4

described them. On Monday the survey was continued, but closed early, in consequence of the misconduct of a young man named Metehau, —who afterwards returned to the camp,—set fire to our hut, and was about to attack me with a tomahawk when he was stopped by the Natives. At daybreak the next morning he left for the Peninsula, and the survey concluded on the 7th. Having left a rough plan with Aperahama te Aika, at Rua Taniwa, we returned to Waimakariri, and set out a Reserve (No 2) of about 5 acres, —a plan of which we gave to Tainui. I further promised the Natives that the old pa, Kaiapoi, should be reserved by the Government, so that neither Native nor European might dwell there. It is about four acres in extent, and unsurveyed. Leaving plans of the Reserves, (copies of which I enclose), 1 and 2 at Port Levy, with Horomona Iwikau, to be delivered to Paora Tau on his return from Wellington, I reached Akaroa on the 15th of September. Kaiapoi, prior to its destruction by the Ngatitoa and their allies, having been the head quarters of the Ngaitahu, and the source from which issued successively the war parties, which, proceeding throughout the Island, virtually exterminated the Ngatimamoe,—the land around it has been densely populated; and the proprietorship is more minutely divided than in any other place which came within the sphere of my operations. Now, however, there are, including the Kaikainui census, not more than forty resident Natives between Kaiapoi and the Waikirikiri. Most of the Natives resident at Port Levy and other places on the Peninsula belong to, but do not occupy the district. These, and, (at their request,) those living at Moeraki and Murihiku, I considered in making the Tuahivvi Reserve. The principal men appear to be Paora Tau of Port Levy—and John Tikao of Akaroa; the latter, however, of questionable rank, but raised into notice by a little knowledge of the English language, and a great amount of audacity towards Europeans. Having completed my preparations, I sot out southward, and reached the small wretched settlement of Te Taumutu on the 23rd September, passing Wairewa, a small Kaika within the French claim. Here I had very little difficulty, Taiaroa and Maopo, the principal men of the place, hav'ng secured a share of the payment at the last distribution. Accordingly, after taking the census, I set apart the reserves (6 and 4) in the accompanying map; one or two gardens beyond the limits to be abandoned. I cannot here omit to mention that Maopo's house, court-yard, and gardens, were distinguished by great cleanliness and neatness, and that he conducted himself extremely well. Tiaki Tai, another leading man, was with his family absent on a visit to the south. On the 30th September we left Te Taumutu, and on the sth October reached the settlement of Waiteruati on the Rakipawa, having travelled with Tarawata, the principal man among the resident Natives. At the last payment Tarawata and his father Te Rehe received £20 between them, and this appears to have been the only sum received by the resident Natives here. He complained much of Horomona Pohio whom he accused of having appropriated an undue share of the payment for this place. During the progress of the surveys of the three Reserves at this place (of which I enclose a plan) Tarawata's influence appeared unquestionably predominant. He is a man of great determination; and, when roused, of ungovernable temper, but conducted himself throughout my intercourse with him in the best manner. He much wished me to reserve for him a spot inland of Timaru, where, he said, was a cliff of coal; but, as he refused to accompany me to the place, I was compelled to confirm my already expressed refusal to do so. Hence, in company with Tarawata and Taiaroa, who overtook us at Waiteruati, we went on to Timaru; and, after a day's detention by bad weather, surveyed the Reserve at Caroline Bay. As there is no water here in summer, save in a hole called Ponuihine, I guaranteed to the Natives the right to fetch water thence, in common with Europeans. The plans of this and the Umukaha Reserves are lodged with Tarawata. The boundaries claimed by the Umukaha people are from Hakatire to Makikihi, south of Timaru. The former is undisputed, but the southern part, to the lagoon Puarau (near to Umukaha) is claimed by Horomona Pohio and John Topi, I have myself, after carefully weighing the conflicting evidence, placed Tarawata's boundary at, that is to include, Motumotu whaling station; leaving the waste lands beyond to be included in the Waitaki payment. On the 20th October we took leave of Tarawata; and with Taiaroa resumed our journey south; — and on the 23rd reached Te Kapa's Kaika, Tauhinea, near the north bank of the Waitaki—this Kaika consisted of two huts, a wata, and a grave. The Natives were all absent, not having returned from Waikowaiti, whither they had gone with a hakari. We had depended on replenishing here our stock of food, but found none. I therefore next morning sent the party inland to make Mokihi's opposite to a Kaika, about six miles distant, which some men sent to explore had discovered over night;—and remained while Mr. Wills set out a small Reserve round Tauhinu, including the huts and cultivations. This I did, to avoid, if possible, the necessity of re-crossing the river. Rejoining the party, we safely passed the stream on a mokehi, found the opposite Kaika deserted, and no provisions but two baskets of potatoes. As Huruhuru, the Chief of Waitaki, was expected daily, I remained here a day, and then proceeded about thirty miles south, to Mr. Suistead's station at Otepopo; where, having sent an express to the Natives, I remained till the 3rd November, when Horomona Pohio came as representative of Huruhuru, detained at Waikowaiti by influenza. With him and several Natives, some belonging to Waitaki, I returned thither, and reached Te Punaomaru on the 7th. The next day we set out the Reserve at that place, of which I enclose the plan; and on the next I also reserved for the Natives the wood on the west bank of the Waikoura, on a precipitous gully, of which I did not deem a survey necessary. To Te Warekorari and Ranitawine, who, with their families, live 36 miles inland, at Te