Taupaki, which we reached at 6'20 p.m., crossing two small streams, both of which are bridged. From Taupaki to Arowhenua is about three miles, and there are four small streams to cross, the first of which is forded over a good limestone bottom, and the other three are bridged. There is a short ascent before reaching Arowhenua, the only place at which we had to dismount. We reached the village at 7 p ra., having been five hours and a half travelling ; a Native named Ahuriri treated us very well. From Arowhenua to Tuaropaki is a hard day's travelling. We started at 8 a.m., and immediately entered a wood, through which there is a very fair road. In the second glade there are three swampy streams to cross, the first of which (at some distance to the right of the old road) is but a moderate jump; the second is also a jump, but wider, and the banks rotton on both sides ; the third is a bad swamp, some ten or twelve yards across ; travellers should throw down fresh fern before taking horses over. After this is a small stream with good bottom and steep banks ;in the next wood is a steep descent with a stream at the foot, which however has a good sound bottom

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and is easily crossed ;we got out of the wood at 9 '30 a.m. From this there is a very steep descent to the Mangawhio river, which has a slippery rocky bottom, like slippery creek at Papakura, affording precarious footing for horses ; the ford is about 30 yards wide, knee deep. The ascent is steep on the other side, and it is nothing but one continued scramble up and down, excessively steep hills to Waipapa. The ford over this river is about 200 yards higher up than the crossing place for foot travellers, and the road to it leads up the bank of the river ; the width is about 50 yards, the bottom rocky and more slippery and unsafe for horses than the last. Crossed this river at 12-15, and the ascent of the hill on the other side took us half an hour to accomplish. From this to the Mangatete is very hard work, quite as hard as the last piece; the road runs along the left bank of the Mangatete for some little distance, after crossing which the second time, and a tributary once, all easy and sound, the road is much better to the Mangakino, which we reached at 3 p.m. Stopped an hour for lunch and to bait the horses. The country hereabouts is of a curious character ; its general lie is tolerably level, but its surface is covered with detached masses of basaltic rock, rising like islands out of the plain. These are covered with fern on the top, whilst the plain below, the soil of which is light and mixed with pumice, is clothed with a scanty herbage of tussock grass. These clumps of rock are so thickly scattered over the country, that the level land between them is almost like streets in a town ; here and there are streams of beautifully clear water, which, from the lightness of the soil, cut through it to a considerable depth, and leave very steep banks. The Mangakino ford is above the falls, and some distance from the foot bridge, the banks are low and sound, and the bottom hard. It is about 50 yards wide, and about the best ford we have yet crossed. Started again at 4 p.m., and crossed five small swampy streams, two bad ones laid down with brushwood for horses, and the others, running streams, with hard bottoms and boggy banks, but not dangerous to cross; all these streams are narrow and might easily be bridged. After passing Mangakino there are three roads leading to the right to be avoided. We lost our road by taking one of them, and had to camp out in the plain, within about four miles of Tuaropaki. The road is very good and almost level, the distance about four hours ride from Mangakino to Tuaropaki. The road passes through a gap in a ridge of hills which lie east and west, and the village is on the top of a hill at the edge of a wood. At the foot of a hill, the road to Rotorua branches off to the left (eastward). But, for going astray, we ought to have reached Tuaropaki at 8 p.m., as it was, we arriftd there at 10-30 a.m. next morning, and had some food cooked. Resumed our journey at 12 noon, through a wood in which are two descents, the first very steep with a corresponding ascent on the other side, the second much more gradual, leading down to the level of the plain, A three hour's ride brought us to Otuhunga, a fortified pa on the top of a hill, at the skirt of a wood. We crossed, in reaching this pa, four small streams, in one of which is a spring of warm water, and four swamps, two of which are very bad, but might, as we heard afterwards, have been crossed without difficulty, by keeping higher up the hills to the right. Being strangers however we failed to see these roads, and in consequence nearly lost one of the horses. The ascent to Otuhunga (which we reached at 3 p.m.) is long and steep. Finding nobody here we pushed on, though a heavy thunder-storm had broken over our heads, descended the hill and struck into the wood through which there is a broad clear track quite level about 3 miles. A mile from the bush is Oruanui a small village in the plain, which we reached at 4 p.m. completely drenched through. Mere we overtook a party of Ahuriri Natives returning from Tauraiira. Hohepa, the Chief at this village has built a good house of accommodation for European travellers, whom he supplies with pork, flour, tea, sugar and bran for horses, at a moderate rate; and he and all his Natives are very civil and attentive. The country about here contains some grass and although apparently of limited extent, is tolerably well adapted for keeping stock. The Natives here, as well as farther on were enquiring anxiously about the road, and seem very desirous that the Government should undertake the work in which case they will build good houses of accommodation for travellers at the different stages. They anticipate some difficulty from the predjudices of the old Chiefs who fear that if the road be carried through the country the independence (" Mana ') of New Zealand will be lost. The younsjer men however seem to think this not an insurmountable obstacle, if Government were prepared to come forward with the funds. Next morning was fine after a bitterly hard frost. Started at 9 a m., being detained drying our clothes, and travelled very slowly being encumbered with a travelling party chiefly of old women and children. We reached Waikato at a distance of about 10 miles from Taupo, at T3O p m. after atopping to see a steam escape of immense volume and power, called Karapiti. The whole distance travelled, is not beyond the compass of a two hours ride, though we took 4 J hours to accomplish it. Had to wait an hour for a canoe, when we crossed the Waikato at a very good ferry called Otumuheke. On the opposite (right) bank is a small stream of tepid water. The road from this to the little village at the foot of Tauwhara, called Paetiki is very dangerous the whole surface of the country beingcovered with boiling springs. If a traveller goes a foot off the beaten track, it is at the risk of his own life, and almost a certainty of losing that of his horse. The distance from Waikato to Paetiki is about four miles. We slept here ;itis a most wretched and uninteresting place, without water, or firewood. We cooked our food in the steam of a sulphur spring. The only redeeming advantage of the place is, that neither rats, mice, mosquiioes, sandflies, fleas nor any other Maori abominators can live there, by reason of the sulphurous state of the atmosphere. We were completely taken in by our travelling companions this day, the distance accomplished having certainly not exceeded fifteen miles We left Paetiki at 6 a.m. and riding slowly made Onepe at 8 a.m. There was nobody at the Kaianga and as we could find no water we pushed on. The road after rounding the base of Tauwhara, inclines to the left across a plain to Op"pe, leaving which, it runs through a short piece of bush, when we re-entered the plain, and rode it aprettv good pace in a direction about South-east to the Rangitaiki river, the only one which waters this extensive plain, and which we reached at 1040 am. and stopped for breakfast. This plain though extensive, is very poor. It is composed entirely of sand and pumice

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covered with a black moss like a carpet; the herbage consists of a thin, fine, sharp-pointed grass growing at intervals, very dry and badly adapted for feeding stock. I enclose a specimen of the only two kinds I could see, taken at random from the road side. They are fair average specimens. There is also a poor description of dandelion, and a very stunted growth of Manuka. I could discover no indications of'Annis, nor of any richer kind of grass than that of which I enclose specimens. The Rangitaiki is the first running water to be met with after leaving Waikato. By this time we had left our foot companions a long way bthind, beinj; in fact disgusted at the way in which they spoiled our journey yesterday. We left the Rangitaiki at 12*15 and crossed another smaller plain, forded a small stream, and over a low range of hilJs, and across another small stream, after which we came to a spongy piece of ground (avoidable in winter) about 2CO yards wide, having passed which, we rose up a moderate ascent to Wakatu, at the edge of a wood which we reached at I*3o pm. Finding no Natives heie, and seeing a party at a little distance, we rode up to them and found they were travellers from Te Wairoa to Taupo. We stepped and had some food and discussed the news till 30 5 p.m. when we started again, having received directions as to the road and finding we had come at least four miles out of our course. The road lies in the valley between the two wooded ranges ; the Waiharuru river runs down this valley into the Waipunga at the bottom. We crossed the former stream and two of its branches, and then rode over a low range of hills to the Waipunga, the ford over which is shallow, but the bottcm is composed of large slippery rocks. Ihe road then runs along the left bank of the river across several spurs with deep gullies between, in two of which are swampy streams. About two'miles of this sort of travelling being accomplished, we entered a wood, the road through which is tolerably good, though steep in several places. There are two tributaries cf the Waipunga to be crossed. After emerging from the wood the road leads down the ravine in which the Waijunga runsard we crossed that river (good fords) seven times. After the seventh crossing we came upon a party of Natives from Tarawera encamped in a bottom by the river side. By this time it was S p.m. and very dark, so we stopped here. We have been fourteen hours on the road of which we have travelled eleven at a pace averaging about five miles per hour, so that we have done at least fifty miles of our journey, allowing for stoppages and going astray. Taking it all together this las been one of our easiest day's journeys. \\ e have crossed over several different kinds of country, but have seen very little land fit for sheep. The soil (except in a few valleys and at the skirts of woods) is very poor, and the herbage thin and scanty. There is also a great want of water on the Taupo plain, the value of which appears on the whole to be greatly overrated. We left the camp next morning at 9-20 a.m. after a korero with the Natives about the Taupo meeting and other matters, and reached the village of Pirapirau (Tarawera) at 10, where we stopped half-an-hour to feed the horses, their supper last night having been very scanty. Crossed the Waipunga the eighth time, in the interval. From this village the road lies through a narrow belt of wood, then down a gully and across the Waipunga, at a bend the ninth and tenth times, then over a ridge, and across a small tiibutary stream, into which another small rivulet runs, on the other side. The road lies up the rivulet for a few yards, when it ascends the bank and runs up a gully to the foot of Turangakunau a high peaked hill, over the very summit of which the road lies. It is the longest and steepest ascent we have met with. We reached the top at 1245. About one-third of this ascent might be avoided by taking the road round the hill to the right. The road then descends a little, runs through a small bush, up a short but steep ascent, and finally into an extensive forest, through which there in an excellent road, descending gradually, till it emerges through a dead bushata village called Te Wakaawatea, on a hill about half a mile from the Mohaka river. In passing through the wood, there are two branch roads to be avoided, one turning to the left, and the other to the right. '1 he proper road is the widest and best defined throughout. We reached Te Wakaawatea at 3 p.m., where, finding the Chief Pohipi and a large party of Taupo Natives, I remained for the purpose of having a talk about the Taupo meeting and other matters. We started the next morning at 11"30, and followed a good road down a gradual descent, to the Mohaka river, which we folded and ascended a steep bank on the other side, almost immediately after which the Mangawhata, a small stream with excessively steep banks, has to be crossed. The road there lies over a number of low fern hills, up to the gap in Titiokura hill, where Mr. A. McLean's station is situated. Here we stopped for an hour and resumed our journey at 3 p.m. through the Pohue Bush, and over some tolerably steep hills down to the Kaiwakastream, which we crossed thirty-five times, very shallow with good shingle bottom. We then came upon the Waiohinganga which we crossed twelve times and finally arrived at Mr. J. B. McCain's house at 8 p.m. The journey on the whole is neither difficult nor dangerous. It is rough in some places and occasionally requires circumspection in travelling. But with very little expense it might be made into a jgood bridle path fit for driving sheep or cattle. In summer time the journey from Napier to Auckland could be easily accomplished in ten davs, allowing for resting a Sunday on the road, by a well mounted person who knew the road, or had the advantage of a competent guide.

No. 27. DISTRICT commissioner to the chief commissioner. Ahuriri, March 25th, 1857. Sir,— I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that the Natives of Porangahu have positively declined to accept the /1400 offered for the block surveyed by the late Mr. De Pelichet.

Natives decline to accept £l 4W>> for land surveyed b? Mr- Pelich"-

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Their demand as you are aware, was £3500 and they still ask that sum, but I have reliable' information to the effect that if offered £250.1, they would accept it. 1 would beg to recommend in the strongest manner that 1 may be authorize! to complete this? r.rchase as soon as possible, and provided with the necessary funds for the purpose. Ist. Because the block now offered, considerably exceeds in extent that for which you named £1400, as the price, and which I an given to understand did not extend to the Westward of Eparaima. 2i i. Because there are interested in the sale a number of claimants to the block sold by Hori Niania at the Umuopua, who received no share of the purchase money, and who are therefore entitled to some consideration out of the adjoining lands. Hori's land having been sold and the money spent in Wellington without their consent. 3rd. Because the land is greatly wanted for settlement, and is in fact at this moment in the occupation of several Squatters, who, having no place to go upon, cannot move, and thus a repetition! of the evils of Wairarapa is commencing in this district. With reference to these Squatters, I have the honor to state, that I have sent therri notice that they will be immediately proceeded against under the " Native Land Purchase Ordinance" and thtt they must not pay, or agree to pay, any more rents to the Natives, or else the fines will be repeated monthly in an increasing ratio each time. I have only been prevented from taking proceedings earlier, by having my hand-; so full of work here, that I coud not spare the time to go to Porangahau for the purpose. I am in hopes that seeing these fines levied in their presence, and being told (as they certainly will be told) by the squatters, that their obstinacy has brought the penalties of the law down upon them, may, in addition to the stopping of future rents, tend to induce the Natives to settle the' question upon more reasonable terms than they would otherwise have done. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, The Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. &c, &C, &c.

MEMORANDUM BY CHIEF COMMISSIONER ON NO. 26, march 25th, 1857. The price estimated by Mr. Cooper is exactly three times as much as I have paid to* the Castie" Point Natives for their adjacent lands. Three hundred thousand acres were purchased from the Castle Point Natives for £2500 the price now asked for one hundred thousand. The settlers have, by taking possession, encouraged this increased avarice on the part of the Natives, and the Colonists generally have to bear the expense of keeping a few settlers in possession of their runs illegally held. Two dangerous principles are involved in this question, one, that of encouraging Native cupidity, the other, that of permitting settlers to evade laws that interfere with their personal advancement, thereby submitting laws enacted for the general weal, to become subordinate to the interests of a few isolated runholdets. To check such proceedings is clearly the duty of the General Government, otherwise we shall soon have a repetition of the Wairarapa squatting with all the evil and expense it has entailed—a general scrambling for runs over unpurchased districts would ensue. The Natives wouldsoon find it to their interest to coalesce with the settlers in opposing the sale of land to the Government; land purchasing would cease; those who already sold to the Government would say, what fools we have been to sell, when our opponents to those sales have held out against the Government and are now reaping the fruit of their opposition by obtaining heavy annual payments for their runs, and are greater men than we are by having the English settlers at their mercy and altogether in their power and subject to their caprice, so that they can order any man off his run who does not comply with their present demands, not only for a stipulated rent, but for anything additional they may covet. These demands will be made not only by the real owners of the runs but also by parties wiio may not have the shadow of a claim to it; in fact the system is so bad and degrading, that no Englishman would long submit to it. I have seen a settler who had lived for a few years on a run at Wairarapa, ummarily knocked down by a blustering Chief and his followers, and ordered off his homestead on which he expended £800, with his wife, family, and servants, before sunset, because he would not lend his best wheat mill for the Natives to grind with, and had I not interfered, I know from the character of the Chief, that this settler would have been obliged to quit his home and improvements that very night. Numerous cases of this kind that are silently overlooked, might be adduced against the evils of this system, which I have steadfastly resisted with the concurrence of the Government as far as my individual efforts could, during the purchase of land in the Wellington Province. I find however, that this squatting system has so far advanced in the Porangahu Block, that tc* check it now, would be more inexpedient than to close with the Natives for the sum of £2,500, more especially as the Wellington Government are prepared to pay that sum or even much more if requisite; therefore after viewing the case in all its bearings, I see no alternative except that of concluding this purchase which certainly is rather more extensive than my estimate of it, when I proposed payment of £1,400 for it. Donald McLean, Land Purchase Commissioners 11th April, 1857.

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No. 28. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Ahuriri, March 27th, 1862. Bra, — Adverting to my letter of the 29th November last, upon the subject of an offer of a piece of land adjoining the Ngatarawa plain, in the most valuable part of the district, I have now the honor to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency, that my expectations have been more than realized, as regards the extent to which I anticipated that new land would be offered. On my return to this district from Auckland, I found that the survey of the small piece of the Ngatarawa plain, alluded to in my letter above quoted, had been suspended at the instance of Te Moananui, on the grounds that it was better to do nothing until Te Hapuku and myself should return from Auckland, as it was intended to offer considerably more land than was at first proposed, and he was anxious that we should both accompany the surveying party. An application was accordingly made to me immediately on my arrival, to proceed to the survey of the lands claimed by Te Moananui and his party, within the blocks surveyed by Mr. Park and Te Hapuku, and an invitation was sent to the latter Chief requesting him to accompany the expedition. It happened, however, that the sale of the Manga or Rangipeke block effected by Te Hapuku and Watene at Auckland, and which land is claimed by a hapu called Ngaitakaha, of the other party, who never saw a fraction of the purchase money, had, together with unfair divisions of the piece of some of the lately purchased blocks, given rise to much indignant discussion and blustering on both sides, that Te Hapuku declined the invitation, and it was decided to proceed without him. The party consisted of Te Moananui, Tareha, Karaitiana, and their followers, to the number of about seventy, who, in consequence of the violent speeches of the opposite party, but especially on account of Te Hapuku's refusal to join the expedition, all went armed to guard against an attack from their opponents. I endeavonred to dissuade them from this step, but ineffectually, and finding that it would be impossible to bring matters to a satisfactory termination without yielding to some extent to this party, who complained loudly of injustice at the hands of the others, I consented to accompany them. The results of this expedition have been that the boundaries of the following lands were traversed :— Ist. A block of 32,600 acres, including the Ngatarawa plain, with the grassy hills and slopes adjoining, and a portion of the Raukawa bush. This block consists of about one-third plain, and the rest low limestone hills, almost entirely free from fern, with a sufficient quantity of timber within easy reach to supply the wants of the settlers. The block, as regards the quality of the soil, is the richest yet offered for sale in the district, and is now approachable by a good cart road the whole way from Waipureku. 2nd. A block bounded by the Waipawa river, the Maraekakaho, Aorangi, and Otaranga blocks, and the Ruahini range, and containing about 87,500 acres, exclusive of the portions admitted to belong to Te Hapuku and his party. This block contains bush, plains, and fern hills, and would be a valuable acquisition to the district. It would cut up into six good sheep run?, and contains some very valuable timber and a fair proportion of rich soil. 3rd. A piece of land containing about 9000 acres adjoining the Mata block, and consisting of a plain called the Kaokaoroa, with the grassy slopes adjoining. These lands are all more or less valuable, and their acquisition would be of great benefit to the district; but for two reasons their purchase at the present moment cannot, I fear, be accomplished. 1. Because the prices asked are, with the exception of the second block, so high, that I imagine his Excellency's Government would not feel justified in giving such large sums. 2. On account of the opposition of Te Hapuku and his party. With regard to price, the lowest sum asked for the Ngatarawa block is £3600. The land would, I think, be a good purchase at £2000, (Is. 2^d. per acre), and even the whole sum asked by the Natives is a trifle in comparison with the revenue it would immediately yield, but it would amount to an amount per acre higher than the Government have been in the habit of paying for land in this district. The demand for the block at the north end of the Rua Taniwha is £2100 (s|d. per acre). This, considering the quality of the block, would be a good bargain, but the land is so much subdivided by the intersecting claims of the opposing parties, and there is so much difference of opinion as to theii extent and value, that until they come to an understanding amongst themselves, it would not be advisable to conclude a purchase, unless the principle be admitted of buying up the claims of opposing parties separately, which would increase the labour and expense of purchasing, but would ensure in the end more satisfactory purchases. The sum demanded for the Kaokaoroa block is £1200, but, according to prices hitherto paid, it ought not to cost more than £600 (or Is. 4d. per acre) ; the same remarks apply to the pecuniary value of this land as to that of the Ngataroaroa block. But even were the prices demanded for these lands and other circumstances attending their offer such as to render their purchase advisable, I regret to say that in the existing mutual relations of the Native population, it would be unsafe to conclude a pur-chase of any of them at the present moment, for the opposition offered by Te Hapuku and his party is so strong, that even were a payment made to the others, it is most probable the land could not be occupied for a considerable time. For these reasons, then, I have deemed it my duty to put off the negociations for the purchase of the three blocks in question, in such a manner as not to offend the Chiefs who are offering them, but

Reporting negotiations J^STmuIJiJI °f **"*'

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32

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

Respecting negociatiom le

to leave matters in such a state, that negociations may be re-opened, when circumstances shall appea# more favourable than at present for concluding them. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, To Donald McLean Esq., District Commissioner, Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, Auckland. Iff" ~"— I ™^^^^r,

No. 29. THE DISTRICT commissioner to the chief commissioner. Ahuriri, March 29th, 1857. Sir,— In reference to the question of the purchase of the Forty Mile Bush, I have the honor to state that from all I have heard from the Natives, I am inclined to think that they will object to treat for the sale of the Bush lands, whilst their desire to dispose of their claims on the West Coast remain unsatisfied by the Government. In this case I venture to suggest whether it would not be expedient, looking to the vast importance to the intere&ts of this Province of the acquisition of the Bush, to make them a payment for their claims upon the coast, as a preliminary step in the negociation for the Bush. I am quite aware that until the opposition of the Ngatiraukawa tribe to the sale of the coast districts is withdrawn or overcome, no final purchase of lands can be made ihere. But under all the circumstances, I trust His Excellency the Governor will see the propriety of expending a moderate sum to satisfy the Manawatu Natives, more especially as the discussions to which such a payment would give rise might possibly lead to the sale by Ngatiraukawa of their claims by conqtirst; and thus the acquisition of the valuable and important districts lying between the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers might be facilitated, whilst all obstacles in the way of acquiring the Forty Mile Bush would be removed. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Land Purchase Commssioner, Auckland.

No. 30. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE NATIVE SECRETARY. Napier, August 19th, 1557. Sir,— I have the honor to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that the quarrel so long existing between Te Hapuku and Te Moananui has at length broken out into open hostilities. An engagement took place yesterday morning at the Pakiaka Bush, which resulted in a total loss of seven killed and twenty wounded. I have the honor to enclose a nominal list of the casualties. The conflict was brought on in the following manner :— Te Hapuku, still remaining encamped with his forces at Whakawhiti, as when you left, and believing that the quiet demeanour of his opponents proceeded from fear determined to erect a Pa there, in spite of the repeated statements from the other sidp, that such a step would be looked upon as a declaration of war. Accordingly, on Monday (17th), a patty went to the wood where, instead of cutting firewood as they had been doing unopposed for the past week, they commenced felling growing timber, in open contravention of the understanding which had been arrived at, through the intervention of Mr. Williams, whilst you were here. On Tuesday (yesterday), Te Moananui himself proceeded early in the morning to within hail of the camp at W akawhiti, and entreated that Te Hapuku would desist from removing or splitting the timber which had been felled the previous day, saying they mi^ht still take as much firewood as they pleased, but Ngatikahungunu were determined not to allow timber to be removed from their bush to build a war pa for their enemies on their own land. He was answered with shouts of defiance, and returned to his own party, telling them that he had interfered for the last time. "My rope is bioken," said he, " I can hold you back no longer; " you must act now according to circumstances." ' By this time a small party had reached the wood, and were proceeding towards the fallen trees, when Karaitiana and Renata went out with some of their men, and ordered them back. Of this they took no notice, the signal was given to fire, and the action began. Firing continued between the main bodies, in the neighbourhood of the rahui post, until about three p m., when te Harawira Taterei, whose nephew, Paiaka (a son of Tiakitai), was killed at the foot of the pole, advanced from Te Hapuku's side with a white flag and called on both patties to disist, in order that the killed and wounded might be collected ere dark.

Reporting hostilities between Te Hapuku and Moananui.

Enclosure No. 1. Lilt of Casualties.

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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33

He was met by Noa te Hianga from the other side, bearing a similar flag ; and each stuck up his flag at equal distance from the pole, where they still remain. The killed and wounded were tLen removed by both parties, and, after a war-dance, each quietly retired. Neither Te Hapuku nor Te Moatianui took any part in the conflict. All is tranquil to-day, and people from both parties have been picking up bullets indiscriminately from the scene of the fight. Te Ilapnku's people appear a good deal dispirited by the result of the conflict: they are far from unanimous amongst themselves, and have not as yet determined what to do. They are not likely, however, to provoke another encounter. The others are as elated as their enemies are cast down : they are unanimous in their councils, and have sent off to the Wairoa and Poverty Bay for reinforcements, which they expect in a few days. Their movements will depend entiiely on those of Te Hapuku; they will allow the flags of truce to remain until one of them is removed by any one from the camp, when they will consider themselves free to renew hostilities. The pole is not to be touched, nor is any firewood to be taken now from the Pakiaka, as thty consider their promise to Mr. Williams cancelled by the conduct of Te Hapuku. They talk of fencing in the Pakiaka, and say that if another shot is filed, they will never slop unnl they have driven Te Hapuku inland. There is no doul>t that (he whole blame of what has occurred lies at the door of Te Hapuku. Had he been contented—as he assured you, the Itev. Mr. Williams, and myself, that he would be — with marshalling his forces at the foot cf the pole, and had then retired to Wakatu, tbeie woulJ have been an end of the matter, and no opposition would have been made (as none was made) to fiiewood being taken by parties from Pokowhai and Wakatu. Instead of this, he persists in staying at Wakawhiti, to ihe great indignation of his opponents, and in sending thence to the bush foe lirewood in spite of repeated remonstrances. Even this, however, the others put up with ; but when he commenced building a fortification with their own limber, on their own land, it was more than could be borne ; and the consequence was, that the first paity that went for timber having got off with a caution, the second attempt was resisted, and the slaughter that took place was the natural result. How it "ill end of course no one can tell, but I think that when Moananui's reinforcements come up, nothing short of the retirement of Te Hapuku to Poukawa will satisfy his enemies ; and, if present appearances are to be relied on as a guide for the future. I fancy that lukewarmness, if not absolute disaffection, amongst his own followers, will induce him to take the step which all the threats of his enemies might have failed to urge him to. I happened to be at Waipukurau on Monday and yesterday, and only arrived at Wakatu this afternoon; hut thanks to tie exertions of Mr. Rhodes, Dr. Hilchings was promptly in attendance, and gave such assistance as lay in his power to the wounded, who appear for the most part likely to do well under his care. I have, &c, The Native Secietary, G. S. Coopek, &c, &c, &c, Disttict Commissioner. Auckland.

List of Casualties.— Hapuku's parly. Killed—Paiaka, Paoia Tuari, Aperaniko Turuhia, Patorotnu Tamanoho. Mortally Wounded— Kinokino. Severely Wotnded—Maika Iwikatia, Rota Porehua, Matui Kawhe, Patariki Taweawea, Te Awaho, Psiora Nonoi, Tamihana Matiria. Slightly Wounded—Mohi Papahoroa, Tahana Tawhetu, Maliaha Kopara, Ripimoho, flemi Tiore. Killed—4. Wounded—l 3. Total casualties—17. Moananui's party. Killed—Paora te Uuii, Heaira Waewaetoa, Maihi. Dangerously Wounded —Hohaia. Severely Wounded—Keke. Slightly Wounded—Te Otene, Renata Kawepo, Raniera te Waha, Tiopira, Pohatu. Killed—3. Wounded—7- Total casualties—10.

No. 81. FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 4th November, 1857. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters as per margin, the first reporting R that hostilities had been resumed between Hapuku and Te Moananui, the latter in reply to my " letter of the 20th August last, covering copy of a letter from the Colonial Treasurer on the steps taken by you in conjunction with myself to prevent hostilities between the Natives. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Donald McLean, District Commissioner, Land Commissioner. Ahuriri.

Lilt of Casualties,

eceipt of letter on Nave hostilities. October )9th, iai7 Sitth, UM7

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

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34

Mespecling hostilities it Ahur"-'-

No. 32. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONF.It TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, August 29th, 1857Sin,— In continuation of my report, dated the 19th instant, I have now the honor to state for the further information of His Excellency the Governor that the lukewarmness amongst the supporteis of Te Hapuku lias led io a disruption of the party, and an abandonment of the camp at Whakawhiti, which took place a week a»o, in spite of the elforts of their chief to keep them together. The hapu called Ngaitewhatuiapiti, headed by I'araone Hakihaki, who were the first to leave the camp, have taken up a position on the left bank of the Ngaruroro, opposite to Wakatu, preparatory to returning in a body to their homes in the interior, when the money recently paid for their lands has been divided; and Ngatimarau are likely to follow their example. The check which Te Hapuku has thus received, is likely to have a salutiry effect, and to lead to his ultimate retirement to Poukawa, a step which he seems now to contemplate with less repugnance than heretofore. Everything has remained tranquil since the 18th, and no attempt to renew hostilities has bean made by either party. Tie Ngatikahungiinu party have sent to Taupo, Rotorua, Waikato, Turanga, and the East Coast, for reinforcements. A supply of arms has already arrived from Ngatieneuru, who occupy the country between this and Taupo. Te Hapuku has sent no message in any direction, but seems to expect volunteers from Wairarapa and Manawatu. The wounded are doing well under the care of Dr. Hitchings, and no deaths, excepting that of Kinokino, have occurred since the date of my last letter. As an indication of the quality of the powder in the hands of these Natives, I may remark that, since the collision, a considerable number of bullets have been picked up on the open ground in the centre of the space which divided the two parties, who could no; at any time have been farther apart than fiom 300 to 400 yards. None of the wounded men, excepting Kinokino, whose skull was fearfully smashed, have had any bones broken, which may, perhaps, be taken as another indication of the inferiority of their powder. I have, &c, The Native Secretary, G. S. Cooper, &c, &c, &e, District Commissii. ner. Auckland.

No. 33. FROM IHS DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, September 2Gth, 1857. Sir,— In reference to my letters of the 19th and 29th ultimo, I have now the honor to acquaint you, for the further information of His Excellency the Governor, that no encounter of the hostile pa-ties has taken place since that of the 18th of August. Matters still, however, remain in a very unsettled state. No reinforcements have reached either side, nor are any likely to arrive. The Ngalikahiingunu party maintain their determined aspect, and stiil declare that nothing short of the death, or retirement to Poukawa of Te Hapuku will satisfy then. They have besieged him more closely than before, cutting off all access to either Napier or Clive, so that it is impossible for him to obtain supplies of any description; nor will they allow any Europeans to convey goods to Pakowai or Wakatu. They have built another stockade at the edge of the Pakiika bush, and are making p-eparutioii;; for erecting another on the bank of the Ngaruroro, between Tanenuiarangi and Wakatu. Te Hapuku'i position is thus rendered very uncomfortable, and it is the more so from the fact of the great body of the inland Natives having returned to their homes, which they sjem to have very little idea uf again quilting until another payment for land is ready for division. They were never at any lime very enthusiastic in their support of Te Hapuku; and the quarrels and heart-burnings which ever attend a division of money were not wanting at the la<l payment to increase their dissaffection. The quarrel is looked upon very unfavourably by other branches of the tribe, both to the North and South of Heretaonga. Te Wereta Kawtkairangi has recently visited the district, and told both parties that no assistance might be looked for by either, from Wairarapa. Still Te Hapuku stoutly adheres to his determination (in which he seemed at one lime to waver) of remaining at Wakatu till the last, — irom which I am inclined to think that Karaitiana will carry out his threat of attacking the pa, the garrison of which is, I fear, insufficient for its defence. Meanwhile little is being done in the way of cultivation, and there is much reason to fear that there wili be a scarcity of provisions throughout the distiict. Hohaia, of the Ngatikahungiinu party, has died of his wound, making nine deaths in al. The rest of the wounded men have recovered. I have, &c, The Native Secretary, G. S. Coopsr. &c, &c. Auckland.

Respetling hostilities at Anuriii.

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES

35

C—No. 1

Hostilities resumed beMoananui Hapuku and

Circular nquiring a comi,le."' eturn of *" transactions since 30th June, iiwo.

No. 34. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, October 19th, 1857. Sib,I have the honor to acquaint you that another engagement took place on the 14th instant between the Natives, being the second since the commencement of hostilities. 1 enclose a list of casualties. The engagement was not followed up after sundown, and has not made any material alteration in the relative state of the two parties. I have, &c, The Native Secretary, G. S. Cooper. &c., &c, &c. District Commissioner. Hapuku's party. — Rotohiku, killed. Moananni's party.—Killed, Matiu Kuaka: wounded, Renata Hoekau, severely ; Pene Te Ua, slightly ; Manahi Te Apaapa, slightly. Total—2 killed, 3 wounded. '

No. 35. FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 20th November, 1857. Sir,— I have the honor to request that vou will forwaid to this office at your earliest possible convenience, a complete return and concise repoit of all tiansactions in which you have been engaged sit ce the 30lb June, 1856; what sums you have paid on account of old liabilities; what new liabilities you luve iucurred during the isame period; the atceitained cr estimated acreage of all blocks,not only of those i dually purchased, but also of those concerning which, negotiations have been entered into; in short, the return should be as far as possible complete enough to enable this office (taking it in conjunction with these of the other District t ommissioneis) to supply the General Assembly with full and accurate infoimation concerning all transactions with the Natives in any part of the country. It is necessary to have ihe letum so compiled as to give a topographical idea of the land acquired in your district. I have &c., G. S. Cooper, Esquire, Donald McLean, District Commissioner, Chief Commissioner. Ahuriri.

No. 3G. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, December 15th, 1857. Sir,— I have the honor to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that another collision took place between the hostile parties of Natives in this neighborhood on the 9ch ' lnstai.t, resulting in a total loss of five killed and sixteen wounded, as per enclosed list. The Ngatikahungunu party had for some time past been in the almost daily practice of sending small Tjodies of men down to the neighbourhood of Wakatu as challengers, to endeavour to draw Te Hapuku out of the pa. The latter, however, touk no notice of these attempts until the occasion in question, when a strong muster of Natives from almost every part of the district being in the pa, a party broke out in »pite of Te Hapuku's opposition. His Excellency will be sorry to hear of the loss of Puhara, a Chief deservedly liked and respected by all classes, a staunch supporter of the Government, a firm friend to the settlers, and the principal supporter of Te Hapuku in his land-selling policy. He was, moreover, greatly respected ycd liked by his own countrymen, amongst whom he has always borne tbe highest character : a renowned warrior, his voice was yet always for peace, and his untimely death is now equall\r regretted by both parties. It is difficult to say what the end of this may be, but as Te Hapuku's suppcrters trom inland show a disposition to withdraw from him, he will be obliged to retire from his present position, or he will lose bis life. His enemies still say that if he will go at, once, they will allow him to do so unmolested, but if he delays they will proceed to extremities by destroying his crops and cutting off his communication with the inland districts, which done, nothing can save him. as his party, consisting of his own and Fuhara's immediate relatives, are far inferior in numbers to their enemies, who would then have the option of storming the pa, or starving the garrison at their own convenience. There is still a hope that Te Hapuku may be induced to return, if he does which, an end will be put to hostilities and peace will be made without further sacrifice of human life. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Esq., G. S. Cooper, Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. Auckland.

RaportlDgfurtherhaull] "es at Nai"er-

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

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36

. , . . Reporting further hostihties at Napier, continucd.

List of casualties in the encounter on the 9th December, 1857. Te Hapuku's party.—Killed : Puhara Hawaikirangi, Te Watene Te Haekae, Hitini Hoekau, Te Whitu. Dangerously wounded: Te Harawira Te Kaiw&e. Severely wounded: . Horomona Te Rongoparae, Ponatahuri. Te Moananui's party. —Killed : Hone Warani (of Ngatiawa). Dangerously wounded: Te Matenga Hokimate, Mohi Te Ahiko, Paora Pereko. Severely wounded e Wirihana, Tihorewaru, Matar.i Te Ako, Eparaia Tarauha, Tarire Tuki. Severely wounded; Utiku Te Paeataka, Hone Kaweka, Ranihera Tewaha, Te Katene Tekori, Kere Pangopango. There were a few cases of slight wounds and abrasions, not worth mentioning. 1 ' »

No. 37. FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Native Secretary's Office, Auckland, January 26th, 1858. Sib, — 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the loth ultimo, reporting that another collision had taken place b.tweeii the hostile parties of Natives at Ahuriri, and enclosing a list of killed and wounded. I have &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Thos. H. Smith, Ahuriri. Foi the Chief Commissioner.

No. 38. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, February 15th, 1858. Sir,— In obedience to the instructions contained in your letter of the 7th December, 1857, I have the honor to transmit an abstract and two detailed returns of the transactions of this Department in the Hawke's Bay District foi the period commencing Ist July, 1856, and ending 31st December, 1857. No payments whatever have been made during the above period, on account of transactions in Wairarapa or other pans of the Province of Wellington. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Native Land Purchase Department, District Commissioner. Auckland. [Note.—For corrected Returns, see Blue Book, C No. 1, 1858.]

No. 39. FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 22nd March, 1858. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of youi letter of the 15th ultimo, transmitting an abstract and two detailed returns of the transactions of your Department from July 1856, to December 31st, 1857. I have, &c., G. S. Cooper, Esq., John Rooan, District Commissioner, Ahuriri. For the Chief Commissioner.

No. 40. FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, May sth, 1858. Sir,— d I have the honor, in reference to the recent purchases made in your district of the Tautane and Porangahau blocks, to request that you will furnish as soon as possible to this office an account of the result of the surveys of the same, with a view to the proclamation of the said blocks, with their acreage, in the Government Gazette.

fiINKKAI.. lUceipt of letter of 15th February,with enclosure?,

To furnish information respecting Tautane and Porangahau,

Acknowledging the re ceipt of letter and en C i osure .

Forwarding Return?. 3 Enclosures.

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

37

C—No. 1

Youwil 1 impress on Mr. Bousefield the necessity of completing these surveys, accounts of which I have been expecting for some time, with the utmost despatch. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., D. McLean, District Commissioner, Ahutiri. Chief Commissioner. The surveys more particularly referred to, are those of the reserves in Tautane and Porangahau, or Eparaima. D. McLean.

No. 41. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Royal Hotel, Sir, - Napier, May 10th, 1858. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th of April last ] directing me to return here as quickly as possible, and report on the state of the negotiations for ] the purchase'of land in this district ; and further directing me to visit Porangahau, as soon as convenient to acquaint you with the manner in which the money was divided there, and report on the state of the negotiations for the purchase of the adjoining block. In pursuance of your instructions) I sailed for Napier per " Wonga Wonga," on the 27th and arrived on the 29th of April. With respect to the negotiations for the purchase of lands, I have to report :— 1. That, owing to the state of the Natives, I do net think it safe to press the Waimarama question at present ; though the Government should be prepared to pay a sum of £1,500 for it whenever it may be advisable to purchase. 2. That the I angoio Natives are anxious to sell a considerable block adjoining the Ahuriri purchase, but I have not as yet entered into particulars with them. 3. That the Taknpnu bloc-; will be better left alone for the present, until matters are on a more satisfactory footing between Te Hapuku and Hori Niania and at Porangahau. 4. That the piece offered by Te Hapuku, at Poukawa, appears to be very small and almost valueless. His only object in offering it seems lo be to get a grogshop and provision store, with one or two other shops, &c, establ shed in his immediate vicinity. I shall report more fully on this matter immediately. 5. That the land known as Karaneroa's reserve can be easily purchased from Te Hira and his party, but at a cost not le-s than that paid to Te Hapuku—£4oo. I shall also repo r n this subject in a few days. C. That I see no chance of getting any part of the land marked on the charts as the " Ahuriri Plains," in the course of this year. 7. I shall address you in a separate letter on the subject of Porangahau. 1 have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, &c, &c, G. S. Cooper, Auckland. Distiict Commissioner.

No. 42. the district commissioner to THE CniEF COMMISSIONER. Royal Hotel, Sir.— Napier, May 13th, 1858. In reference to your letters of the 19th April and sth May, 1858, upon the subject of v Porangahau and Tautane, I have the honor to acquaint you that I have not yet been able to visit " those places. I have, however, the honor to enclose a series of documents drawn up by the Natives, which will show in what manner the money was divided, as also the quarrels that have ensued upon the division. 'The Tnu'ane money has likewise given rise to a great deal of discontent." Altogether from all I can gather from the Natives and Europeans with whom I have conversed, and from whom 1 have received letters upon the subject, I imagine that the South Porangahau, block is likely to be offered to the (iovemnient on more reasonable terms than hitherto, but as this offer will be the result of a " tragi moni," I do not think it will be safe to enteitain it for the piesent. With reference to the question of the surveys, I have the honor to transmit to you the original map of the North Piivngahau block, which was made by Mr. Bousiield at the pa, and should have been attached to the deed taken by you to Auckland, I also transmit tracings of the Tautane and Porangahau pa reserves, which were surveyed by Mr. Bousfield alter we left him in March last. The Eparaima reserve is only partly surveyed, I believe because Mr. Bousfield could not obtain the assistance of the Natives, owing to the division of the money. I have, however, called upo

Reporting state of negoJ^ 0"" for ',urch"e of

Further reference to p.--ran B ,ii, 3U and T.imano reserve?,

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38

Euciosing letter from Te Moananui.

him officially to state the reason, which I shall do myself the honor to explain for your information so soon as I receive his reply. I should think that the boundaries in the deed and on the map would be sufficient to enable the block to be gazetted. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, &c, &c, G. S. Cooper, Auckland. District Commissioner,

No. 43. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, July 29th, 1858. Sir,— I have the honor to enclose a letter addressed to His Excellency the Governor and yourself by Te Moananui. An application was made to me this morning by the writer and Karaitiana for money for their land at the Kaokaoroa, Ngatarawa, aud Ruahine, which have been for a long time under offer to the Government; but which, being claimed by pretty nearly even numbers on boih sides, I have always declined to make any payment for, to either party, unlil both should concur in the sale. Moananui was very peremptory, talked about the Maori King, and threatened that if the payment for his lands was withheld on account of Te Hapuku's opposition to their sale, he would import an army from Waikato, and put an end to the opposition by exterminating the opponent. He also said that he was in possession of a written order from yourself, directing me to pay him for these lands; he was, however, of course.unable to produce the letter. I told him he had better write and see if he could obtain instructions from you. Hence the enclosed letter. I have explained these circumstances, hoping that you will reply to Te Moananui by giving him distinctly to understand that it is impossible for the Government to pay for any lands which are claimed by both parties, until peace has been made, and all the claimants unite in the sale and participate in the division of the money. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, The Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. Naiive Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

Enclosure 1 in No. 43. Napier, 29th July, 1858. Friends, — Salutations to you. We have come here to Napier, and I have asked Mr. Cooper to pay me for my lands ; but Mr. Cooper refuses to give us any payment till all is finally settled; we said, " Sir, do not say so, but pay us for our land." Mr. Cooper said, " write a letter to His Excellency and to Mr. McLean, and if they say I must give you the money I will do so." Now, O Sir, consent to my word, and cease to keep back the payment foi my lands, cease to act with deceit, and all such things as you have seen and you know. Enough. From your loving friend, Moananui. To Mr. McLean, Auckland.

No. 44. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, August 11th, 1858. Sir,— In consequence of the press of business attendant upon the meeting of the General * Assembly, some of your letters are not yet acted upon; but will receive attention after the close of the session. I observe by the Hawke's Bay papers that you are in treaty for some land, between the Waikare and the Ahuriri Block the particulars of which you have net yet reported to me. I am not yet in receipt of any communication from you respecting Mr. Bousfield's survey at Porangahau and am at a loss to know how the delay has been occasioned. If Mr. Bousfield is unable to attend to his duties in connection with this department you will oblige me by so informing me in order that some fresh arrangements may be made for the completion of these surveys. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Donald McLean, District Commissioner, Ahuriri. Chief Commissioner.

Translation of Te Moananui's letter.

in reference to the recent .ommunications.

C—No. 1

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

39

Relative to payment for land to Meanacui.

No. 45. CniEF COMMISSIONER TO DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, August 24th, 1858. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th tilt., enclosing a letter from Te Moananui urging that the payment for lands at Kaokaoroa, Ngatarawa and Ruahine l should be given to him, and to inform you that Te Moananui has been written to in the terms of your recommendation. I have, &c. G. S. Cooper, Esq, J. P., Donald McLean. District Commissioner, Ahuriri. Chief Commissioner. I '

No. 46. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, September 22nd, 1858. Sir,— I have the honor to enclose a tracing of Mr Bousfield's survey of the Native reserve at | Eparaima, which completes the series of maps relating to the Poranghau and Taulaue district, with the exception of the Northern boundary of the Tautane block. The delay in surveying this reserve has anist-n from circumstances purely accidental and unforseen, and over which Mr. Bousfield could not have had any control. In the first place, the dissensions amongst the Natives about money were so bitter as nearly to occasion a fight, and it was impossible to get Natives to go on the survey and point out the boundaries f so after laying off' the reserves at Tautane and Porangahau pa, Mr. Bousfield reported^himself to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and went on with his ordinary work. Aftetwards when I requested him to return to Eparaima, it was the middle of winter, and unusually severe season — flood succeeding flood rapidly, and keeping all communication effectually barred for several weeks; besides, this being the wheat planting season, he could only obtain occasional assistance from the Natives. From these causes arose the delay and not from any fault of Mr. Bousfields. I have not had the Notthern boundary of the Tautane block surveyed, not thinking it worth while to incur the expense of cutting across so very rough a country where no one is likely to purchase. I have, however, given the boundaries to Mr. Michael Fitzgerald, who has promised to fix such of them as come in his way in the course of the trigonometrical survey, With regard to the puiclase of the South Porangahau block, I have the honor to acquaint you, that the claimants are split into a number of small parties, and it is impossible to get them to agree upon any united course of action; each man wants to sell his own piece, and each piece of course overlaps its neighbour, so that the expense in the shape of surveys and loss of time in so very rough a country, of purchasing in this manner, would amount to far more than the land is worth. I fear it will be necessary to allow sufficient time to elap?e for the present very bitter state of feeling resulting from the bickering about the money division to die out bofore any satisfactory arrangements can be arrived at. Paora Tamaiaihotua has offered to sell a piece of the wood at Eparaima, but he wanted £400 for a veiy small piece, not more than a fourth of the reserve; I declined to entertain this offer, but being authorized by you to purchase a piece if possible, I offered him £200 for one half of his reserve, which he declines to accept. The settlers in the neighbourhood are very anxious to have a purchase effected, but as ihey are very few in number, and as there is aheady timber, though less accessible, in the vecinity, I did not feel justified in inenrring the responsibility of giving a high price for a small piece of wood, only required, for the present at least, by two or thiee individuals. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Auckland. District Commissioner.

No. 47. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, September 30th, 1858. Sir,— It is with the greatest satisfaction that I have the honor to report for the information of His i Excellency the Governor, that peace has been made between the main bodies of the two divisions of the Ngatikahungunu tribe. On the 1/thinst., a party, consisting of Te Whiri and Umpire, from Taua Te Popo, Te Paraone Hakihaki, Hukata, and Hoani Waikato, from Te Aute, Kerei Tanguru, from Rita o Taniwba, Morena,

Relative to the Porargahau Reserves,

lUporUoi that peace *»s been ™*ie

COMMISSIONEOS' REPORTS

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40

from Pourerere, and Te Paratene Te Akonga, from Ngawhakatatara, with their relatives and followers, arrived at Tauentiiarangi, where they were met in a most friendly spirit by their late opponents, who had assembled for the purpose ; and after the usual complimentary speeches, an agreement was unanimously made that in future every one should do as lie pleased with his own land, that the system of selling through the Chiefs should be abandoned, and that any one who should hereafter be guilty of selling- anothers property or of misappropriating any payment for land, should be punished with death. This proposal having been unanimously assented to, a present of about thirty stand of arms, with cartouche boxes and a quantity of ammunition, was made to the visitors as an earnest of the sincerity of those who had been conquerors in the late war, and the compliment was returned by a present of horses from the guests. Four days'feasting followed, with tangi for those who had fallen in the late war, and the meeting broke up mutually pleated with the proceedings. I have the honor to enclose a copy of a paper drawn up by the Natives at Tauenuiaranga yesterday, and which they are anxious to see inserted in the " Maori Messenger." They say that the news of the war having spre.d wide, those of peace should have equal publicity. The party who have not joined in this movement are very small, consisting of Te Hapuku, Te Haurangi, Paora Kopakau, Ropata Te Waiariki, te Wakn Rewharewha, Maika Iwikatea, and Hori Mania, with a few of their immediate retainers, several of these are expected to give in their adherence very soon. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Native Land Purchase Department, District Commissioner. Auckland.

Enclosure 1 in No. 47. Tanenuiarangi, September 29th, 1858. Listen, O Governor! The Europeans, the Maoris, all the inhabitants of New Zealand hear what we, this Ngatikahungiinu tribe, have to say ; for you have all heard of the evil from which this place, Heretaunga, has suffered, how we have been fighting and killing people. Now listen ! our quarrel originated in our lands being seized by other's and sold to the Europeans as a means of obtaining money for themselves, whilst the real owners of the soil were left without anything. We applied to the Governors, to the Ministers, to the English Magistrates, and to the Chiefs of some of our own Natives tribes, in the hopes that some arrange.nent might be hit upon for accommodating our quarrel peaceably, but without avail ; the man still persisted in taking our lands then we determined to fight, and we erected a pole, that it might he seen, if we were beaten and our pole fell, then it would be right that our lands should be taken by others ; but if Te Hapuku were beaten or should go to live elsewhere, and our pole remained standing, then our lands should come back to us again. Well, we fought, and Te Hapuku got beaten and withdrew to his own place to live, and all the lands fell to us. In the beginning of March, Te Hapuku removed, and his pa was set fire to and consumed • and from that time we CM led to think of fighting and thought of nothing but the lands, down to this month. On the 17th of this month our relatives arrived to makepeace, Te Hapuku alone staying away with his party, about ten of them. Well, Ngaitewhatuiapiti came here and we got up and made speeches to them, we spoke of preserving mankind, of love, of good, of peace, of faith in God and s.iid, since we were s> few, a remnant should be saved to occupy the land, when we hung up our lands upon the "whata of Te Herunga," upon the sacred place where the food which is put there is safe from attacks by dogs, and we sang this song to our relatives. The meaning of this expression " the whata of Te Herunga," is this, Te Heninga was a sacred man and so was his whata (storehouse, elevated upon poles) sacred also ; if an v food which had been put upon this whata was stolen by a dog, that dog must be killed, so with our lands that have been thus hung up ; if any body steals these lands he shall be kilied whether he belongs to this tribe or to any other tribe of ns : he shall be kifled, for it is a sacred whata, and he had no business to climb up to a sacred place to steal there. The meaning of the expression stealing, is sellino- lands without authority to the Europeans; this is the meaning of the expression " the whata of Te Herunna." When our speeches were ended, Ngatitewhatuiapiti replied ; thev concurred in all that we had said about saving the lives of men, about brotherly love, and a'so about the lands being hunt; up on the sacred '' whata of Te Heiunga." ° When the speeches were ended, we took our guns, our cartouche boxes, powder and caps and gave them to Ngaitewhatuiapiti, who received them as a token of the binding of the peace • 'thev gave us one of their women and some horses, and thus lias peace been firmly established at Heretaunga.

Trans] ihlof.

C-.No. 1

Transition continued.

ReUtiTe l 0 pace be j ug made at Ahuriri.

?,u[ chase of b! Mk °f '"\ d at Aropawanui sanctioned.

Therefore it is, O Governor, O European gentlemen, and Maori Chiefs of New Zealand, that we write this our messenger to you, that you may hear that peace has been made, and that the inhabitants of Heretaunga are living in quiet. As you have heard of our evil, so now learn the good work that we have done as a means of preserving the remnant of this tribe. Signed by Te Moananui, Tareha, Karaitiana Takamoana, Renata Kawepo, Te Meihana, Te Hira, Te Waka Te Kawatini, Wiremu Te Ota, Paora Kaiwhata, Paora Torotoro, Porokoru Mapu. [' On behalf of the whole tribe.

No. 48. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, November 2nd, 1858. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter reporting that the late belligerents at Ahuriri had made peace, and forwarding a letter from the Natives for publication in the " Maori Messenger." His Excellency has been pleased to direct that a notice of the affair should be inserted, but it is not considered to be expedient to publish the whole, as it might lead to the impression that the Government were adopting a one-sided view of the question. I have, &c, Donald McLean, G. S. Cooper, Esq., J.P., Chief Commissioner. District Commissioner, Ahutiri.

No. 49. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, October 14th, 1858. Sir,— Referring to your letter of the 21st ultimo, reporting the offer by the Natives of a block of land containing about 2,000 acres at the mouth of the Aropawanui, and recommended the purchase thereof. I have the honor to inform you that His Excellency has been pleased to approve of the purchase of the said block at the price named by you, viz., one hundred and fifty pounds. I have, &c, Donald McLean, G. S. Cooper, Esq., J.P., Chief Commissioner. District Commissioner, Ahuriri. ,

No. 50. DIRTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Te Aute, Hawke's Bay, May 9th, 1859. Sir,— I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of Hii Excellency the Governor, that a deputation from the Maori King party at Waikato has recently visited this district, amongst whom were W. Tamihana Tarapipipi, Porokoru Titipa, te Poihipi Tukurangi, with several chiefs of minor importance, including Te Rangihiroa, who had joined them on the road. 2. They arrived at the Pa Whakairo on the 13th of April, where they were met by a large assemblage of Natives from all parts of the surrounding districts, from Poverty Bay to the Porangahau ; and, after discussions which occupied a week, returned home, first sending off emissaries in various directions, to the Southward, Manawatu, Rangitikei, &c.

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

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42

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

3. The proceedings were conducted with the utmost decorum throughout; there was no hoisting of flags, nor anything calculated to disturb the harmony of the discussions by allusions to old grievances. 4. The questions discussed were whether any of the Ngatikahungiinu tribe would give allegiance to the King; and, if not, whether they would agree to the system of Runangas. 5. On the first point, the assemblage was divided. Moananui had, twelve months ago, promised allegiance to the King, who, in order to secure his adherence, had sent down an appointment for him as local Vice-Regent (Kawana), with the honorary name or title of Ouenuku. This compliment had, of course, the desired effect; and Moananui, and all over whom he could exercise an influence, declared for the King. A curious and hardly-to-be-expected division hereupon arose. Moananui, with his immediate relatives and followers, withdrew to a little distance from the rest, calling upon those who were in favour of the King to join him, when he was almost immediately followed by the representatives of all the settlements between Waipureku and Porangahau. including Patangata, T« Aute, Te Tamumu, Waipukarau, Pourere, &c. Karaitkna, Renata, and Tareha, who bad up to this time withheld their decision, hereupon stated their determination not to acknowledge the King, but to agree to the Runanga system. They were immediatoly joined by a great part of the Mohaka, Wairoa, Nukutaurua and Turanga people, and part of Ngatihineuru. These had expressed from the first their intention of not joining the King—especially the Wairoa party, who indeed said they never would have come had they not been led to suppose the object of the Waikato visit was to make peace between Fe Hapuku and Ngatikahugunu, and expressed some diss3tisfaation at finding the latter object, to be a very secondary part of the business. Nikora's party from Tarawera, and the Tangoio Natives, with a few others, declined to join eithei party. 6. The main points thus settled, the meeting proceeded to appoint Runangas, and to discuss and arrange various minor differences amongst the Natives themselves—their decisions mostly appearing to meet with general approbation. It was generally (though not unanimously) agreed that no more land should be sold to the Government; but that all sales already made should be respected, and that all bargains on which money had been paid in advance should be completed. 7. The meeting then broke up, and emissaries were sent to travel through the settlements and instruct the Natives in the way of holding Runangas, and transacting business thereat. 8. A deputation from the Waikato party was sent up to Poukawa to try and make peace between Hapuku unci the others; but that chief being absent, nothing could be accomplished. He is known to be opposed to both the King and Runanga movements, and yet the Waikato emissaries have succeeded in obtaining 'he adherence of some of his hitherto staunchest supporters, including Maika Iwikatea and Paora Kopakau. Indeed, in as far as I can see, he is now deserted by all except Te Waka Rewharewha and his own brother Haurangi ; although it may be questioned how long the loyalty of Maika and Paora to their new King will survive Hapuku's return. 9. We thus see the Natives divided into two parties—the Pakeha and the ante-Pakeha, the former representing those who prefer the rule of the Queen of Eng'and, and the alliance and protection of the English nation, albeit they show but small allegiance to the one or affection for the other; the latter relying solely on themselves, looking upon the Maori as a separate race and nation, and with different, and, in their eyes, ior the most part couflicting, interests from tbe Fakeha; the formet consisting hereabouts of a miserably small minority at present, yet having the advantages of unanimity of sentiment and feeling, and a superior model and proiecting nation to look up to; the latter a now overwhelming majority, yet already split into two powerful and nearly equal sections, which may be called the Monarchical and the Republican parlies. 10. The Monarchists cannot survive long as a party, here at least. They profess to derive all their authority directly from the King, and from him alone; thus they are not supported by tbe traditionary feelings, superstitions, and customs of the Maori race; they lack the countenance of the Europeans, and the prestite attaching to the support of the Government; r.or do they receive their authority directly from the hands of the people. The Republicans, although they have the latter advantage— which, indeed, amounts to a pretty close imitation of local salf-government— do not possess either of the former ones; and, although they seem likely to last longer than the Monarchists, there can be little doubt that no long time will elapse, after the first novelty of the situation has worn off, until bosh parties die out from want of vitality, or rather from elements of weakness inherent in both. 11. If this of parties maintains for any time its present aspect, or even one tolerably resembling it, a great change in the political relations of the Natives here may be brought about, not unattended with advantage to ourselves. Te Hapuku is pretty sure to lead the loyal (or Pakeha) party, for he will never conseni to take any other position than head of whatever party he belongs to; he will never acknowledge a Maori King, submit to the decisions of any Maori Runanga whatever, or join any league to oppose the sale of land to the Government: he is too ambitious for one, too haughty and imperious for the other, and too avaricious for the third. A division has occurred amongst bis opponents (whose unanimity was the sole cause of their success in the late war), who have formed two parties, neither of which possess sufficient inherent adhesiveness, or is based on a firm enougli foundation, to last very long, and both of which (especially that already shown to be the weakest) contain many of his own near relatives and quondam staunchest supporters. If, therefore, Te Hapuku, in this situation, manages matters with that astuieness that may be expeected from him, he will gradually draw to himself all those who (from any of the toousand-and-one reasons that are likely to create dissensions anion" them) may from time to time secede from either of the other two parlies; for there now exist, and will continue to arise, so many petty jealousies between the Monarchists and the Republicans lhat neither party is likely to gain many recruits by desertions from the other. 12. Meanwhile, the present state of uffairs may still be productive of good For the Maories, who can rarely and with difficulty be made amenable to law, will now, as a general rule, and so long

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C—No. 1

as the novelty lasts, respect the decisions of their own Runanga, and thus receive a partial training in respect for law and order, and get out of the habit of taking the law into their own hands—a great improvement upon the existing state of affairs in Hawke's Bay. Strenuous efforts are to be made to put a stop to the habits of drunkenness (which have of late years been growing inveterate in this district) by inflicting a fine of £a on any person drinking so much as a glass of any kind of spirits. 13. Thus what appears now to be a darkening cloud, fraught with impending evil, may eventually tend to the strengthening of our position in the country, and to the placing upon an improved and solid basis the mutual relationship between the two races by which it is inhabited. I am, &c., The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, &c > &c, &c. District Commissiouer. I

No. 51. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Te Aute, Hawke's Bay, May 10th, 1859. Sir,— In reference lo your letter of the 14th October last, conveying to me the sanction of His I Excellency the Governor to the purchase a piece of land at Aiopawanui. > I have now the honor to report, that upon the 19th ultimo, I made the purchise in quesiion, paying to the Natives the sum of £150, as agreed upon 2nd. It appears, however, that it had been decided bv the Runanga, (in opposition to the wish of the claimants on the spot,) thai the land should not be sold, and a party was accordingly sent off to bling back the £150, with a view of returning it to me. 3rd. On arriving at Aropawanui their demand was met" by a decided refusal to refund the money, or any part of it, upon tiie grounds that a definite agreement had been made with me some time ago, with the full knowledge and concurrence of all parties concerned, and that they (the sellers,) had not consented to the Runanga, and never would consent to any party other than themselves either selling or withholding from sale), lands which belonged to them. 4th. I have since seen the Natives who composed this deputation, and they state in a very decided manner, their determination not to allow the land to pass to the Queen, i'hey say that if the sellers of the land refuse to give up the £150, they will subscribe it amongst themselves, and take possession of the land —by force of arms if necessary. Admitting the title of the resident Natives, they set up a claim to right of chieftainship to the land ; they pretend that they were not aware of the negotiations for the purchase although Moananui was present at the time, and they have since had frequent personal communication with the sellers. They admit that had the purchase been concluded at first, no objection would have been made to it. A young man named Wiremu Maiaia, living with Tareha, is the only direct claimant among the patty ; he states that at first they agreed to the sale, but that his subsequent assent to the Runanga cancels that agreement. sth. The aspect of the Natives was so determined, and they spoke so decidedly of enforcing their intentions by an appeal to arms, that I felt it prudent to temporise. I therefore told them that although I considered the purchase to have been fairly made, and the land to belong to the Queen, still as there was so near a prospect of a visit from His Excellency and yourself, it was better to leave the final decision of the question to await your arrival. To this they agreed, and I wrote to the same effect to the Aropawanui Natives, telling them not to divide the money in the interval. 6th. I was induced to adopt this course from feeling myself to be in a delicate position. By adhering to the sale, I should run the «isk of bringing on a collision between the Natives, whilst if I consented to receive back the money, I might—being ignorant of the attitude which it is the intention of His Excellency to assume in the aspect of affairs—ebmarrass the action of the Government in reference to the general question of the King movement and others depending thereupdn. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Auckland. District Commissioner.

No. 52. CnIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE COLONIAL TREASURER. Napier, May 25th, 1859. Sir.— I have"the honor to inform you that the Lower Manawatu Block, situated on the North : side of that River and estimated to contain about 35,000 acres, was purchased on the 14th instant' for a sum'of £-2,500. A portion of the block containing about 600 acres remains still in the hands of thejjNniives until (hey accept payment tor it. It is prol able that this piece of land may cost a little abore the acreage »f the remainder, as fiom its position on the river bank it is of particular value. The survey of

Has paid the Native £i«) for Aropawanui.

Probabieamount required for laßrl purchases.

G—No. 1

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

44

another block in the Upper Manawatu District is estimated to contain 170,000 acres is within a few days of being completed, and I am in hopes that on my return from this place to Manawatu the Natives will receive the payment for it. There is very little open land in this block, but the soil is rich and it contains some valuable timber. lam unable to state what amount the Natives will accept for it, but I hope it will not exceed the authorized sum of £7000 An instalment of £5 has been paid on account of a block of land containing about 30,000 acres offered for sale by the Ngaruru Natives at Waitotara. I found it necessary to make this advance with some degree of promptitude and before survey, as great exertions were being made by the Ngatiruanui Natives to resist the sale and have the land handed over to Potatau. I obtained from the Provincial Government the assistance of Mr. Porter their Surveyor, to survey the external boundaries. Mr. Henry Halse was to remain with him until the work was fairly in operation; and as it appeared that Mr. Halse's services would shortly be again required at Taranaki, I employed Mr. Samuel Deighton at a salary of 10s. a day to act as Interpreter and assist Mr. Porter while the work lasts. It is probable that the Natives may offer an extensive tract of country between Manawatu and Otaki on a distinct understanding, as a condition of purchase, that ample reservation of land is to be made for them, to be in several instances secured to individuals by separate grants from ihe^Crown. This purchase, if undertaken, will involve considerable surveying expenses, as the Natives would wish to have the lands so to be granted distinctly marked off before making a tiansfer of the rest. For the expenses attending such surveys I should wish to be furnished with a special authority. I may state with reference to this land that it was at onetime understood between the Natives, and the late Governor Sir G. Grey that this block shnuld be reserved expressly for Native purposes, as their increasing stock seemed to point out the necessity for such provision being made tor future requirements. The Natives, however, are now willing, as a means of putting an end to differences among themselves, to dispose of the whole or greater part of their District, provided that the reservations be made are guaranteed to them by the Government in perpetuity. From the rich quality of the soil and its proximity to Wellington, it is probable that a large sum will be required to effect the purchase. Ido not think the Natives would be likely to dispose of it for a less sum than £10,000. I should wish to be provided with the necessary funds to effect the purchase, and the others above referred to, should the terms meet with the approval of the Government. I am unable to state as yet what may be the requirement of Hawke's Bay, (District) not having had much communication with the Natives. Mr. Cooper is not sanguine as to any purchase being made at present. It may, however, be advisable to be provided with authority to draw for a sum of not less than £'7000 should a necessity arise for expending such a sum. The blocks upon which this amount would be expended are the Ngatarawa, Kaokaoroa. Okawa, and North Ruataniwha, or upon su.h other lands as the Government have authorized the purchase of. I should state that I am without any survey assistance, should such be required at Hawke's Bay, but 1 suppose the Provincial Government would aid in this matter. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Donald McLean, Auckland. Chief Commissioner.

No. 53. ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office. Auckland, June 3rd, 1859. Sir,— With reference to your letter of the 25th ult., addressed to the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, 1 have the honor to inform you, that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the payment reported by you as made on account of the Waitotara Block, and also of the employ - n.ent of Mr. S. Deighton during the time that his service may be required. The other matters adverted to in your letter have been made the subject of a memorandum by His Excellency's responsible ministers, a copy of which willbe sent to you for your direction and guidance. I have, &c., D. McLean, Esq., Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, T. H. Smith, Napier. Assistant Native Secretary.

No. 54. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARI. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, June 3rd, 1859. Sir,— In further reference to your letter of the 25th ult, addressed to the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, —I have the honor to inform you that the Sub-Treasurers at Napier and Wellington res-

Acknowledging receipt of No.

" d NaSn wfrTom"

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CIRCULAR.

To connect Crown lands,

pectively, have been granted credit the former of the amount of £10,000 the latter £7,000, to be advanced to you, on your requisition, for Land Purchase and Departmental Expenses in those Provinces. I have, &c, D. McLean. Chief Commissioner, Tuos. H. Smith, Nap.'er. Assistant Native Secretary.

No. 55. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO DEPUTY COMMISSIONER. Land Commissioner's Office. Auckland, sth June, 1859. Sir,— I have the honor, by direction of Ills Fxceller.cy the Governor, to request that you will use your utmost endeavours to connect and consolidate Crown Lands and not commence negotiations for the purchase of land unless adjacent to, and connected with Crown Lands, without special reference to myself, through this office. I have &&, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Donald McLean, Ahuriii. Chief Commissioner.

No. 56. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY. Napier, June 29th, 1859. Sir,— I have the honor to request that you will lay before His Excellency's Government the following statement connected with land purchasing operations in this Province. 1. With regard to lands already acquired, I find on reference to published returns and purchases already made, 1,404,700 acres have been purchased, that 500,000 acres may be considered waste and useless, and that from 200,000 to 300,000 acres may be required for the present and future wants of the Natives. Assuming the area of the Province to be about 2,700,000 .';cres, the extent of land now available for puichase cannot exceed from 500,0C0 to 600,000 acres, of which extent about 200,000 acres are now under negotiation. 2. In order to complete these purchases, or such portion of them as the Natives may now he disposed to conclude, I find that it will be necessary to obtain a further sum of £10,000, in addition to the £7too with which I have been already furnished. 3. I have to state, that on the 27th instant a sum of £3,7C0, was paid to Te Moananui and his tribe for a block of 95,000 acres in the North Ruataniwha District, which block comprises some of the finest land in the Province, including some valuable timber much required by the European settlers. 4. Te f'apuku has seme claims over portions of the block above referred to, in addition to about 20,000 acres belonging to that Chief and his tribe that should be purchased, in order to extinguish the Native title in th; t locality. It will be impossible to proclaim those lands until the title of the last named party has been extinguished. I therefore defer communicating further particulars in regard to this purchase until I am able to report its completion, 5. I hope to receive an eaily reply to this letter, as the calls upon me on the West Coast are urgent, and it is important that my detention here, should be shortened as far as possible, I have, &c, T. H. Smith, Esq , Donald McLea.n. Assistant Native Secretary, Auckland.

Return of all Lands purchased from the Natives in the Province of Hawke's Bay. Acres. Purchased prior to the Ist July, 1856, or under negotiation at that date, as per statement No. 1 1,168,700 Purchased since the Ist July, 1856, as per statement No. 2 236,000 Total area 1.404,700 Donald McLean.

Report on land purchas- "^ k °? e"tio p S in lhe

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46

Acknowledging receipt, £in,ooo.

No. 57. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY. / Port Napier, July 19th, 1859. Sib,— I have duly received your letter of the 13th instant, covering copy of a letter to His Honor the Superintendent at Hawke's Bay, and advising me that the Sub-Treasurer at this place has been instructed to advance on my requisition a sum of ten thousand pounds (£10,000) for land purchases in this Province. I have, &c, T. H. Smith, Esq , Donald McLean, Assistant Native Secretary, Chief Commissioner. Auckland.

No. 58. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY. Land Purchase Department, Napier, September 3rd, 1859. Sir,— In reference to my former letters upon the subject of the negotiations upon which I have been occupied, during my stay in the Province, I have now to request that you will inform his Excellency the Governor, that I have brought these purchases so far to a close, as to enable me to proceed to Wellington. His Excellency is already aware that, owing to recent disturbances among the Natives, and to their growing desire to make over their lands to the Waikato Confederacy, for the purpose of securing them from alienation to the Government, there appeared at first but little probability of acquiring any considerable extent of land from them at present, and my exertions have been unremittingly directed to the object of surmounting, as far as possible, these obstacles. After protracted discussions, I succeeded to some extent in removing these difficulties, and found that there was one large block of land estimated to contain about one hundred and twenty thousand acres (and which was claimed by both parties in the late struggle), which could be acquired, but only by following the practice of dealing separately with each party. I was aware that this mode of purchasing would increase the cost of obtaining the land, but, looking to the great desirability of making a move in any direction, which would have the effect of counteracting the political movements among the Natives, I felt it my duty to proceed with the purchase, especially as experience has already shown us, at Taranaki and elsewhere, that, when once a Confederacy gains, a hold Upon the minds of the Natives, it takes years to remove the obstacle, and I felt that a mere question of money should not be allowed to stand in the way of so important an object, and I accordingly commenced by extinguishing the claims of Moananui and his party to a portion of the Block, containing about ninety-five thousand acres, for which I paid them a sum of three thousand seven hundred pounds, as reported in my letter of the 29th June last. They excepted from the Block of one hundred and twenty thousaid acres, about twenty-five thousand acres, to which the claims of Te Hapuku and his people were undisputed, as also certain pieces contained within their boundary to which they admitted Te Hapuku's claim. The land thus excluded comprised some of the most valuable parts of the district, including some fine wooded and agricultural land, some of it in the actual occupation of settlers, and for which they were paying a heavy annual rental to the Natives. In dealing with Te Hapuku and his Tribe, it was found necessary, in order to obtain an undisputed title to the whole Block, to pay them for a larger extent of land than that to which their right was admitted by Te Moananui's party, who contended that the claims of the former were, in a great measure, forfeited by their defeat during recent hostilities, a doctrine to which Te Hapuku would not consent, as he did not regard the defeat as in any way calculated to prejudice his previously acknowledged claims. In addition to the difficulties arising from the differences between Hapuku and Moananui, as leaders of two large sections of these Tribes, I found that a considerable number of Hapuku's own people were disaffected towards him, and I had the additional trouble of dealing with them separately, instead of through him as their Chief. All these circumstances combined to render this purchase one involving much greater difficulty, delay, and expanse, than I had at first anticipated ; I found that to extinguish the claims of this party in a satisfactory manner, would cost a sum of five thousand nine hundred and ten pounds. The total cost of this Block will then amount to about Is. Bd. per acre, a sum not excessive when ihe value of the land, its desirability as a site for small farm settlements, its proximity to Napier, its being surrounded by lands already purchased, and the political objects gained, are taken into consideration. The reserves in this Block will amount to eleven hundred and fifty acivs for Moananui's party, and from six hundred to seven hundred acres for Hapuku's party, to be principally secured on individual Chief's by Crown grants, instead of being held by them as reserves in common. When these reserves are surveyed, tins Block may he proclaimed without further delay, and it is expected that it will realise a very handsome return to the Government,

General Report.

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Having completed the arrangements with Te Hapuku and his party, I induced that Chief to accompany me to Napier, in the hopes that by effecting a reconciliation between him and Moananui the difficulties and expense attending this purchase might be avoided in future negotiations, by their joining as formerly in the sale of such lands as were held by them in common. In this hope I was, however, disappointed, as although Te Moananui and his people would gladly have received Te Hapuku at their own villages, a point of etiquette prevents the latter from visiting them, though he was quite willing to have met them on European ground. I have further to state that I have made several payments on acconnt of lands in other directions at Porangahau, at the entrance to the seventy mile bush, between the Ahuriri and Mohaka Blocks, and to tbe noithward and westward of the " Ahuriri Block." Tbe extent of these various purchases may be estimated at one hundred and sixty-eight thousand acies, upon which instalments of various sums, amounting in all to about three thousand two hundred pounds, have been paid, the balance in each case depending upon the result of su'vey. The value of the piincpal portion of these lands is not great as compared with the purchase above referred to, but nearly all of them have been already applied for as sheep runs, and will as soon as ] urchoscd be occupied by flockowners. A portion of these laners reach into the Auckland Province, in the direction of the Taupo plains, proceeding, however, in each instance from the boundaries aheady acquired, and thereby consolidating the Crown territoiy. The road now in course of construction between Auckland and Napier opens up a large portion of this country. Had the season of the year peimittcd, I should have much pjefcrred tl at the survey of external boundaries should, in each case, have preceded the payment of any monies on account, but, situated as I was, I felt that it was better to secure the lands, while they might be had by small payments on acccunt, than by allowing the Natives to return disappointed in their expectations of receiving money ; to run the risk of their retaining them fcran indefinite period. I am unable at present to enter more into detail on the latter class of purchases, but I have left instructions with Mr. Cooper to have the surveys completed, and upon receipt of that Officer's report on each case, I shall be able to supply further information to His Excellency's Government. Feeling the great necesssity that exists for these surveys being ci mpleted at once, as also for the Officer charged with the duty being plr.ccd for the time being at the disposal of this Department, I have applied to the Superintendent for ihe service of Mr. Michael Fitzgerald to be exclusively employed under the direction of Lis Excillency's Government until all the Native surveys are completed. I enclose herewith a letter referring more particularly to this employment, as also a copy of a letter to His Honor upon the subject, with his icply theieto. In conclusion I may be permitted to remark^for his Excellency's infoimation, that my present visit to this Province has been on the whole most opportune, as it has resulted in counteracting the various influences that have been enlisted, not only against the sale of land, but indirectly aganst the extension of European interests generally, and has terded in a great degree to impart fresh confidence to those Natives most attached to the English, v.hile it has discouraged many who weie vacillating fre m joining a league, the avowed object of which is to prevent the sale of land, and otherwise to organize a power antagonistic to the Government. * # # * * I have, &c, The Assistant Native Secretary, Donald McLean, Auckland. Chief Commissioner.

No. 59. CROVTN LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONER TO THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY. Napier, September 6th, 1859. Sir,— In addition to the purchase of 120,C00 acics, cf which I informed you in my letter of Ist i instant, a sn all piece of land estimaied to contain about 5000 acres, consisting of a wood c.illed the ! Kereru and a plain adjacent theieto, has been acquired by me foi the Government. This piece of land is of an irregular triangular shape, and lies between the Aorangi, Otaranga, and North Ruataniwha blocks. Being claimed by numerous persons on both sides, this block was especial'y ex opted from the sale by Moananui's paity, and I purchased it fiom Te Hapuku for a sum of £600, extinguishing afterwards tbe claim of the branch of Moananui's pary who had a joint interest in it, for a further payment of £100. Under these circumstances, I thought that the price at which I have acquired this land, though high, was not excessive, especially as the soil and limber are of the best quality, and the land is expected to realize high prices on account chiefly of the valuable timber it contains, and for which settlers were beginning to make airangements for purchasing trees to supply the necessary timber for fencing and buildings, at £1 and £2 each, sometimes having to pay much more than that sum to satisfy all the claimants, I have to request that you will submit this purchase for the approval of His Excellency the Governor. I have, &c,, T. H. Smith, Esq., Donalo McLean, Assistant Native Secretary, Land Purchase Commissioner. Auckland,

Reporting purchase of small wooded block,

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COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

Report on his negotiations has been laid be' foie ihe Governor.

CIRCUbAK. land purchasing operatons.

No. 60. ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY TO THE CHIEF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONER. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, November 26th, 1559. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 3rd September last, reporting on the negotiations entered into by you for the purchase of land from the Natives in the Hawke's Bay Province, and to inform you that the same has been duly laid before His Excellency the Governor. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Esq., Thomas H. Smith, Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, Assistant Native Secretary. Napier.

No. 61. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, 6th January, 1860. Sir — I have the honor by direction of His Excellency the Governor, to request that you will have the goodness at your earliest convenience to furnish for the information of the Government, a report showing the state of land purchasing operations in your district, the extent of territory over which the Native title has been extinguished, the blocks surveyed, the cost of survey of each, the land under negotiation or offered for sale, indicating also, the situation, quality, and estimated area of each block. I have also to request that you will, as soon as possible after the end of each quarter, prepare and transmit to this office, a tabular re'urn in the form of those laid before the House of Representatives during its last Session, and published in the blue blooks for 1858, of all lands purchased and under negotiation in your district; the totals of area, sums paid, and payable to be brought forward from each preceding return. I am directed to request that you will, withfthe least possible delay, furnish returns as above up to the end of the December quarter 1859. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Thomas H. Smith, District Commissioner, For the Chief Commissioner. Hawke's Bay.

No. 62. CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, February 7th, 1860. Sir,— I have the h.nor, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, to request that you will have the goodness to report at your earliest convenience to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, what sum is likely to be required for the land purchases in the Province of Hawke's Bay, between the present time and the 30th April next, I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., J.P., Thomas 11. Smith, District Commissioner, For the Chief Commissioner. Napier.

No. 63. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, March sth, 186'\ Sir — In obedience to your instructions, contained in your letter of the 6th January last, I have the honor to enclose a tracing of a map, showing the position of the Blocks which have been purchased in the Province of Hawke's Bay, distinguishing those which have been recently acquired by Mr. Commissioner McLean and those which are still under negotiation, showing also the position of the Native Reserves. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Native Land Purchase Department, District Commissioner. Auckland.

land purchases in the Province ftom daie to 30th ArrH, 1860.

• acin showin position gofr"huriri°puN chases.

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No. 63. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, Bth March, 1860. Sir, — I have the honor herewith to enclose the tubular returns called for by your circular letter of the 6th of January last made up to the termination of the year 1859. 1 have found it necessary to divide the returns into two periods to accord with the date of the separation of this Province from Wellington and in making out the latter retnrn shewing purchases effected since the Ist November, 1858, I have extracted the area of purchased lands and cost of their purchases from the former returns, so that the return ending on 31st December, JBc9, contains a complete epitome of purchases in this Province. The block which may be considered as now under negotiation are, the Rangatawhao, Kaweka, Takapau, Pukahu, two blocks in the Tomiti Bush, the middle Porangahau, Arapaoanui Moengisngi and Waikari Blocks. Of these the survey of the Rangatawhao Block is just completed ; the Kaweka I do not think worth the expense of a survey, the suivey of the Takapau and middle Porangahau Blocks has been interrupted by Native disputes, and although I cannot say that the disputes in regard to the Pukahu antl two blocks in the 70 mile bush are so violent as to render an attempt to survey them dangerous, still the Natives are not sufficiently agieed amongst themselves to | erform the work. The survey of the Aropaoanui, Moeangiangi and Waikari blocks are now proceeding. I regret to say that I have no data from which to furnish the information called for. as the cost of survey of each block. The other information required by your circular is embodied in the accompanying returns. T shall for the future do myself the honor of supplying you with quarterly returns in the form of^the enclosed in obedience to your instructions. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner. [For returns referred to see Blue Books.~\

No. 65. FROM THIS DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, March Bth, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that I have recently returned from a visit to the Western part of the Ahuriri Block, and the country surrounding the Kaweka Range. With reference to the land including and surrounding the Kaweka on which advances to the amount of £130 were made by Mr. McLean during his recent visit to Napier, I have the honor to state that I found the country so inaccessible and worthless, the chances of its leading to anything better so problematical, and the demands of the Natives so exorbitant, that I have refused to proceed any further in that negociation, thinking it better to leave the £130 already paid as a sort of lever to be hereafter used when opportunity offers of making it available in some other direction. Indeed I did not feel myself justified in going to any further expense about the land, as 1 felt assured that it could not pay the cost of survey. I left Mr. Locke to survey the bounclaiies of the Rangatawhao Block. His report and plan will form the subject of another letter. I endeavoured to have the 500 acre reserve at Pukititiri, marked off as agreed upon at the first purchase; but finding that the Natives wanted to get not only nearly the whole bush, but the best part of Mr. Dyson's run and all his improvements into the bargain, I declined to proceed in the matter, and left the Natives half-way under the impression that they would get no land at all there. It is my duty to report for his Excellency's information, that the language held by many of the Natives with reference to the Inland parts of the Ahuriri Block is very unsatisfactory: they state that at the time the block was purchased advantage was taken of their ignorance to obtain the land for a fraction of its value, that a bargain made in such a way ought not to be held binding, and they express their determination to resume possession of the inland parts of the block, to the extent probably of nearly one hundred thousand acres, to exact rents from the settlers in occupation, or to drive their sheep across the line which they thought fit to mark off as the Queen's boundary and destroy the homesteads. I must state at the same time that the influential Chiefs of the party, who sold this land, do not join in the above language, but treat or affect to treat the whole affair with contempt. In these days of King and Runanga, however, the authority of the hereditary Chiefs goes for very little when opposed to the wishes of the majority of the tribe, and I know that these Natives look to receive support from the Rnnanga party in the neighbourhood of Taupo; I have treated all these threats with derision and contempt: and I think that the firmness of my language and demeanour has acted to some extent as a check upon them.

„. , . The land surrounding Kaweka Range is not worth Co6t of surveyThe Natives uneaten to resume possession of a P°"io" °f the Ahuiri

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No. 41. Transmitting extractfrom letter of Superintendent sf Hawke's Bay.

Should I hear any more upon this subject, I shall lose no time in reporting it for the information of the Government. In the meantime I should wish to be favoured with his Excellency's instructions as to the course I should pursue if the Natives again advert to the subject, and particularly as to what his Excellency would wish to be done in the event of their proceeding to any overt act. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper.

No. 66. THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY TO MR. COMMISSIONER COOPER. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, March 10th, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to transmit herewith an extract from a letter addressed to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary by His Honor tho Supsrintendent of Hawke's Bay, relating to an alleged disposition on the part of the Natives, to repudiate sales of land made by them to the Government and to request that you will report for the information of His Excellency the Governor whether the statement referred tu is correct and particularly with respect to the two cases c ted by His Honor. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., J.P., T. H. Smith, District Commissioner, Napier. Assistant Native Secretary,

Enclosure in No. 66. EXTRACT FROM SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTER. Napier, March 3rd, 1860. Sir, — * * * Time will not allow ma at present to cite numerous ci'es that could ba adduced of the growing disposition of the Natives to refuse]to obey the laws, as well as to repudiate many of the sales of land made by them and ratified formerly in the fullest possible way ; but th y are so well known here that the select Committee had no difficulty in at once stating that officially which was previously known to every perso'i in the Province. I have no doubt, however, that ths two last case3 that have arisen, in one of which the Natives drove off some land at Ruitaniwha that had been regularly purchased from them, and another where they now wish to repudiate ths sale of a large p jrtion of the Ahuriri Block purchased sonm seven years ago from them, because, they say, " they did not then leceive sufficient payment for it," will be duly reported by the Resident Commissioner for the purchase of Native Lands. * * • I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Sectetary, T. H. FitzGerald, Auckland. Superintendent.

No. 67. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Napier, 12th March, 1860. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 21, of the 7th February, directing me, on reference to my letter of the 9th May, 1859, to report further on the state of the Natives in this district; particularly as to the action of tho Runangas, and as to whether it hag in any degree rendered the Natives more orderly. Ever since the visit of tho Waikato deputation, referred to iu my former letter, the Runangas have been in constant and active operation, and I am bouud to say, not without a good deal of beneficial result. As Petty Courts thoy aro really useful ; for although the fines and punishments they inflict are generally excessive, and, according to our ideas, quite disproportioned to the offences committed, they are always rigidly enforced ; and tho result has been that drunkennesss, which had lately been increasing to a fearful extent amongst the Natives, has now almost disappeared ; and acts of violence, such as seizing horses, &e., amongst themselves, rarely now occur. The action of the Runangas will, however, I am sorry to say, effectually put a stop to sales of land to the Government in those parts of the district to which their influence extends. Ou this point they will listen to no argument, hear no reason. But the evil is not altogether unmixed • for they have, also, removed the chance of further bloodshed, by preventing lands from beim* sold by claimants with doubtful titles; or, what was still more dangerous, by rightful and acknowledged claimants, agaiust the wishes of a majority of those interested. On the whole, the condition of the Natives is certainly improving, though I am inclined to trace the improvement less to causes existing amongst themselves, than to the rapid increase of the European population. Their demeanour in mixed assemblies, such as on a race-course, is subdued

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and respectable, the drunken rows so frequent a few months ago are never seen now ; they are purchasing numbers of bullocks and drays, as well as horses and carts; they are taking lucrative contracts upon the roads, ■chiefly for quarrying and laying down metal at per chain; and are, upon the whole, becoming gradually more civilized, and their material wealth is increasing in proportion. Still, I cannot bring myself to look upon the Natives here as being in an altogether satisfactory state. In distant parts of the Province their demeanour is not much improved, as is testified by their recent doings at Porangahau, and their stoppage of the surveyors at Ruataniwha. The language, also, which is held by some of them about the Ahuriri block, though I can scarcely think it will lead to trouble, is still far from what it should be. Besides this, obstructions have been offered to the Provincial Authorities in carrying on the roads, of a very vexatious description ; and upon the whole it must be obvious to an attentive observer, that whatever improvement there may be in their demeanour towards ourselves is to be seen either where we congregate in force, as on a race-course, or in the immediate vicinity of the garrison at Napier. That the Maori is beginning to see, and will soon come to acknowledge, the superior strength of the white man, is evident. But it is equally evident that he is at present only held in check by the moral effect inspired by the presence of a body of troops. The European population of this Province is steadily and rapidly increasing, and the Maoris know that we already equal, if we do not outnumber, them; but their habit of acting in concert, and the ease with which they can move and provision a large force, gives them a present advantage which they are not slow to perceive. I cannot, therefore, think that our relations with the Natives in this Province will assume a really satisfactory aspect until the white population is still further considerably increased, and the people trained to the use of arms, and to acting in concert in bodies; and lam convinced that, in the meantime, the only way by which the Natives can be kept in their proper position, and the affairs of the Province be carried on on a satisfactory footing, will be by maintaining a number of troops, not less than the present garrison, at Napier. I trust that His Excellency will not think that I have travelled beyond my proper course in adverting to this subject ; but I am so strongly convinced of the truth of what I have advanced, that I should feel that I had neglected a positive duty did I not bring it prominently under the notice of the Government. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper. &c, &c, Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

No. 68. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. March 18th, 1860. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, No. 41, of the lOthinstant, enclosing for my report an extiact from a letter addressed to the Colonial Secretary by the Superintendent of, this Province relating to an alleged disposition on the part of the Natives to repudiate sales of land i made by them to the Government. The statements made by His Honor are quite correct, and the circumstances are fully reported in my letters of the 4th and 6th instant. I hope in the courpe of a few days to be able to lay before His Excellency some further information which lam in expectation of receiving in relation to this subject. I am unable to extract any reliable intelligence respecting the deliberations of the Runangas from the Natives who take part in them, and am therefore obliged to obtain it second; hand from men whom I can trust, and who, not being connected with the Runangas themselves, can only get what I want by worming it out of the others. It may thus be some days before lamin a position to communicate the results of deliberations which are at this moment going on, but which, were I to exhibit the smallest curiosity or haste about them, I should never know am thing of. I can only say at present that I believe the question in the North Ruataniwha block will be easily settled on the return of the Natives concerned, but I have serious apprehension as to the result of the Ahuriri block affair. A meeting is being held at Pitea, from which the Chiefs in this Province have been excluded, and I have reason to think that the resuming possession of parts of the Ahuriri block is to be one of the subjects of discussion. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, &c, &c, G. S. Cooper. Auckland.

No. 69. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, March 28th, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that your letter of the Bth instant, reporting that Te Hapuku r had expressed great indignation at the Maori King flag having been hoisted at his pa during his ab- r

Reporting » manifested sa]eg ]md on "^ of the Natives.

Relative to hoisting K^*'« *«* »l T« H«-

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art^'isiand! ' ° "'

Recommending the post SatMtti i^Northßuataniwha.

sence in Wellington, and recommending the application of that Chief for a flag to be presented by the Government, has been referred to Taranaki for His Excellency's consideration. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, T. H. Smith, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Native Secretary. Napier. ' '

No. 68. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, May 14th, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, to request that you will hold " yourself in readiness to proceed to Stewart's Island, to communicate personally with the Natives resident thereon, and to report generally as to the capabilities of the Island, and ou the disposition of the Natives, with a view to the purchase of the Native territory there. I have also to request that you will be good enough to report, by the first mail, the earliest date at which you will be prepared to start for the South. I have, &c., G. S. Cooper, Esq., J. P., Donald McLean, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Commissioner. Napier.

No. 71. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Te Aute, March 18th, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, directing - me, in the absence of Mr. McLean, to furnish the necessary information with reference to the allot- * ments of 11 sections of 100 acres each amongst certain Natives, these sections having been promised to be granted to them by the Crown as part of tbe arrangements for the purchase of the north Ruataniwha block. In reply, I have the honor to state that the allotment has not yet been made, and that, if His Excellency see no objection, it would, in my opinion, be advisable to defer any further action in the matter until the state of the Native mind in this Province becomes a little more settled, and our relations with them assume a more satisfactory aspect than at present. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, &c, &c, &c, District Commissioner. Auckland.

No. 72. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay, June 11th, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 36, of the 14th ultimo, directing me to hold myself in readiness to proceed to Stewart's Island, for the purpose indicated in your letter, and to report to you by the first mail the earliest date at which I should be prepared to start for the South. In reply, I have the honor to state, that I should be ready to start by the return of the July mail steamer, i. e., about the 31st of that month, or Ist of August. I trust, however, that I may be pardoned for drawing His Excellency's attention to the circumstance, that by that time the season will have so far advanced as to render it altogether imprudent to undertake an exploratory expedition in such high latitudes ; and if the object of the Government can be equally well attained after another month's delay, it would greatly contribute to the comfort in travelling of the expedition. I presume that, before I am called upon to start, I shall be furnished with full instructions for my guidance, and with authority to defray the expenses I may find necessary to incur in travelling and otherwise. J, have, &c., The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper &c'> &c, i Deputy Commissioner. Auckland.

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No. S3, April 25, 186[. 25, •• 30, " Circular, May 3, « No. 26, " 1, <■ 35, '• 14, " 36, •■ 14, " Circular, " 15, " << c. 20, "

No. 73. ME. COMMISSIONER COOPER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay, June 11th, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on this day, of your letters of the numbers and dates specified in the margin. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper. Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

No. 74. FROM THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay, June 20th, 1861. Sir,— In reply to your letter of the 20th of May (received by me on the 11th instant) calling upon me for a special report, showing the real state of the Native land question in this Province, I have the honor to communicate to you the following information, as exhibiting to the best of my ability and belief, the state of matters at present existing in Hawke's Bay. Your letter called for information on the following heads:— 1. General state of the land question. 2. Difficulties or claims existing with reference to old or completed purchases. 3. Outstanding payments. 4. Disputes as to boundaries. I.— General state of the Land Question. It may be said in a few words that at present there is no Native " Land Question" in this Province; that is to say, that within the last two years the Naiives have put a stop to land selling to the Government. This step on their part, arose from the dissatisfaction produced by the sale of lands by some of the Chiefs, who, instead of dividing the money fairly amongst their tribesmen, and joint claimants to the land, as was the case in former years, got into dissipated habits and squandered the money in debauchery at Auckland and Wellington, and in the purchase of useless, and extravagant articles. Finding the sale of land so ready a means of obtaining large supplies of money, the next step was an easy one, viz., that from selling lands they had a right, or were authorised to dispose of, to selling those, belonging to other people, with which they had no business to meddle. The heart burnings and dissatisfaction, arising from this cause at length broke out in war, about which time the Maori King movement began to gain ground in Waikato, from which district a deputation under W. Thompson came down with the ostensible purpose of making peace, but really to gain adherents to their party. The Natives here, smarting under wrongs arising from land selling, gladly joined a movement which promised at once, and for ever to stop any further sales—though, but few of them gave their allegiance to the King as such, and from that time it may be said, that no land has been offered by the Natives in this Province, for the few blocks which, as will be seen by the returns, have been bought in the time, were always looked upon as " whenua riro," or lands which they had for a long time determined should be sold. II. — Difficulties or Claims existing. 1. with regard to old or completed purchases, and 2. with regard to incomplete purchases, and to open negotiations for purchase. I. lam only aware of five cases of claims being made on completed purchases. The first is with regard to the land being reclaimed at Napier. Tareha one day said to me that he had only sold the land as far as high-water mark, and that all, that is being now reclaimed, is his property, as having been under the sea when he sold the Ahuriri Block. He did not say much on the subject at the time, and has not reverted to it since, so that I am in hopes my arguments have convinced Hm. I think it, however, right to inform His Excellency's Government of what he said to me, that they may be prepared in case he should urge his claim further. Various claims have been made on account of the North Ruataniwha Block, some of which were understood to exist while you were in the Province, and others have come to light since. I have managed to dispose of most of these by small payments, as the return will show, the inland families having been dealt with separately, it was just to pay any of these who could show a good tide. But the Ngatiteupokoiri at Ahuriri having joined in the first large payment, when their relatives came over from Manawatu and made stormy speeches about resuming the land in default of receiving sums equal to those paid to the other claimants, I deemed it my duty to resist such attempts; and by my calling to my aid the Chiefs at Ahuriri, who had taken the first payment, and been willing participators in the sale; I

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managed to silence their clamours, for the time, at all events. lam bound to say, though, that Ido not yet feel secure from annoyance at the hand of these people, especially as regards the Kereru bush, on which question Renata and the others at Ahuriri, not having been the first to sell, hold aloof, and will I fear give me no assistance in shutting the mouihs of their relatives. Karaitiana Takamoana has raised a question about one of the boundaries of the Mata Block. The swamp which supplies the water for the Waha Parata mill, having its outlet dammed by Karaitiana, has flooded some of Mr. Chambers' land. The latter, having threatened to drain his portion of the swamp (which would cut off the water from the mill), brought matters to an issue and involved a reference to me, upon which it appeared that Mr. Chambers had bought ab)ut 30J acres of the swamp. On referring to the deed I find it is ambiguous as to the boundary on this side, for it says on arriving at Karaitutohuma " while noa ki te Aliikoura," now the swamp lies between the two places named, in such a way that a straight line from Karaituwhenua to Aliikoura would cut through the middle of the swamp, where the boundary of Mr. Chambers' purchase is; and I have a distinct recollection of Moananui having pointed out the boundary to me in that way, before the sale of the block in 1855. Karaitiana however says that he always intended the boundary to be the edge of the swamp, and that Moananui had no business to point out any other, and the deed being not very explicit on the point, he is trying to shift the boundary to the edge of the swamp, so that Mr. Chambers cannot interfere with his mill. I proposed to him to give up 300 acres in another part, which would have satisfied Mr. Chambers, but Karaitiana refused to do this, insisting on his reading of the deed. Ido not think this affair will give rise to any very serious difficulty. Karaitiana has another claim which he made three years ago, and has kept alive ever since, to a payment on account of Tautane. The Natives on the spot repudiate his claim, and call upon him to meet them: this, however, he will not do. He told me the other day that he had a sum of £200 ready to pay to the Government for an advance made to him by you, but that, as both you and I had refused to pay him anything for Tautane, he should keep this money on that account. Of course I could no more than protest, and tell him that his liability to the Government would not be released in that manner. The Puketitiri reserve (in the Ahuriri block) still remains unsettled. The Natives will not accept the 500 acres named in the deed, nor will three times that quantity satisfy them. I have asked the Provincial Government to withhold from sale all lands within the questionable limits until something is settled. If they would sell their right to this bush (which is valuable) it would be the simplest way of getting rid of the difficulty. 11. As to difficulties or claims with reference to incomplete purchases, and to open negotiations for purchases. The cases under this head are more numerous than the last, and consist almost entirely of those in which certain of the claimants have disposed of their rights to blocks of land, after which other owners have refused to share the money, or allow the lands to pass. The blocks at present standing in abeyance in this Province for the above reason are the middle Porangahau and Takapau blocks, purchased by you, and the Waikare block, and two small sales by Urupine and Ropata, in the 70-mile Bush, purchased by me. I believe that the obstacles to the completing the purchase of the blocks arise from objections by bona fide owners of the soil, who have a right to a say in the disposal of it, and who were not consulted by the sellers; until, therefore, these men give their assent, it will be out of the question to move any further in reference to these blocks. Besides these cases, I purchased a small piece of the Haowhenua reserve, on the Waipawa (which you may remember being offered, and your promising to buy when last here) for £20. The Runanga interfered, and seized this money; but I never could find that any real owners of the land were amongst the opponents to its sale. The Taranaki war broke out at that time, and I did not consider it prudent to press this matter further just then. The Kaweka block is still unsettled, but not so much on account of difficulties as to title, as of the preposterous demands made by the selling party. The land is of the worst possible description; it opens up no country, and would be quite useless for sheep-runs, or indeed for occupation in any way. I, therefore, declined to complete the purchase, or even to incur the expense of surveying the block. The remaining subjects on which 1 have been instructed to report, t. e. — 3rd. Outstanding payments, &c, 4th. Disputes as to boundaries, are disposed of the foregoing paregraphs. General Observations. With reference to the general bearings of the question, it cannot be denied that the mind of the Natives is at present thoroughly unsettled on the land question, they are deeply imbued with the idea that the Government wish to obtain forcible possession of their lands. This idea has been growing in their minds for a length of time, strengthened by newspaper articles, and by what they hear sometimes in serious conversation, oftener in angry or drunken taunts from many Europeans. Unfortunately, too, they, right or wrong, consider the Government to have been in the wrong on the subject of the title to the Waitara land; and now they hear rumours of an intention to attack Waikato ; all these things, are, in their opinion, incontrovertible proof of Her Majesty's intention to seize the land and enslave the Maoris. I believe, therefore, that (at least in this part of the Island,) it would be advisable, until confidence is restored, to suspend all operations of the Native Land Purchase Department, and when

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the time arrives for resuming purchases, it would tend to strengthen confidence, and to check raudulent offers; if the Commissioners were authorized to incur the expense of printing and circulating a handbill or circular, giving all particulars of every offer of land made to them, this would be the surest means of bringing forward dormant or absent claimants, and all titles set up to the land could be enquired into by the Commissioner assisted by a few Chiefs, on a day to be named in the circular. This, or a similar plan, would render impossible a repetition of the charge of operating clandestinely, now brought against the officers of this department. For further intelligence as to the state of feeling of the Natives in this Province, I would refer to my letters of the 16th of November, 1860; the 9th and 11th of March, 1861; and the 30th of May, 1861. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Auckland. District Commissioner.

No. 75. FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. Land Purchase Department, Auckland, 22nd July, 1861. Sin,— In acknowledging the receipt of your report, dated the 20th ultimo, as to the state of land purchasing operations in the Hawke's Bay Province, I have the honor to inform you that the Governor has been pleased to direct that no more land shonld be purchased in the Napier district without His Excellency's special sanction, but at the same time you will be good enough to use every endeavour to effect a satisfactory settlement of outstanding claims. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Donald McLean, District Commissioner, Land Commissioner. Ahuriri.

APPENDIX. THE FOLLOWING REPORT WAS OMITTED IN THE WHANGAREI PArERS. Land Commissioners' Office, Auckland, March 20th, 1857. Sir,— I have the honor to report for your Excellency's information, some particulars connected with my late visit to the Whangarei and Kaipara districts. The district of Whangarei, situated between Auckland and the Bay of Islands, contiguous also to the valleys of the Kaipara, the Wairoa and the Hokianga, lies in a most desirable position for a settlement. The main estuary forms a safe harbor, navigable for vessels of a large tonnage, for a distance of fifteen or sixteen miles. The country on each side presents a fine site, a broken and a hilly aspect; the curiously formed Manaia rocks rising boldly in irregular columns from the water at the Northern side of the entrance, giving a wild and romantic character to the scenery, which is very much heightened by the contrast with the tame and monotonous appearance of the low sandy country around the town site of Marsden, at the South-eastern entrance of the harbor. Numerous small rivers and creeks, navigable for canoes and boats, empty themselves into the main estuary; on the banks of these streams are some Native villages, and on the Crown lands, a few well selected farmsteads are springing up. The soil is chiefly of a rich volcanic description, intersected with belts of timber, alternating with flats of open country ; here and there are occaisonal patches of poor white clay soil, which have been dug over for kauri gum; such however is the influence of a genial climate upon even the poorest of New Zealand soil, that, with skilful culture, it can be rendered wonderfully productive. The extent of land already acquired from the Natives in this district, may be estimated at two hundred and sixty eight thousand (268,000) acres. Lands for which negociations are now pending, Fifty eight thousand two hundred and ten (58,210) acres. In addition to the districts in the immediate vicinity of the harbor of Whangarei, the Government is now treating for the purchase from the Natives of extensive tracts upon the Kaipara and Wairoa rivers; from which places some valuable cargoes of kauri spars have been exported for the British navy. These districts, intersected with fine navigable rivers, which swarm, for thirty miles upwards from their mouths, with mullet and other fish, and capable of maintaining a large and flourishing population, and still carry magnificent forests of kauri timber, easy of access, which have never yet been touched with the axe, aud which might be worked with great advantage, both to the European colonists, and also to the Native proprietors, who from long experience are very expert in dragging out the spars and preparing them for export.

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The settlers of Whangarei are of a highly respectable class; and already thriving, though it is only within the last few years that they have established themselves there. At Waipu, about twelve miles from the South head of Whangarei, a body of emigrants from Cape Breton, North America, have formed a settlement, and, in the short space of twelve or fifteen months, have converted the primitive wastes and forests into comfortable homes and farmsteads; without any other aid than that of the axe and hoe, they have cleared and brought under cultivation much more than sufficient land to raise crops for their own subsistence; and, from their hardihood and previous skill in contending with the heavy forest, and capricious climate of North America, there is every reason to expect that in a country like New Zealand, which they regard as comparative paradise, they will eontribute greatly to the material advancement of this Province. Thousands of their countrymen would follow these first pioneers from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and other parts of British North America, if inducements are held out to them to do so. These inducements need not be of any extravagant character; all that they ask is that we should give them land in localities suited to their requirements; allowing them the usual privilege to which other immigrants are entitled, by way of remission in land for their passage money; and a credit for the five or seven years such additional quantity as it may be advisable to assign to thein under a preemptive right of purchase. By these means, the Government would insure a steady flow of immigration to the Province, of well trained, hardy, and experienced bushmen and sailors, whose loyalty and devotion to British authority, joined with their clanish spirit and unanimity of action, would be found most important el; ments in the formation, and early settlement, of a new country situated like New Zealand. Such colonists moreover, derive a peculiar yalue from the manner in which they transplant themselves to these shores, bringing along with them their religious and educational establishments, already in operation ; no chance collection of men, but an active and organized community, possessing many of the characteristics of the early pioneers of colonization in North America. Nor ought this opportunity to be overlooked by either the General or Provincial Governments, lest the stream should be diverted to other colonies, the Cape of Good Hope for instance, which is fully sensible of its value, while a liberal administration of the waste lands, valueless and unproductive without capital and labor, might secure for New Zealand a population which would so materially contribute towards the wealth, the stability, and progress, not only of any one province in particular, but also of the Colony at large. A glance at the map of the Northern Peninsula of New Zealand, will shew vour Excellency the peculiar advantages which it presents for English colonization. In addition to the main harbours of the Eastern Coast, Auckland, Whangarei, the Bay of Islands, and Whangaroa, likely to be so important in case of the establishment of the Panama line of steamers, are numerous well sheltered coves and smaller anchorages, while the Kaipara, and Hokianga, on the Western side, if more dangerous, from the bars across their mouths, and the stormy character of the coast upon which they open, yet lead up into navigable streams, which must form a hardy and skilful race of seamen, invaluable to our insular position in the Southern hemisphere. Means should now be adopted to resuscitate and promote upon a permanent basis the colonization of this portion of the Northern Island, so materially valuable, and historically so interesting, as the seat of the earliest European settlement of New Zealand. To effect this, it will be necessary to adopt liberal and comprehensive measures, contemporaneously with the extinction of the Native title to the extensive districts of waste land that as yet remain unpurchased in this peninsula. The first step which I would recommend, would be the resumption by the Crown, of all the lands which have been already alienated by the Natives to different individuals, and which have been subsequently exchanged by those individuals for Government scrip. There should be no delay in taking possession of these lands, while some of the other Natives who sold them are yet alive, and cau point out to a surveyor their locality and limits. From what I have observed among the Northern tribes, they are most anxious that this should be done; and they are almost all of them particularly honorable in pointing out the exact boundaries of what they have sold. Two intelligent surveyors and parties acting in concert with the Land Purchase Commissioners, could in twelve months determine with sufficient accuracy, the extent of those lands, which should be declared open for sale and selection, whenever the boundaries are defined. The next step, and one which is now in successful progress, is to acquire larger tracts of land by purchase from the Natives ; out of which blocks, ranging in extent from one hundred to two thousand acres, should be reconveyed under Croevn Grant to the principal Chiefs, upon the extinction of the tribal title ; such blocks consisting not only of cultivable, but also of forest land, in order to secure to them a continued revenue, proportionable to their rank. In order to do away with present, or future dissatisfaction, on the part of the Native sellers at the price they received for their lands, as compared with the value it acquires when in the hands of Government—unable, as yet, to comprehend the reasons that influence comparative values—it would be most desirable to expend a certain definite proportion (and that no inconsiderable one,) of the moneys realized by the waste land sales on roads and other improvements, exclusively within those districts from which they have accrued, and from time to time to publish the balance sheets of such expenditure in the " Maori Messenger " No correct return of Native population of this Northern peninsula has yet been taken ; this should be done without delay, and the territorial limits of the four leading tribes, the Aupouri. the Rarawa, the Ngapuhi, and the Ngatiwhatua, should be ascertained, and, as nearly as possible, defined. Estimating the present population at eight thousand souls, it would not be difficult to ascertain the names of the principal Chiefs whose co-operation would be essential for carrying out the views of Government, and who should, in return for their exertions (when efficiently rendered,) to preserve the peace of their respective districts, be rewarded with marks of approbation, aud fixed annuities for their services.

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These Chiefs should be designated Assessors, and have commissions issued to them defining as nearly as possible, the nature of their duties; they should also be invitpd to take part with the settlers in framing bye-laws for adjusting cases of trespass, disputes, and other local cases; they should also te invested with powers of jurisdiction analogous to those possessed by the English Courts of Petty Sessions. It is quite evident that the English law cannot be strictly carried out without the agency of the Natives ; it is therefore obvious that they should be invited to take part in the administration of justice, in order that executive authority, instead of diplomatic bargaining, may attend the decisions of the District Magistrates, who are at present placed in a most anomalous position, when attempting to enforce against the Maoris that law to which all British subjects are amenable, and, if this result can be more certainly effected by calling in the aid of the Chiefs, it appears as most reasonable, just and expedient means of effecting so highly desirable an object. I am quite aware that time, patience, find perseverance, mutual forbearance, and reciprocity of good offices, are required to reconcile the Natives to our forms of Government, but I am, nevertheless, fully confident ihat if they are once made to feel that the aim and object of the Government is to promote impartially, the permanent advancement of both races of Her Majesty's subjects, irrespective of any temporary expedient for gaining some particular object, they will soon adapt themselves with zeal and loyalty to such changes as their natural acuteness of observation may prove to them as in reality conducive to such a consummation. If your Excellency, and your Excellency's Government, concur in the general views which I have cursorily sketched out in this communication, I will afford further find more explicit information on the detailed means of carrying them into practice, as I should rejoice to see our relations with the Native population, in at least one portion of this Province, placed on so firm a footing as to preclude all probability of future rupture between the races. Nor, from the high standing and commanding influence of tiibes inhabiting it, could I suggest a district, where this could be done with greater prospect of success, than that to which I have been referring. The Natives of all other portions of the Colony would look on with imitative zeal and interest, while the Government would have the satisfaction of having laid a firm foundation upon which a more extended fabric of settlement and civilisation throughout the Islands might be gradually erected. I have &c, Donald McLean, To His Excellency the Governor. Native Secretary.

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<M>! El I. he pure, kase an* payment Oj whic, ave been made and completed. Names of blocks. Sum paid. Date. Former payment. Date. Total payment. Surrej'ed. Explanations and Remarks. £ 20 £ 60 18 Jan., 1856 £ 80 Arama te Kura 15 Jan., 1862 Surveyed This is a small block of land containiug 505 acres, advantageously situated on Western bank of the Ruamahanga river, above the Waihinga ford, is intersected by main road down the valley, and of fine alluvial soil. The completion of this purchase has been for some years in obeyauce from conflicting claims now successfully and amicably arranged. Makara 320 17 Jan., 1862 60 20 16 Jan., 1856 13 Jan., 1860 400 Not Estimated to contain 8,000 to 10,000 acres ; is situated between Awhea aud Barton's run blocks on the Eastward, and Puhangina and Tuhiatrata blocks on the Westward, there being a long narrow strip disconnecting them ; on this account it was considered desirable to complete the purchase ; a portion of the Eastward boundary requires surveying. Arama Karaka's Pahaua 175 27 Jan., 1862 100 17 Jan., 1856 275 Surveyed Estimated to contaiu 3,900 acres; is situated at the confluence of the W rniuuioru river with the Pahaua ; both this and the Makara have been acquired from leading members of the King movement iu Wairarapa, and the fact of these blocks having been purchased from that party has very much weakened opposition to the sale of laud in the district, and induced those Nativas who have taken no part in that movement to disregard the former professions of that party against land selling.

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continued Date. Former payment. Total payment. Names of blocks. Sam paid. Date. Surveyed. Explanations and Remarks. £ 150 £ 150 £ 300 Te Taheke 21 Jan., 1862 27 June, 1859 Not Estimated to contain about 3,000 acres ; is situated on the Kuamahanga at its confluence with the lake ; is valuable for pastoral purposes. Its purchase has settled many disputed claims among its owners, for three of whom reserves of 100 acres each have been made. Tauherenikau and Taratahi 200 3 Feb., 1862 200 200 400 600 650 200 29 Nov., 1854 30 Nov., 1854 27 Dec, 1854 28 Dec. 1854 21 Jan., 1855 24Mch., 1858 2,450 Surveyed This is the final payment on this block as agreed upon by Deed of Sale; its non-payment previously arose from a claim made by the Natives to purchase a certain portion of the land, virtually allowed them by the then Crown Lands Commissioner, but claimed by Mr. Borlase by right of pre-emption from Native lease as a homestead. Te Whiti 12 Feb., 1862 20 13 Aug., 1860 Te Whiti. — A small block of land, containing 740 acres, adjoining McKenzie's homestead; valuable to Europeans from its fine Totara timber. This purchase was effected from its being (from the previous purchase) rendered comparatively valueless to its Native owners, and its giving rise to constant disputes among them. 80 100 Not Whawhanui Eeserve 27 Feb., 1862 SO 80 Not Whawhanui. — A portion of land up the Whawhanui river reserved by Karauria at the sale of Barton's run block, containing about 1,000 acres; being situated inland it has never been occupied by the Natives, and being surrounded by freehold land held by Europeans may be considered a very desirable purchase. The Native Karauria, who sold this block, claims rent for it from Mr. Barton from 1853 to the date of sale.

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aymeiii Is on account o, tvc per ccn> '#. Name. Amount. Date. Grounds of Payment. Remarks. 1862 iVereta Kawekairangi £10 30th January 5 per cents due on Pahaua Block Vide Extract from Deed of Sale attached. ?iripi Patoromu £4 27th January 5 per cents Vide Extract from Deed of Sale attached. Hanihera Rangitakaiwaho £15 3rd February 5 per cents Vide Extract from Deed of Sale attached. JiTgatuere Tawhao £20 4th February 5 per cents Vide Extract from Deed of Sale attached. iViremu Naera £1 4th February 5 per cents Vido Extract from Deed of Sale attached. iVerita Kavrekariangi £10 6th March o per cents due on Pahaua Block Vide Extract from Deed of Sale attached.

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INGTON PROVINCE.— (continued Payments on account of Land. Names. Amount. Date. Grounds of payment. Explanation and Remarks. 1862 Tuhitarata, payment toMitai Poueke £30 18 th January Tuhitarata Block This sum may be considered more in the light of a present than a payment, and is made in consideration of the recipient Mitai Poneke, an old and influential Chief not receiving any portion of the last instalment, made in 1858. Wainuioru Block, —payment on £40 30th January Wainuioru Block This is a further payment on a large block of land, the completion of the purchase of which, now only awaits survey. Anaru TakokairangS, —payment to £10 12th Feb. Papawhakarau Block This ia a small payment, which it was considered politic to make on some land at the head of the valley, to meet claims made by some Natives who were not at present at the sale. Te Manihern, —advance to £20 10s. 26th Feb. Paymont on land This payment was made on account of land adjoining the Kahutara Block and now awaiting survey. , Te Tipua, —advance on £20 26th Feb. Payment on land This payment was made on account of land on the Buamahanga River, offered for sale by Te Matenga, and now awaiting survey. Arama Karaka, —advance to £7 27th Feb. Payment on land This is a payment on account of their claims on Werita Pahaua's Block.

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>N PROVINCE.— (cont tinuti Paymentt to Natives. Nunct. Amount. Date. Ground of Payment. Explanation and Remarks. 1862 Ngaori Takatakaputea £100 30th Jan. This sum was withheld from Ngairo, in consequence of an attempt by him to sell lands which had been already purchased; his subsequent good conduct in connection with all sales of land conducted by him induced me to pay him this amount. Te Matenga £20 10th Feb. Repayment of Money paid for laud This money has been repaid to Te Matenga, the land on i which itVas paid being a Native Reserve. Retimana Tekoroa £20 30th Jan. Assistance in settling disputes This sum was paid to an influential old Chief at the head of the Valley, who has done good service in resisting encroachments on European boundaries, and in pointing out those boundaries when required Hoera Whakataha £10 30th Jan. Assistance in adjusting disputes Same remark as last. Wiremu Mahupuku £6 12th Feb. Labor and assistance in settling disputes Very valuable assistance was afforded by this Native in the settlement of various claims, and by his endeavours to adjust the differences existing on Werita's Pahaua's Block.

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?0N PROVINCE.— ( 'continued. Claims and Disputes. Names. Explanation and Remarks. Karauria's claim on Clapham's laud. Tupapokia Block. Tamaihi Koia's dispute with McMasters. Tuhitarata Block. Borlase's right of pre-emption. Te Mauihera's right of purchase. Buck and Kemble's. Pukengake Boundary. Waiorongomai Reserves. Waitangi Reserve. Taratahi and Hikawera Block. Pirika's claims. This is a claim brought forward by Karauria on a portion of Tupapokia block. At the sale of this land he was in the immediate neighbourhood, if not actually present, and made no claim at that time, either on the land or the money. This may be regarded as an unsubstantiated claim. He has been offered £5 to forego it, but declined; £10 will probably settle the matter. This is a dispute between the owners of the Reserve at Tuhitarata and McMasters. A small drain was cut by the latter last winter near their Reserve, thereby diverting the course of the creek; in consequence of which, some portion of the Natives' land, and some houses were carried away. A bad feeling had arisen, which was allayed by McMasters consenting to give up an equal quantity of land in exchange. This is a disputed right of purchase to a certain piece of land held by Mr. Borlase up to the time of sale under a Maori lease, under which he claims a right of pre-emption to purchase. And a right to purchase claimed by Te Manihera, and allowed by the then Crown Lauds Commissioner, immediately after the land was sold to the Crown in 1854. The area of available land in dispute does not exceed a square mile, of which Manihera claims, by virtue of the promise made to him, 495 acres. Mr. Borlase offers to make an equitable division of the land, provided he is allowed 20 acres of his improvements. This is not acceded to by Te Manihera, who insists on his prior claim, with the exception of the said 20 acres. There is no dispute. The boundary between the Crown and Native lands has been already explained, and surveyed, by a surveyor sent for that purpose. This is a question as to whether the Crown Lands Commissioner had a right to sell this land. A copy of the Deed of Sale has been forwarded to him. No Native difficulty exists as to the disposal of the land. In this case the Natives agreed to have a Reserve, not exceeding 100 acres, as per following extract from Deed of Sale: —" One portion only within these boundaries, a piece between the Para and Waitangi Creeks, for the purpose of having houses for the convenience of our eel-fishing. This piece of laud is not to exceed 100 acres. This is the only piece of land reserved for us. No other piece of land is withheld by us within the boundaries—none whatever; none whatever." Te Manihera fully admits that the Reserve should only be as above stated. Pirika and others claim all the land between the Waitangi and Para Creeks, and state that although they signed the Deed of Sale that the impression on their minds at the time was that they should retain all the land between those Creeks, estimated to comprise from 1200 to 1500 acres. An offer has been made to pay them £50, and give 500 instead of 100 acres for their eel fishing. They expect £100, which, under the circumstances, is considered excessive. [Note. —There may very easily have been a misapprehension in the minds of the Natives as to the quantity intended to be reserved. I see, therefore, no great objection in principle to adjusting this case as they propose: i. e. —£100 cash, and 500 acres. —W. Fox, 12th March, 1862.] The Natives are entitled by the Deed to a Reserve at Pirinoa, which, by an oversight, was not marked out by the surveyors at the same time as the other Reserves. It is now laid out in accordance with the arrangement as originally made with the Natives at the time of sale. A portion of tho land in dispute having been purchased from tho Natives for Rawiri Piharau by the late Native Minister, F. A. Weld, Esq., it is not in my power to alter the arrangements, or in any way to interfere in tho matter. Pirinoa Reserve. IT. R. Kane. G. Meredith. W rharekaka. Rawiri's Grant. Donald MjLean. 10th March, 1862.

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General.

£21100. £3000. £soo. £50.

Extract from Translation of Native Deed of Sale of Land in the District of Wairarapa, dated Ist September, 1853. It is further agreed to by the Queen of England on her part to pay us at certain periods, within certain years to be decided on by the Governor of New Zealand and ourselves, that is, that we are to have a certain additional consideration for the land we have sold, to be paid to us for the forming of schools to teach our children, for the construction of flour mills for us, for the construction of hospitals aud for medical attendance for us, and also for certain annuities to be paid to us for certain of our Chiefs; but it is hereby agreed that we and certain officers who shall be appointed by the Queen or the Governor of New Zealand shall carefully discuss in Committee to which and at what times and in what proportions the saitl money shall be applied to each of the purposes above specified. The payments to be made annually to our Chiefs are to be decided upon by the Governor of New Zealand only—or by an officer appointed by him, who shall have the power of deeiding as to which of the Chiefs shall receive the said annual payments. These- payments for all the above purposes are to be as follows:—that is when the surveys are complete and the land is resold which wo have transferred to the Queen of England or to the King's or Qeeen's who may succeed her, a certain portion of the money to be received by the Queen or Government of New Zealand as payment for the said land is to be deducted for the purposes which have been above specified; the amount of the money to be returned to us is 5 per cent, or equal to Five Pounds out of every Hundred Pounds after deducting the surveys and other expenses connected with laying off the said lands.

NELSON PROVINCE. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 7th April, 1856. Sir,— I have the satisfaction to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that the negociations entered into previous to Sir George Grey's departure in 1853 ; with the Ngatitoa tribe for the cession of their unextinguished claims over the Nelson and Canterbury Provinces, have at last been brought to a favourable termination. 2. In order that His Excellency may be enabled more easily to form a general view of_,the whole of the transaction, I may here advert briefly to some of the earlier circumstances connected with the purchase. 3. After repeated meetings and discussions with the Ngatitoa and Ngatitama tribes, who at first intended only to cede a portion of their less valuable land on the West Coast; a Deed of Sale was executed by them at Wellington, on the 10th of August, 1853, by which they agreed, subject to certain reservations, to relinquish in favour of the Crown for a sum of Five thousand pounds, the whole of their claims upon the Middle Island. 4. These reservations consisted of the cultivations and lands required for the subsistence of the Natives resident in the district; it being always distinctly understood that Rangitoto, or D Urville's Island, was excepted from the sale. 5. A first portion of the purchase money, amounting to Two thousand pounds, was paid at the time of the execution of the Deed ; the balance of Three thousand pounds, remained to be discharged in six annual instalments of Five hundred pounds each. 0. In addition to the cash consideration payable to the Natives, which from the smallness of the sum they evinced some rehictance to accept, it was further agreed by Sir George Grey that fifteen of the principal Chiefs should have Scrips awarded to them, representing Fifty pounds each, which should be available in the purchase of Crown Lands in any part of New Zealand. 7. Tiventy-six of the Native claimants were also to have Two hundred acres each out of the land thus ceded by them ; in such places as the Governor might set apart for this purpose, and at such lime^ as the land might be required for their use. 8. The Natives have not yet evinced any desire to select this land, which they regard more a3 a provision for their future wants, than as needed for immediate occupation. They have, however, applied some of the Scrips before alluded to, in the purchase of land in the Wellington and Nelson Provinces. 9. The above statement embraces the whole of the more important arrangements concluded with the Natives, previous to Sir George Grey's departure ; it being then fully contemplated, both by His Excellency, and by myself, that the further details of this purchase would have been brouo-ht to a much earlier termination; but circumstances which could be neither foreseen nor obviated, have hitherto interfered to prevent this. 10. The conflicting claims of ('ifferent tribes (residing on both shores of Cook's Straits) to the unpurchased lands in the Nelson Province, occasioned considerable difficulty. For instance, the N"atitoa tribe of Porirua (with whom the first treaty was concluded) had unquestionably, as the earliest invaders, a prior right to the disposal of the district' This they never had relinquished; although, after the conquest, their leading Chiefs partitioned out the subordinate branches of their own tribe, as well as to the Ngatiawa, a few of whom took part with them in the conquest ; the lands which these now occupy in the Nelson Province.

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11. The latter parties did not assume to themselves a power of sale, except over the lands they actually occupied ; yet some of them, when not confronted by the leading Ngatitoa Chiefs, professed to have independent and exclusive rights, which the majority, and even the parties making such assertions (when closely examined) always acknowledged that the general right of alienation vested in the Ngatitoa Chiefs of the Northern Island. In fact, their relative rights through intermarriage, the declining influence of t!,e Chiefs, and other causes, had become so entangled, that without the concurrence both of these occupants, and of the remnants of the conquered Rangitane and Ng,>itahu tiibes, r.o valid title could have been secured. 12. To arrange, therefoie, with the various claimants as opportunity might offer, was the next duty to be attended to. Accordingly, a Section of the Ngaliawa who had taken part in the invasion but had returned to their possessions at Waikante, and Taranaki, and other places in the North Island, (intending to migrate from one liland to the other, as their inclinations led them,) were paid a sum of Nine hundred pounds for the extinction of their title, on the dates, and in the pro- j portions specified in the margin. i 13. In November of the year 1854, Mr. Brunner, the Government Surveyor, and Mr. Jenkins, s the Interpreter, at Nelson, were despatched to mark off the boundaries of such Reserves as would , be requiied for the resident Natives. These officers did their utmost to perform this service; but i owing to the jealousy on the part of some of the Natives to the Ngatitoa sale, they were unable ' (except in a few instances) to effect any permanent adjustment of the Reserves and boundaries. 11. In December of the same year a lar^e concourse of Natives, fr< m different parts of the Nelson Province, were ; ssembled on one of their periodical visits, at l'oiirua, to hold a "tangi,'' or lamentation, over some of their relatives recently deceased. At this meeting there were present so many influential representatives of the various tribes, that it afforded a favourable opportunity for discujsin:r the merits of their respective claims. 15. These meetings resulted in an unanimous desire on the part of the assembled tribes, to have the second instalment then due, paid to them at Porirua, iiibtead of at Nelson, as originally intended ; and, in order that the whole of them might participate in it, (which they could not do if one instalment only of Five hundred Dounds were paid), they requested that four i years' instalments should be handed over to them at once (£200), urging, as a r* ason that some of their Chiefs had recently died of the measle epidemic; while two of them who had taken a prominent part in the conquest, though still alive, were in a precarious state of health ; and that it was their unanimous desire that this payment should take place in their presence. 16. To this deviation from the original terms, I had some difficulty in assenting, however politic it might otherwise have been, in consequence of the undt rstanding that the second payment gh< uld be made at Nelson, but the Nat yes from that Province were themselves the most urgent in requesting me to forego this intention. My reasons for acceding finally to their desire have been fully reported in my letter to you of the 15th December, 1854, and one of the same date addressed to Major Richmond. l"J. I should here add, that the two old Chiefs who participated in this payment, and who have since Loth died, expressly charged their surviving relatives to use their utmost influence in assisting the Government to settle this question ; and this duty, as a parting request of these Chiefs, they have most assiduously and faithfully performed. 18. The instalments now paid together with One hundied pounds(£loo), toone of the Ngatiawa Chiefs at Gore Harbour, completed the sum of Five thousand pounds, stipulated for in the original i Ngatitoa Deed of Sale. As there remained, however, unsettled claims of various resident Tiibes ; I applied for, and obtained a further advance of Two thousand pounds, to complete the purchase, i. 19. Owing to repeated and most unexpected interruptions, arising from my being obliged to go to Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay ; thence by the East Coast to Auckland ; and twice, (owing to disturbances there), to Taranaki; disappointed, moreover, in not being able to get the Natives of the North Island, from illness, attention to their crops, or other causes to accompany me ; I was unable to pay that attention to the claims of the residents in the Nelson Province, which it was my earnest desire to have done, with a view to the speedier settlement of a most important question, which had been already so long pending ; and which the Natives, though their patience must have been greatly exhausted by these delays, declined to settle with any other officer except the one who commenced the r.egociations. 20. On the 3llh October, 1855, I was instructed by His Excellency Colonel Gore Browne, to accompany him from Taranaki to Nelson ; where an opportunity was afforded from the number of Natives assembled there, to effect an arrangement with the Ngatirarua and Ngatitama for their claims, for a sum of Six hundied pounds, the receipt of which is acknowledged in the Deed _£ executed by them ou thelCvh aud 13th of November, 1855. 21. This Deed provides that the land exhibited on the plan thereto attached, shall be reserved for the Natives ; it is, together with what they elsewhere possess, of sufficient extent for their present and future requirements, even if they have a considerable increase of cattle and horses; it is situated within natural boundaries requiring no outlay for surveys ; and lies on a part of the >Vest Coast as-yet remote from European settlers, but which the Natives were particularly anxious to retain. A Government right of read, should it in future be required, is provided for, by a clause to that effect inserted in the Deed. 22. In proceeding by the " Zingari," from Nelson to Wellington, with Hia Excellency the Governor, on the 13th November 1855, a survey party and Interpreter were taken on board, and landed on the way in Queen Charlotte's Sound, with instructions to lay off the necessaty reserves in that part of the Nelson Province. This duty they were enabled to perform without much opposition on the part of the Maorie3 ; and by the 15th of January in this year, the reserves were marked off.

NELSON PROVINCE CONTINUED,

£900. Match 2nd, 1854, for Wairau and Arapoipoa, £200. Match 10th, 1854, title of Taranhki Natives, £500. November 24th, 1854, for Te Awaiti, £2(iO.

£5001

£5000, £2000.

£cuo.

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COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

m;i,.-<>\- province cuntinlid,

i'UO.

£xo.

JEICO. f ICO.

23. On the 24th of this month, I crossed the Straits from Wellington to Cloudy Bay, in a small vessel, taking al, ng with me the Ngatitoa Chiefs Rawiri Puaha. Hohepa Tamaihenga, and others, and was followed by Matene Te Whiwhi, and Tumihana Te Rauparah.i, in courte or a few days. 24. The left bank of the Wairau River being the Southern boundary of the purchase, I held a meeting with the Natives of that place, in number about one hundred and twenty (120). They fully assented to the sale, baring participated —except a small party of the Rangitane —In the first and second payments made at Porirua. 25. To the Rangitane one hundred pounds was now paid in full satisfaction of all their claims. 26. The Reserves laid off at the Wairau consist of seven hundred and seventy (770) acre 3 <.n the left bank of that river, a small bay named White's Bay, an I about two hundred (200) acres adjacent thereto; and two sections, of fifty ;:cies each, to the Chiefs Wiremu Nera Te Kanae, and Te Tana Pukekowhatu. The latter section has been marked out ; but the former, in consequence of the absence of Te.Kanae, though its general position was defined, had not been survejed. For these two s>ec.ions I beg to recommend that individual Crown Grants should be issued to the above-named Chiefs. 27- From the Wairau, I sailed for Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte's Sound, a portion of the country inhabited chiefly by the Ngatiawa. The people had assembled at Waikawa to meet me, where, after several debates, which lasted for some days, I was enabled to effect a final settlement of their claims, for a sum of Five hundred pounds, the receipt of which is acknowledged in the Deed signed by them on the (9th) ninth February, 1856. 28. The unsettled state of the Ngatiawa tiibe, and the disposition manifested by them to return to tlieir former possessions at Taranaki (where their presence could only increase the troubles that already beset the land question in that Province) rendered the present negociation with them one of no small difficulty and delicacy, which might, if in any way mismanaged, affect the general tranquility of the country. I was induced, therefore, to ai>ree to reserves of considerable extent being assigned to them in the various bays they were then inhabiting, wi.h which tliey appeared to be fully satisfied. A plan, exhibiting these reserves, is heiewith furnished for His Excellency's information. 29. To this part of the country, from its past associations, the Natives attach great importance, as the scene cf many hard-fought battles, and of final conquest; the great resort, moreover, in former years, of whale ships from different parts of the world, with whom they carried on a lucrative trade ; they could also, at all seasons of the year, resort to its well-sheltered bays and haibours for supplies of fish. 30. As expressive of the national interest felt by them for the place, one of the principal chiefs, Roi.oama Te One, the last of several who had spoken, in a most emphatic harangue, in which he alluded to these various circumstances, stiuck into the ground at my feet a green-stone adz.?, saying, in their usual metaphor, "Now tlu.t we have for ever launched this laid into the sea, we hereby make over to you, as a lasting evidence of its surrender, this adze, named Paewhenua, which we h;.ve always highly priztd, from having regained it in battle after it was used by our enemies to kill two of our most celebrated chiefs, Te Pehi and Pokaitara. Money vanishes and disappears, but this green stone will endure as a durable witness of our act, as the land itself which we have now, under the shining sun of this day, transferred to you for ever." I allude to this incident that it may, if necessary, be referred to hereafter, as an evidence of the importance attached by this tribe to the treaty now concluded, and a striking circumstance likely to be long remembered by them. 31. From Queen Charlotte's Sound I crossed by the Anakiwa Pass to Kaituna and Pelorus Valleys. At the Kaituna the txtent of reserve which I deemed necessary for the Ngatikuia tribe residing there, was three hundred (300) acres. Out of ihis extent I had to recommend that an individual Crown Grant be issued to the chief Hura Kopapa. The position of the reserve lias been pointed out in the presence of the Natives interested, but I had not then time to have it surveyed. 32. In addition to this reserve, a landing-place for canoes at a place called Pareuku was requested by Kopnpa. Its extent, as pointed out to me, will not exceed ten (10) acres. A very long pah occupied by this tribe, at a place called Motueka, is likely to be the only site available in that locality for a township. If it should really be required for this purpose, the Natives agree to relinquish it; if uot, then I would certainly recommend that it be reserved for them. Should a town be laid out there, I would submit that Hura and Manihera ought to receive, by way of compensation, four (4) of the town sections, of fair average value. I trust that Hie Excellency will be pleased to sanction this proposal. 33. From Kaituna the next visit was paid to the Hoiere or Pelorus river, to fix the reserves and cultivations for the Natives residing there. When these had been decided on, as shewn on the plan herewith furnished, the Ngatikuia, formerly the owners of the beautiful aud fertile valleys of the Hoiere and Kaituna, now reduced in number to about fifty (50) souls, were paid One hundred pounds, in extinction of their title, with which sum they appeared well satisfied, it being the first time since the conquest that their claims had in any way been recognized. 34. I next proceeded to the Croixelles Harbour; but I found that the Chief of that place had preceded me to Nelson, where I afterwards decided the reserves to be allotted to himself and to his people, the Ngatikoata, and paid them a sum of One hundred pounds for all their claims. 35. Before going to Nelson, I called at Wakapuaka, where a section of the Ngatitama live. These declined to give up any portion of the land held by them at that place, as they considered it not more than sufficient for their own subsistence; they object also to its being sold, without

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their content, by their relatives in the North Island; ar.d as the land they hold, is net cf much greater cx;ent tl an they would really require as a rtseive, I did not deem it prudent at present to urge a settlement of this particular question upon them. 36. Ihe only tribe having claims upon this purchi.se, whom it was impossible forme to visit, are a small remnant of the Ngaitahu, about twenty-five (25) in number, residing at Arahura on the West Coast, a remote, and, as yet, almost inaccessible, part tf the country. From a settlement of their claims, I do not apprehend any difficulty; but, as a matter of justice, if the district is occupied by Europeans, a reserve of three hundred (oOO) or four hundred (400) acres should be secured to them, together with a small amount of compensation for their claims. 37. In conducting this purchase through its several stages, involving the interests of so many different, and diffeiently disposed tribes, and altogether the most complicated, as it was also the last, in the Middle Island, I found the limited time at my disposal so fully occupied with the necessary "/toreros," or debates, attending it, that I was unable to see some of the surveys completed to my satisfaction. I would gladly have done this myself, in order to prevent any possible question being raised hereafter about the boundaries. These details, however, can be easily arranged by the Government Surveyor, under the directions of Major Richmond, in whom the Natives place implicit confidence, and to whom I shall communicate additional information respecting these surveys, besides the Memoranda already furnished. 38. In tie meantime, even these unfinished details are so fully understood by the Natives, that I am nut aware that there can be any objection to the land being now handed over to the Crown Commissioner, preparatory to its being disposed of in the usual manner. 39. In a separate communication I shall hereafter detail the steps taken by Major Richmond and myself to adjust some disputed rights to land comprised within the limits of Mr. Commissioner Spain's award. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Chief Commissioner. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

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SCHEDULE.

UCKLAND DISTRICT. H H O £ B M o DATE. WRITER. to whom addressed. SUBJECT. 6 n O ■4 1 July 13, 1861 W. N. Searaucke Chief Commissioner Report on Opoia, Ramaroa, Huruhi, Mercury Island, Waitara, Manukau. 371 BA OP ISLANDS DISTRICT. 2 3 4 Oct. 24, 1861 Dec. 5 „ :> 8 » Resident Magistrate District Commissioner Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Minister for Native Affairs Ditto Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Ditto Victoria Valley—Mangatete, Maungataniwha. Taraire—Addition to Block. Victoria Valley. 371 372 5) 5 6 7 8 9 ), 16 M ,, 2.6 ,, May 5 1862 June 17 „ „ 18 „ Ditto Resident Magistrate District Commissioner Ditto Ditto Russell—Allotments. Victoria Valley. Mangatete—Maungataniwha. Forwarding Deeds. Victoria Valley. 373 it 374 375 >y WHANGAR II AND KAIPARA DISTRICTS. I 10 Dec. IS, 1861 i District Commissioner 11 Oct, 16, 1862 | Ditto 12 Nov. 5, 1861 ! Ditto 13 Dec. 2, „ Ditto 14 Jan. 29, 1862 Ditto 15 June 10, ,, Ditto Chief Commissioner Memo., lands surveyed and under negociation 375 Ditto General report on his District. 376 Ditto Ruatangata and Mirowhakatiki. „ Ditto Okaka and Whiritoa. 377 Ditto Hikurangi, Te Apofru, Ohiua, Te Tupua. ) 379 Ditto Maungaturoto. 380 THAI IS AND PIAKO DISTRICT. 16 Dec. 21, 1861 District Commissioner 17 Feb. 6, 1862 Ditto 18 April 28 ., Ditto 19 May 24 „ Ditto 20 Juiie 21 ,, Ditto Chief Commissioner ] Pukekura. 380 Ditto Relative to advances made on lands at Piako. 381 Ditto Memorandum—Pukekura block. „ Ditto Pukekura. „ Colonial Secretary Ongohi and adjoining blocks. 382

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CO ;OMANDEL DIST ICT. I 9 DATE. "WRITER. TO 'WHOM ADDRESSED. SUBJECT. s n o 2 6 21 22 23 June 30, 1862 Mar. 10, 1862 Dec. 4, 186l£ James Price Ditto Ditto Chief Commissioner Ditto Ditto Memorandum, blocks under negociation. Matarangi. General report on his District. 382 » )} PEOVINCE OF HAWKE'S BAY, DISTRICT OF NAPIER. 24 May 21, 1862 1 General. Chief Commissioner Hon. Colonial Secretary Northwood's Homestead. 383 PKOVINCE OF WELLINGTON. 25 Mar. 10, 1862 Chief Commissioner Memorandum Wereta Pahaua's block. 384

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AUCKLAND DISTRICT. No. 1. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER SEARANCKE, TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONEa. Auckland, 13th, July, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor to hand you herewith the deeds and receipts for land purchased at Manukau, the Opoia and Ramaroa Block, and at Murcury Island, the Huruhi Block, and report on the same for the information of His Excellency the Governor. Opoia and Ramaroa Block. The negociations for this purchase were commenced in 1854, by a payment of thirty-five pounds to the Natives, were carried on by me in 1857, when a further sum of two hundred and five pounds was paid. On my removal to Wellington the negociations for the purchase were again suspended until lately, when, on my return from the South, I was enabled to complete the purchase by the payment of the balance as originally agreed upon between the Natives and myself, of one hundred and forty-five pounds, together with a further sum of ten pounds, which I subsequently paid to Te Warihi, to satisfy a claim set up by him on the block. This extra payment of ten pounds I beg to submit for His Excellency's approval. The Huruhi, Mercury Island. The negociations for this purchase were carried on by Mr. Preece, and received the approval of His Excellency ths Governor. The payment was subsequently suspended for reasons given, but not now applicable. Eighty pounds of the purchase money (one hundred and ten pounds in all) being applied to release the vessel of the vendors from seizure for debt. Waitara, Manukau. I made an advance on account, for payment of this block of land, but the unsettled state of the Maoris precluding their bringing forward their claims in a straightforward and honest manner. I have for the present declined any further negociations for its purchase. A sum of thirty-eight pounds has been paid by me on account of this block. 1 have, &c , William N. Searancke, Donald McLean, Esq., Chief Commissioner.

BAY OF ISLANDS DISTRICT. No. 2. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, MANGONDI, TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Resident Magistrate's Office, Mangonui, October 24th, 1861. Sib,— I have the honor to report that the Natives of the district have offered the Victoria Valley for sale. The principal proprietor, Karaka, Chief of Mangatete, has for a long time objected to this

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sale, but has now consented. As it is a most desirable purchase, and will lend more than any other to advance the interest of the district, I have been for a long time anxious to obtain thiß valley, and about a vear a<ro promised Karaka, as an inducement to withdraw his objection that he should have fifty pounds as a bonus to himself I hope that the Government will approve this promise, and that Mr. Kemp may be instructed to come up here without delay, as all the Natives are very anxious to go on witli the sale. . There are other blocks at Mangatete and Kaitaia offered, which it will be most desirable to purchase in connection with the Victoria. There is to be a large assembly of Natives to meet me on the 16th of November, at Victoria, to arrange about the boundaries. I have, &c., W. B. White, Donald McLean, Esq., Resident Magistrate. Chief Commissioner.

No. 3. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, sih December, 1861. Sir,— In reply to your communication of the 2nd September, referring to the state of the negotiations for an addition to the Taraire Block of 883 acres, I have the honor to report, that the seller, Kingi Hori Kira, the principal Chief of the oistrict, has agreed to receive the sum of one hundred pounds, as authorised by your letter of the 24th July, 1860. This addition to the Taraire Block will, I think, be found in every way desirable and convenient to the settlers already settled there, comprising, as it does for the most part, good and available land. I have, &c., H. T. Kemp, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner.

No. 4. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE MINISTER FOR NATIVE AFFAIRS. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, Bth December, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor to report for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that agreeably with instructions received I proceeded to the District of Mangonui for the purpose of endeavouring finally to conclude the purchase of the " Victoria Valley" in concert with Mr. White the Resident Magistrate of the District. I now beg leave to lay before the Government the result of our negotiations, as far as they have already gone, and to state the arrangements we have entered into with the Native sellers in reference to the sale of tho " Victoria," and of other important blocks immediately adjoining. Soon after my reaching Mangonui we proceeded, accompanied by several gentlemen, to the North, and on the 18th the Natives assembled to meet us in the valley; nearly all the principal Chief's were present, (the whole of the party being mounted) and forming altogether a respectable and well conducted Runanga. The proceedings of the day were opened by the Chief " Clarke" acknowledged by all parties to have a considerable voice in the sale, and whose objection had recently been withdrawn, as reported iu Mr. White's letter of the 24th October. After entering at considerable length iuto his reasons for now desiring the sale, he pointed out in our presence and in the presence of the Runanga, the exact boundaries of the portion of the valley he wished to cede to the Government, which however proved to be far less in extent than we had reason to expect, after the offer so recently, aud apparently so liberally, made by hint. Clarke was followed by several other Chiefs, who addressed the meeting upon upon their tribal as well as individual claims, but it was not until the principal Chiefs of the District, including Busby Waka, Kingi Wiremu and others had spoken, that we were able to ascertain bow the claim to the valley really stood, and how far their own and the interests of some few absentee Chiefs, including Wi Papahia of Hokianga, stood effected by Clarke's offer to the Government. It was during these discussions that an important objection was made by these Chiefs to the sale of the entire valley on the ground that the late Chief " Noble" (Panakareao) and his wife were buried there, and as the place of interment lies in the centre, it seemed to us at first an almost insuperable obstacle to its acquisition, aud one which would seriously interfere with the operations of any settlers, who might eventually establish themselves there, so long as the Native Title to that particular portion remains unextinguished.

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After the addresses were all made, we spoke to the Natives in reply. We called to their remembrance the objections that had formerly been made, but that a new one had now presented itself, that we were therefore desirous and willing on behalf of the Government, to propose means wdiereby that objection might be removed. The first was to make a reserve of the " Tapu" or to remove the remains of their late Chief to consecratetl ground in tho church-yard at "Kaitaia," and that the Governor would allow us as a mark of His Excellency's respect and that of the Government, for an old friend and ally, to erect a substantial fence around their final resting place. These offers, well received, were not finally accepted by the people and still remain an open question. We also proposed that the whole of the valley should be purchased at once; to this they very generally gave their assent. Under these circumstances it was considered advisable to allow a little time to elapse, and should neither of the offers made be accepted within a reasonable time, to proceed with the purchase of as much of the valley and district as could be obtained, leaving the spot in question (amounting to a few hundred acres) to stand over for future negotiation, which we think may be more conveniently doue with the principal Chiefs alone, as the nearest surviving relatives of the deceased. We estimate the valley to contain from fifteen to twenty thousand acres of excellent land. I have the honor to report further, that we have at the same time entered into arrangements for several other block of land contiguous to and joiniug the Victoria and Oruru Valleys, bounded on the North-west by the Kaitaia and Ahipara Blocks, and from thence including the former Districts in a Southerly direction to the Blocks already acquired by the Government in the immediate neighbourhood of Mangonui and Whangaroa, forming altogether one contiguous unbroken line of country estimated to contain from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty thousand acres. For one of these Blocks we have been able to fix the price, prior to survey, at eleven pence per acre. Instructions have been given to proceed at once with the surveys of the principal lines of these Blocks, and as the Victoria Valley will itself in a great measure form the basis of these operations, we have every reason to believe that it will be the means of removing any objection that exists to its final and complete purchase in the ensuing summer. I be" leave to be excused for unavoidably entering a little into detail, and trust that the arrangements made during these negotiations will, under the circumstances, meet with the approval of His Excellency's Government. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, District Commissioner. Auckland.

No. 5. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO MINISTER FOR NATIVE AFFAIRS. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, 16th December, 1861. g IR I do myself the honor to report for the information of his Excellency's Government, that, agreeably with the Governor's verbal instructions, the purchase of the allotments at Russell, was after some discussion, made from the Native owners on the 13th inst., for the sum of one hundred and sixty-five pounds. These lots which are situated in a central part of the front street in the town of Russell, are of considerable value, and would I am informed by Mr. Barstow, if cut up and open for sale, more ■than reimburse the Government in the amount required for the extinguishment of the Native title, which for many reasons, it was desirable should now be done. I be" further to state that it is proposed to apply to the sub-Treasurer for this amount to enable us to pay the Native chiefs, whose friends, as part claimauts, are anxious without further detention, to leave for the Bay of Plenty. I have, &c., H. T. Kemp, The Hon. District Commissioner, the Minister for Native Affairs.

No. 6. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, MANGONUI, TO THE MINISTER OF NATIVE AFFAIRS. Resident Magistrate's Office, Mangonui, December 23rd, 1861. With reference to your letter of November 4th, 1861, I have the honor to state that in consequence of other pressing duties, I have not been able to report sooner the result of the meeting of the 16th ult. Mr. Kemp who accompanied me to the Victoria Valley, has probably reported upon this subject.

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I think it my duty, however, to report that on assembling at Victoria, all the principal chiefs being present, Karaka made his offer publicly, which was immediately opposed by all those who had before been consenting parties. Ou enquiry, I found that Karaka had given great offence to the principal chiefs in offering Victoria for sale without consulting them. It appears that on recovering from an attack of fever, he remembered some words which I had used, when he alone opposed the sale, " that he would die without deriving any advantage from the sale." (It was then I made him the offer of £50.) He thought on recovering he had nothing to do but to come to me and the sale would be completed. But I then told him I would fix a distant date for a general meeting and recommended that he should inform all the chiefs, and get all to consent as he was not the only proprietor. He promised he would attend to my suggestion, but instead of doing so he went home satisfied that as he had always been urged by the others to consent, and accused of standing in the way of others selling, that his visit to me was all sufficient to complete the sale. This offended the dignity of the Chiefs, who opposed the sale to show that Karaka could not do as he pleased, and I fear also with a desire to extract a bonus for themselves. They assured me privately that the valley was virtually sold. I am glad to report that independently of this valley, that arrangements were made for the purchase of a Block of land adjacent to, indeed including a part of the Victoria Valley aud overlapping all the land formerly purchased between Mangatete and Kaitaia. This will make a very compact boundary, and the price agreed upon is by no means extravagant, lid. per acre, aud a Block at the same price called the Maungataniwha block has been arranged for, which will also include a portion of the upper part of Victoria Valley. After these surveys are completed, the Government will then be in a better position to offer a lump sum for the intervening block. There is a great deal of valuable laud iu these two blocks, and they will be found most valuable for immediate location. I have, &c., W. B. White. Resident Magistrate. The Honorable the Native Minister, Auckland.

No. 7. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, sth May, 1862. IB,— I have the honor to report for the information of the Government that the surveys and plans of the following blocks of land in the District of Mangonui from whence I have returned, have just been completed by Messrs. Campbell and Richardson. The quantities are Mangatete 11,125 acres Maungataniwha 8,469 do. 19,594 In addition to the above, negotiations have been entered into for the purchase of a further block of land estimated to contain about ten thousand acres, connecting the former with the Victoria, and includes a portion of the upper part of the valley itself. The survey of this has already been commenced. The price for the three blocks has been fixed at eleven pence per acre, and in each case the price has been agreed upon prior to the survey being made. I trust that these arrangements made in concurrence with Mr. White will meet with approval. I beg to enclose a requisition for the money for the two Blocks above mentioned, also for the amount due for the survey. The plans have been forwarded direct to Mr. Sinclair for the purpose of undergoing the usual examination. I shall be obliged by your sending the wdiole of the money by the " Kiwi" direct to the care of the Resident Magistrate, Mangonui, as the roads between the two settlements are in many parts now almost impassable. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. Native Land Purchase Office, Auckland.

Enclosure in No. 7. Required the sum of eight hundred and ninety-five pounds one shillings and two-pence in payment for tho following blocks of land in the District of Mangonui, viz. :—

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£ 8. d. Mangatete Block, 11,125 acres at lid 509 17 11 Maungataniwha East, 8,469 at lid 388 3 3 £898 1 2 H. T. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner District Commissioner. Land Purchase Office, Auckland.

No. 8. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, 17th June, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to forward, as requested, the original Deed of the Hikurangi Block in the District of Mangonui. I beg also to send at the same time the Deeds of a small Block named in the margin joining the Ahipara; also of the Taraire additional, aud of an allotment recently purchased in the township of Russell. May I request a receipt when convenient. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner District Commissioner. Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

No. 9. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, 18th June, 1862. Sir,— With reference to the negotiations for the purchase of the Victoria Valley, I have the honor to report for the information of the Government that they are steadily progressing. There still remains a section of the Hokianga Natives connected with Wi Papahia, who with Busby and others have not given in their assent to the sale. One of the principal reasons assigned is the interment of the late Chief Noble Panakareao, and his wife in the centre of the most valuable portion of the valley, a proposition for the removal of their remains to the church-yard at Kaitaia I reported to you on a former occasion has not yet been acccepted. I informed Busby a short time ago that the Government were willing to purchase the Valley, making a moderate reserve for them if they wished it, and to give a liberal price as authorized by the Colonial Secretary, and it was then agreed that the negotiations should be further postponed. These arrangements have all along been conducted in the most friendly manuer, at the same time I have thought it to be my duty not in any way to press the purchase, or to name a sum until the whole of the claimants were united in their willingness to sell. I shall do myself the honor of reporting further on the subject on my return from that district. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner District Commissioner. Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

WHANGAREI AND KAIPARA DISTRICTS. No. 10. MEMORANDUM. Land surveyed and under negotiation for purchase from the Natives. Kaipara District. Opou Block 985 acres Kaikai 2,230 " Okaka 1,851 " Whiritoa 1,558 " WhakaDirau 2,600 "

% Hikurangl, Kokohuia. Taraire, additional sllotment in town of Russell,

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Matawhero 5,480 acres. Maungaturoto ' i ,815 " Piroa 9,200 " Waiherunga 2,880 " Opou Block contains 985 acres, principally stunted fern with a few patches of forest. The soil is inferior in quality and the land is undulating. The position of this block adds to its value, being situated between the Oruawharo aud Tauhoa rivers, the Oruawharo having deep water for several miles inland of Opou, and vessels of fifty tons may approach the land by the Tauhoa river. It adjoins the Oruawharo block which has been purchased at the rate of Bd. an acre, but owing to the number of claimants and the comparative small size of the block, I think it probable the Natives will not be induced to accept less than £100 for this purchase, which will be at the rate of about 2s. an acre. ' Kaikai, contains 2230 acres of hilly land, one half of which is covered with kauri forest, the other half is open fern laud. A belt of land along the Kaukapakapa river is a rich alluvial soi . This land aeljoins the Kaukapakapa west which is now occupied by settlers; it was purchased for Is. an acre, aud as this block is better situated as regards water carriage, I consider it is well worth 2s. an acre. Okaka, contains 1851 acres consisting of Tupakihi, scrub, high fern, swamp, and sand hills. It is situted at the south head of Kaipara Harbour and adjoins the Whiritoa. Whiritoa, contains 1558 acres, one third of which is good fern land, a portion is swampy and the remainder is sand. It is situated south of Okaka. These two blocks were included in a number of others, which have lately been purchased. The uniform price of Is. au acre was fixed by the Government, but the Natives would not agree to the price for these two pieces of land. There is now a letter in the Native office from Keene offering to accept Is. 6d. an acre, and I submit, that as the natives have reduced their price from 3s. to Is. 6d., and as it is really important to have the south head as a pilot station, it is desirable to purchase these blocks at the prico asked i.e. Is. 6d. Whakapirau contains 2,600 acres; nearly the whole of this block is good forest land, the open land is rich dark clay soil covered with fern and scrub. It is bounded on the north by Whakapirau, on the east by Arapawa, aud on the south by Kokorako. There is deep water frontage to this laud where vessels of 600 tons may anchor in perfect safety. I consider that this land is worth 2s. 6d. an acre in relation to the prices given for other blocks. Matawhiro is about 5,500 acres; a great portion of this block is hilly. Four fifths is open, of average quality, the remainder in Kauri forest, situated on the Kaipara harbour, between the Komakoriki aud Kaukapakapa blocks within 27 miles of Auckland. The Natives have lately differed among themselves, aud it is not necessary to determine the price until the Natives are disposed to treat for it. Maungaturoto block contains 6,815 acres of excellent, level, open forest land, with small patches of Manuka, scrub and toitoi, accessible, having water communication by the Wairau. It is probable the Natives will expect Is. 6d. an acre for this block. Piroa, contains 9,200 acres (see my report in reference to Arama Karaka's dispute. Hilly, forest land of average quality. Situated between the Paparoa, Waipu, and Maungaturoto blocks and Wright and Graham's claim. There appears to me no necessity to fix a price for this block at present. Waiherunga, contains 2,884 acres, one half is good open land, one quarter barren, and one fourth white sand hills, situated on the Kaipara river betweeu the Waioueke and Mairetahi blocks; Is. 6d. an acre would be ample for this piece. Whangarei District. Hikurangi Block 12.000 acres. Ruatangata " 5,450 " Mirowbakatiki" 5,500 " Whauui " 9,269 " Waikare " 8,580 " Hikurangi block contains 12,000 acres of land of fair average quality, nearly two thirds of which is hilly and covered with forest, a portion of which is kauri and kahikatea. One third is composed of open fern land and swamp. This block adjoins, and is situated on the north side of Kaurihohore block, and is about eight miles distant from the European settlement at the head of the Whangarei river. Ruatangata, contains 5450 acres a small portion of which is good volcanic land, the remainder is of inferior quality, about one-half of which is covered with forest of general description. The other portion is almost barren, having a tough upper soil of about 5 inches in depth with white and light yellow clay subsoil, covered with rushes aud short fern. This block is for the most part extremely damp during the greater part of the year, it is situated about 4 miles to the north west of Mair's claim, it is accessible by a good level track through forest, passing the Native settlement, atKeteuikau. Mirowhakatiki contains 5,500 acres of land, one-half of which is of good quality, principally volcanic covered with forest. The other part is white clay, inferior in quality and covered with

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rushes, short fern and raupo, a considerable portion of which is swampy. It adjoins the Ruatangata block, I think an uniform price of Is. for these three blocks would be ample. Mahurangi District. Komakoriki Block *~ 35,000 acres. Komakorikt, contains 35,000 acres; nearly the whole of this block is covered with forest comprising a considerable quantity of kauri. The greater part of this land is good, 3,000 acres of first class alluvial fern and flat land, hilly, situated inland of Mahurangi. Waikare, Whanui—see Mr. Johnson's reports. I have, &c., John Rogan Auckland, Sept., 14th, 1861. District Commissioner. Memo.—The Apotu block, 947 acres is bounded on the inland side by Hikurangi, for which Is. an acre has been authorised by the Government. It is bounded on the east by Kaurihohore, for which about 2s. 3d. has been paid per acre some years ago. It is submitted that the District Commissioner be permitted to have a discretionary power to offer from 2s. to 3s. an acre for this block. Mauihera's block, 67 acres. The District Commissioner is of opinion that this laud cannot be purchased under eight or ten shillings an acre. Block for road purposes containing 100 acres can probably be obtained for ss. an acre. A small Island at Mangapai might be purchased from Taurau, it is comparatively valueless, as he is desirous to obtain some money for the purpose of buying a fishing boat, it is recommended that £10 be authorised for extinguishing the title of this place. I have, &c., John Rogan, 18th December, 1861. District Commissioner.

No. 11. district commissioner to chief commissioner. Whangarei, 16th October, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to forward the following statement of my proceedings with the Natives in this district from the period of my arrival to the present time, for the information of His Excellency the Governor. On the Bth instant I commmnicated with Ta Manihera and Pohe, the Native Assessors, and explained that I should be prepared to meet the Natives who claim the three blocks of land called respectively, Ruatangata, Mirowhakatiki, and Hikurangi, situated in this district, the negotiation of which has been pending for some considerable time past. It was arranged that due notice should be given to the persons interested, and the time and place of meeting was fixed for yesterday at the settlement. After a further examination of the land above referred to, I proceeded to Te Wairoa to confer with Te Tirarau regarding a large tract of land in the interior which has been offered by himself and Hori Kingi, for sale, and in discussing the probability of an interruption of the survey of this land by Matiu te Aranui and his people, at Mangakahia, Te Tirarau and Hori Kingi concluded that as the difference between the Government and the Taranaki and Waikato Tribes was not yet settled, it was as well to postpone for the present the survey of their land. 1 proposed to these chiefs that the only course I saw clear, in order that an amicable arrangement might be arrived at, was, for me to call at Mangakahia and endeavour to strike a boundary line on the debateable ground now in dispute between these parties. Hori Kingi replied, that as Matiu stated his intention of coming this summer to survey the land himself, he would wait to see if this threat were carried out; in tho mean time he objected to my calling at the Mangakahia. The Natives interested in the sale of the three blocks of land above referred to, assembled yesterday morning and requested me to state to the meeting the price per acre for Ruatangata and Mirowhakatiki. I informed them that the price was one shilling an acre. The claimants after stood up one by one, and said that their price was 3s. It was subsequently arranged to refer the matter to the Government at Auckland to decide between us. The principal objection to these purchases is their being detached from Crown lands, aud the only available line of road thereto, leads from Kete Nikau through a block of Native Land for about eight miles. In negotiating for this land in the first instance, I stipulated for a line of road. The Natives are now prepared to give the road, conditionally however, that a payment be made for the right of way. As there are a number of Nova Scotians who are desirous of settling on the available parts of these blocks, I submit that the sum of £600 be forwarded to me, which will be a little over the amount I have already offered, as I have every reason to believe that this amount will complete the purchase of Ruatangata and Mirowhakatiki, including the right of road. The plan of Hikurangi was called for, and a very angry discussion arose between the Whangarei Natives and Haki Whangawhanga and his party from Ngunguru, who disputed the boun-

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dary line cut by the Surveyor, in a determined manner, for several hours. Haki at last waived his opposition, and several of his party at once gave way, but two of his young men were obstinate throughout and left the meeting iu an excited state, protesting against the disposal of the disputed portion of the block. The price offered was Is. an acre, and as they ask 2s. the matter is referred to the Government. I do not recommend that any money should be forwarded to me for this block at present until the Natives have decided the dispute with the parties objecting. Although the Chiefs ridicule the opposition, especially as the principal of the Ngunguru party has consented to the sale. Tirarau then addressed the meeting at considerable length, aud explained that his object in being present was to have an opportunity to bring forward publicly the desirability of having a Government road between Whangarei and Wharekohe—the landing place at Wairua which leads into the Wairoa river. Tirarau and Hori Kingi advised giving up the whole line of road from Whangarei to Wharekohe, without any remuneration, but they were opposed by Te Manihera the Native Assessor and the whole of the Natives of this place. It was subsequently agreed that the line of road throughout should be ceded to the Government, aud Tirarau and Hori will give up their portion, which will include about half the distance, the remaining part will require to be paid for. The negotiation will probably be difficult, as the Native claimants are numerous and have rather an exaggerated idea of the value of the line of road The Europeans directly interested at present in having the road determined, are Mr. Walton, Messrs. Davis and Reid at Mauugatapere, and a number of settlers on the Wairoa river. However, the advantages of connecting the East and West coast in this part of the country by means of a public road, appear to me so obvious, that it is unnecessary to make any remark. lam requested by the Chiefs to bring the question under the notice of tho Government, and should it be viewed in a favorable light, I have to request, respectfully, that instructions may be forwarded to me, for the purpose of proceeding with the negotiation. William Pohe aud others then applied tome for the payment of land called Owhiua opposite to Limestone Island, at the termination of the deep water. There is a correspondence in the Native Land Office iu connection with this block, to which I beg to call your attention. There were several minor matters which were referred to at the meeting, but the lateness of the day precluded any decision being arrived at. I have to request an early reply in order to communicate again with the Natives on the subject matter of this letter. I have, &c, John Rogan, The Chief Commissioner, District Commisioner. Nauve Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

No. 12. district commissioner to chief commissioner. Whangarei, sth November, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor to forward herewith the deeds of sale and conveyance of Ruatangata and Mirowhakatiki, which were executed by the native owners on the 2nd iustant. After a considerable time I succeeded in inducing the natives to accept the sum of £600 for these blocks, aud an agreement was entered into with them to give up a right of road between Ketenikau and Mirowhakatiki, for which twenty-five pounds was deducted from the purchase money and handed to the Manihera, who paid it over to Hirawani and others whose names are attached to the deed of conveyance. Mr. Searancke travelled over the intended line of road accompanied by Ngamako, one of the principal owners, aud although there is a clear understanding with the natives regarding its general direction, I submit that the attention of the Provincial Government should be called to this matter with a view to have the line of road cut in the proper place at once, in order to prevent any dispute arising hereafter, A cheque for ten pounds is transmitted herewith to be paid into the Colonial Treasury to the credit of Hori Kingi Tahua, in repayment of a loan advanced to him during the Kohitnarama Conference. A description of boundaries of each purchase is also enclosed for proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, John Rogan, Native Land Purchase Department, District Commissioner. Auckland. [Note.—For description of boundaries, see New Zealand Gazette, 7th December, 1861, page 321.]

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Distribution of payment for Ruatangata and Mirowhakatiki:— Ruatangata. £ s. d. Manihera, for road to be paid to Hirawani and others 12 10 0 Hori Kingi Tahua 140 0 0 Ngamako 73 15 0 Epiniha Maickai 73 15 0 £300 0 0 Mirowhakatiki. Manihera, for road 12 10 0 TePuia 7117 6 Hirawani 71 17 6 Tipeni 71 17 6 Pohe 71 17 6 £600 0 0

No. 13. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, 2nd December, 1861. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose herewith two deeds of conveyance of Okaka and Whiritoa, situated in the Kaipara district, containing 1851 and 1558 acres, for which the sums of £138 16s. 6d. and £116 17s. have recently been paid to the native claimants. The boundaries of these purchases are also enclosed, and as there is only one small block of land called Waiherunga situated within these purchases which is not yet paid for, I submit whether it would not be as well to proclaim these purchases together with Mairetahi and Waioneke. Acres. Mairetahi 5,950 Waioneke 20,600 Okaka 1,851 Whiritoa 1,558 Total 29,959 I have, &c., The Chief Commissioner, John Rogan, Native Land Purchase Department, District Commissioner. Auckland. [Note.—For description of boundaries, see Gazette of 27th December, 1861, page 337.]

No. 14. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, 29th January, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to forward herewith, deeds of sale and conveyance of the following blocks of land situated in the district of Whangarei, the native title to which has been extinguished during my recent visit to that place;— Acres. £ Hikurangi block 12,000 600 TeApotu " 947 100 Owhiua " 847 250 Te Tupua " 100 20 The difficulty which has attended the Hikurangi purchase has been obviated by Riwi and Eru, who opposed the sale of a portion of this block, at last accepting £10 each, which amount was set apart for them and deducted from the £600 previous to the deed being executed by the other claimants. It is hardly necessary for me to remark on the importance that these purchases are ikely to be of to the District of Whangarei, not only because the land is situated in a good position, but because these purchases will lead to others in the course of some time, which contain land of the first quality in the Province of Auckland,

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Enclosed is a description of boundaries for proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette. I beg leave to call the attention of the Government to the able assistance I have received from Te Manihera, who aided me very much in bringing these negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion. 1 have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, John Rogan, Land Purchase Department, District Commissioner. Auckland. [Note.—For description of boundaries, see New Zealand Gazette, February 7th, 1862, page 90.] Distribution of payment for Hikurangi. Tipene £100 Signed, Tipene Hari, TePuia 100 " Te Puia, his x mark, Pohe 100 " WiremuPohe, Haki Whangawhanga 100 " Haki, NgaMako 100 " Mako, Te Manihera 80 " Manihera, I Puritia mo te raruraru 20 Paid to Riwi for Eru, 25th Jan., 1862. (See Deed). J. R. £600 John L, Rust. Whangarei, 20th January, 1862.

No. 15. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, June 10th, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to forward herewith a deed of cession and conveyance of the Maungaturoto block, situated in the Kaipara District, the native title to which was extinguished on the 21st May, 1862. The sum of £50, formerly advanced on this block by Mr. Rogan, has been returned by the natives, and paid by me into the Treasury. Enclosed is a description of the boundaries for proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, The Chief Commissioner, C. Percv Smith, Native Land Purchase Department, Acting in Mr. Rogan's absence, Auckland.

THAMES AND PIAKO DISTRICT, No. 16. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Sir, — Umangawha, December 21st, 1861. I have the honor of enclosing copy of field book, in order that the area of this land offered by Te Moananui and Ereatara may be computed. Some additional land offered by Nepihana Kopu has also been surveyed adjoining the land offered by Te Moananui, Nepihana, Ngakuku, and Hata Paka Ngahi have offered more land to the East of Pukekura, the survey of which will be commenced at once. Karauria has pointed out a block of about eight thousand acres extending from the beach at Cabbage Bay to the beach at Waikawau, on the East Coast, which himself aud his hapu are willing to sell, provided gold is not plentiful in that locality. Nepihaua and Ngakuku have pointed out land to some thousands of acres on the East side of Umangawha creek; if gold is found in any quantity on their laud, they will retain it; if when prospected it is found not to pay as a gold-field they will cede their land. Great delay has been occasioned by the weather and by an uhunga which has occupied all the Natives for the last three weeks, neither Te Moananui or any one acquainted with the boundaries being sufficiently at liberty to point out boundaries. With reference to Ereatara's land at Kuaotuuu which is included in the survey of Pukekura, there is some dispute about a boundary between a Native called Wi Hopihona and himself; the disputed boundary would only make a difference of twenty-five acres at the most; it would be advisable to advance no money to Ereatara until he has finally settled the dispute as Hopihona has protested against the boundary claimed by him. Wi Hopihona also lays claim to land which Ngakuti said should be ceded in place of Te Matai, for money advanced to Honana; Honana is at present away on the Waikato, so I have refused to do anything as regards surveying land for money advanced to him by me until both he and Hopihona return. I enclose copy of diary up to Ist December; it was supposed to have been sent when written out nearly three weeks ago, it appears to have been mislaid.

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I have to request that I may be furnished with instructions with reference to land on Piako and Waitoa for which sums are outstanding as advances. Haora Tipa Te Kopara and others of Ngatitapaoa are anxious that I should proceed there with them in the beginning of January, some of Ngatimatera also who are interested, will accompany us if we go. Te Moananui will as soon as he hears that Taraia has returned to Waihou, most probably visit him there, this would be a good opportunity for completiug purchases in that river, on account of sums of money outstanding as advances. I have, &c., Donald McLean, Esq., George W. Drummond Hay, Chief Commissioner, Auckland. District Commissioner.

No. 17. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Aropawa, 6th February, 1862. Sir,— With reference to your letter of the 14th ultimo, I have the honor to state for your information that the sum of one hundred pounds was advanced to Haora Tipa for land on the East and West baoks of the Waitoa, adjoining land sold to the Government by Rota Tewhetu Iti, The date of this advance can be furnished by Mr. Friend. A further advance was made to Te Wi Te Kopara, on land on the East bank of the Piako, adjoining Te Rua Kanae block, and also the Opurutete block sold by Hone Te Kuti. Te Wi received an advance of eighty rounds paid to him in two different sums of £50 and £30. Mr. Friend will, I have no doubt, be able to furnish the date of this advance. The natives have been pressing me to proceed to the Piako aud Waitoa since the commencement of December, but, owing to other instructions, nothing further was done regarding the negotiations. I have, &c, 11. Halse, Esq, Geo. W. Drummond Hat, For the Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. Auckland.

No. 18. [memorandum.] April 28th, 1862. The two blocks, Pukekura and Kuaotunu, contain about 900 acres ; of this, about 150 acres form Ereatara's claim at Kuaotunu, the remainder is owned by Te Moananui, who asks £370 for his 750 acres ; Ereatara asking £200 for the 150 acres at Kuaotunu. The land at Kuaotunu is of fair average quality, and has two or three small stands of kauri, a fact on which Ereatara lays great stress in asking so high a price. This piece of 150 acres has aiso two conflicting claims hanging over it ; that preferred by Ngatinaonao and involved iu Wi Hopihona's protest. The 750 acres owned by Te Moananui contains about one-half available fern land, the forest land much broken but with a good deal of kauri on it. Geo. W. Drummond Hay, District Commissioner. [memorandum.] April 30th, 1862. Te Moananui having asked what price the Government would be willing to give for his land at Pukekura, it will be necessary to take into consideration the mean price hitherto given for land ou the peninsula or in the Coromandel district. The mean price, excluding cost of survey, appears to be within a fraction of 3s. lid. per acre. No land in this part of the gulf has as yet been bought by myself. I cannot state that I consider the laud in questiou worth more than Is. oils. 6d. at the utmost, still this native naturally expects as much for his land as other natives have obtained for land of no better description in the same district. The purchase is a desirable one as regards position of the laud and as adjoiuiug other blocks which have been partly offered by the natives, aud the price of which would be regulated by the price in this case should the purchase be concluded. Geo. W. Drummond Hay, District Commissioner.

No. 19. district commissioner to chief commissioner. Auckland, 24th May, 1862. ' I have the honor of forwarding herewith, deed of cession of land at Umangawha, Cabbage Bay. I have, &c, G. W. Drummond Hat, District Commissioner,

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No. 20. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Sir, — Auckland, 21st June, 1862. I have the honor of forwarding herewith the deed and receipt for £50, on account of land at Ongohi, Coromandel, and attached to the deed a receipt for the sum of £40, finally extinguishing the Native Title, Awa Kauae, over blocks adjacent to Ongohi. . I request that I may be furnished with a certificate that the deeds and receipts have been deposited in your office. I have, &c., The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, G. W. Drummond Hat, &c, • &c., &c, District Commissioner. Auckland.

COROMANDEL DISTRICT. No. 21. [memorandum.] Blocks of land now under negociation in the Coromandel District:— Te Hoho—32B acres, good land, but a little broken; joins the Hahae block. Matarangi—B92 acres, partly mineral and partly agricultural land, near to the Opito block, and joins one that has to be surveyed ; the sum authorised by the Chief Commissioner to be offered for this block was £155, which has been agreed to, and for which sum I now beg to apply to complete this purchase. Te Pungapunga is a block of very good land, and joins the Wainuiototo block ; the piece that belongs to Lydia, contains 175 acres, agreed for at £30; the money for this is also wanting; the other piece at Te Punga belongs to Karaitiana, it contains 200 acres of very good land, and is situated between the last block and Wainuiototo, they demand £40 for this block; this should be purchased, if possible, for all these pieces together with the adjoining one that has to be surveyed, will make a valuable block. Maumaupaki joins that of the Awakanae already purchased; the map is not yet completed, it will be about 3000 acres, is partly mineral land, good, but broken, this, with the Awakanae and Mahakirau, which contains 8385 acres, will make one block, which extends from Coromandel Harbour nearly to Mercury Bay, and will contain nearly 14,000 acres, on which parties wishing to prospect lor gold can go. Mahakirau also contains a fine kauri and totara forest; the last named timber will be invaluable for piles for Auckland Harbour, they can be easily procured, of any size or length. There is another block to be surveyed, which joins the Opito already purchased, and will complete that block. I should think it to be about 6or 800 acres, the land generally good. There is another block offered in the same district, which I will report upon as soon as I can investigate the nature of Haimona's claim. James Preece. March 10th, 1862.

No 22. JAMES PREECE, ESQ., TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Coromandel, 30th June, 1862. Sir, —> I have the honor herewith to transmit the deed for the Matarangi block, 892 acres ; this will be found to be a valuable block for mineral purposes. I have not as yet been able to get the deed for Kikowhakarere signed, the Natives have been so much engaged of late, but they have* promised me to do so as soon as they can, when I will immediately forward it to the office. I have, &c, James Preece. The Chief Commissioner, Native Land Purchase Office, Auckland.

No. 23. JAMES PREECE, ESQ., TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Coromandel, December 4th, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor herewith to forward two deeds for land, and also six receipts for monies that have been paid as deposits on land except the one to Horopeta, which was a loan from the*

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native office. Of the three hundred pounds given on Opito, fifty pounds has been paid back from Wheuua kite, forty more was paid on Opito in November 1861, which made £340 From Whenua kite paid back 50 From Opito 162 To be taken from Hahae £128 —Therefore there is an account of this deposit £125 to be deducted from the price of the Hahae block when that is purchased, on account of this party. Also RaWiri's receipt for the forty pounds will have to be deducted from that block should not he be able to sell his land at Whangainata first. Whairahi's fifty pounds will have to be taken from the first piece that will be sold by that party. Tikankao's one hundred and fifty pounds will be paid partly by the Hoho block and partly by that of Mahakirau. Tikaokao and Maka's forty pounds will have to be deducted-from Mah:„kirau, also Pumipi's four pounds. The sum of five pounds that was lent to Anaru has been returned and is now on hand. These are the only sums that have bceu paid by me; whatever has been paid by the land office the receipt must be there. I forward herewith a return of money which is on hand at the present date. I shall be in want of cash to complete the purchases that have beeu surveyed, also blank deeds for the same with a plan on the margin of each. I herewith enclose two letters, one from Mohi of Whangapon. 1 have pvromised him thirty pounds for bis piece at the Pungapuuga, which he agrees to take. He wanted me to give that for the land and to pay for the timber besides, but I told him that that could not be done ; he is only trying to see wbat he can do at the office ; the other letter is from some of Paora's natives who say that they were promised £15 for some islands at the Big Barrier, which they request should be paid. I have, &c, James Preece.

PROVINCE OF HAWKE'S BAY, DISTRICT OF NAPIER. No. 24. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Sir,— Auckland, May 21st, 1862. I have the honor to enclose copies of letters, addressed to his Honor the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay. To settle outstanding questions with the Natives, I obtained an advance of £485 from the Provincial Treasury at Napier, and I should feel obliged if you would cause that amouut to be refunded. For adjusting a difference that had been for some years pending withreferer.ee to Mr. Northwood's homestead, I obtained an assurance from that gentleman that he would pay £100 of the sum required to obtain secure possession of his homestead, which, with all its improvements, the Natives threatened to resume unless they receive a large annual rental. The circumstance of this case may be briefly stated as follows:— Mr. Northwood leased his run from the Natives, before any land purchases were made by the Government at Hawke's Bay. His homestead was included in a reserve of 448 acres subsequently made in one of these purchases. A part of the homestead was acquired in 1854 by Mr. Northwood for horses and goods to the value of £90, some of which horses have lately been returned by the Natives. Attempts were made to get this question settled which hitherto have only tended to further complication. In addition to the 448 acres marked off on the plan as a reserve, Te Hapuku claimed an extension of its southern boundary to Tuingara which would include about 2,500 acres more than the original quantity. I herewith enclose a tracing showing the land iu question. I requested Mr. Locke to proceed to Pourererc to mark off and define on the ground the boundaries of a burial ground and some cultivations for tbe Native Chief Moreura who resides on thei reserve. When this duty is completed, a plan of the the portion of land excepted from the present sale will be furnished to you. To enable the Government to arrive at a conclusion as to the share of the expenses which should be borne by Mr. Northwood, in settling this case, I shall be glad to afford you any further information on the subject you may require. The other cases being of a general nature do not require any further notice from nr.e. I should state, however, that there are other questions still pending at Hawke's Bay which will necessitate my returning there. Messrs. Cooper and Fitzgerald are engaged in surveying selections i=et part for the Natives in the Ruahine block, the settlement and arrangement of which will probably occupy a few more weeks. I have, &c., Donald McLean, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Chief Laud Purchase Commissioner. Auckland.

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No. 25. WELLINGTON PROVINCE. Werita's Pahua Block. This block is estimated to contain 110,000 acres of land and comprises Hale's run on the Coast, part of Cameron's run, A. Sutherland's run, extending inland to the Wainuioru river, including Smith's run. The chief Wereta when he offered this block for sale asked a sum of £3,500 for it; I objected to this sum as being too high, and proposed that the price should be determined after the extent of the block was ascertained by survey and the external boundaries aud reserves for the Natives marked off. A first instalment of £700 was paid to the Natives in October 1853; 157 claimants signed the Deed of Sale. In December, 1854, £100 was also paid, and subsequently in January 1855, at the urgent request of the Natives, I paid a further sum of £450, ou the understanding that the transaction should be final without reference to survey, the reserves for Te Wereta having been in the mean time defined. For several years the Natives offered no objections to these arrangements, and it was not until a change had taken place in their sentiments occasioned by tbe king movement that a large portion of the claimants began to repudiate Wereta's sale. The old chief who would not ally himself to the king party was constantly assailed by them; until he was at length impelled for the sake of the peace aud safety of the settlers to join with them in an endeavour to obtain a farther payment. The Natives were much encouraged in this opposition in consequence of one of their chiefs, Hoera, having been offended by a settler (Mr. Smith) who resides ou a portion of the block. It appears that this chief, who had been travelling all day, was very much exhausted; he wanted food and requested some from the European, who, instead of giving him any, ordered him off the place; the chief related this circumstance to the first tribe he visited, the Ngaitahu at Hurunuiorangi, also claimants to the land in question, when it was resolved that the European should be driven off, as they"all had experienced similar treatment wheu they visited his place. This feeling has been gainiug ground to such an extent, that the Natives now desire to resume about 30,000 acres of the block, including all that portion of it occupied by Smith, and offer to give up the residue, 80,000 acres, for the money received by them unless they obtain the full amount demanded by Wereta in the first instance of £3,500; less what has been already paid to them, amounting to £1,250. I informed the Natives at several meetings held at Greytown, that land once alienated, could not again be resumed by them, that the Deeds of Cession containing their own full concurrence in the sale, had been forwarded to the Governor, aud that any material deviation from the terms of those Deeds must be referred to His Excellency, as I had no power to alter arrangements once coucluded without the Governor's sanction. The Natives after full deliberation, openly allowed, that they had no fault to find with the manner in which the negociations were conducted on the part of the Government, that the blame rested with their own chiefs, whose acts iu terminating the payment for the block, they would not ratify, excepting to such portions as they, the chiefs, had the exclusive right to alienate'. The acts of the chief's, were, at the time when the payment was concluded, considered fully binding upon all parties interested in the laud, aud they generally recognise Wereta's power to conclude this sale. The changes, however, that have taken place, have greatly diminished this influence, aud attempts are constantly made to upset the acts of the chiefs by the more turbulent and discontented members of their own and other tribes who are countenanced in any opposition to the Government by the numerous delegates that visit them from disaffected districts. To assert their independence of Te Wereta, the Ngatikoura, Ngatihikawera, Ngatiparera, and Ngaitahu who have no chiefs among them of influence, and who formerly recognised Te Wereta's power, declared that they would repossess themselves of their own portion of the block, and expel Messrs. Smith and Sutherland. The Natives afterwards became more moderate, but not less decided, in their tone, and agreed among themselves, that each hapu should dispose separately of their interest in the block. Considering the large extent of the block, and that its cost even at the amount demanded, would not exceed Bd. per acre, I deemed it judicious to make them an offer of £500, together with the five per cent, accruing on the purchase up to that time; this offer was declined. The Natives fully expected that His Excellency Sir George Grey would visit the Wairarapa, when this case would be brought under his notice. As His Excellency cannot now carry out his expressed intention of going there for some time, I apprehend the Natives may carry cut their threats of expelling the Europeans. I may state toat this is the only question of real importance that has to be settled in the Wairarapa District. From the extent of the purchase, Ido not think that an additional payment for it would be regarded as a precedent, more especially as the Natives consider all other sales' made by them as conclusive, excepting where, some small differences arise about boundaries of reserves, although individual attempts are made to raise money on fictitious grounds. The further action to be taken in reference to this case is herewith submitted for the consideration and decision of His Excellency's Government. Donald McLean. March 10th, 1862.