7

C—No. 3

immediately told by Tikao, Te Uki, Kaokao and the rest, that, if I did so, they would attack the Southern Natives. The next day the latter, one after another, came forward and requested me to give them the amount due to them; but as the turbulent part remained in the same resolve as the day before, and it was very clear that a disturbance must ensue if I persisted in making a partial payment, I abandoned the idea; and in the afternoon arranged with the well-disposed mem that they should remain at Akaroa until the Lieutenant-Governor's decision on the question should be known; while I, taking with me John Topi of the Southern, and Matiaha Tiramorehu of the Northern Natives, would at once set out for Wellington. Before leaving I requested the Resident Magistrate to supply provisions to the Natives who had accompanied me from Otago: pointing out the necessity of a second supply should an unexpected long interval occur before the receipt of His Excellency's decision. The next morning (24th January) I left Akaroa and reached Pigeon Bay: here a north-east gale detained us during the rest of the day, as my intention was, if possible, to overtake the cutter " Fly," which I could not hope to do by land. A southerly gale having , sprung up in the night, we embarked next morning in a whaleboat and after a rapid though dangerous run came up with the " Fly" at the heads of Port Cooper, underweigh for Wellington. Mr. Fox, the principal agent of the New Zealand Company having politely consented to receive us on board, we embarked, and reached Wellington on Saturday morning, 27th January, ulto., when I had the honor, through the Private Secretary, of reporting my return. Had I awaited at Akaroa the opportunity of returning, I might have been detained more than two months. I enclose for more easy reference a tabular arrangement of the population, reserves, and payments, which I hope will be found sufficiently clear. I must, in accordance with my promise to the Natives, prefer their request that the June and December instalments be paid together in December next. According to the present arrangement the sum for division is so small that no individual can hope by fair means to obtain sufficient to invest in any way likely to be of permanent use to him. I would also strongly recommend that Mr. Commissioner Kemp's proposition to pay part of each instalment in Otago and part in Akaroa be carried out; from Timaru northward at the latter, and from the same place southward at the former. My confidence in the justice of my proposed partition of the instalments is unshaken by the dishonest clamour of Tikao and the Ngaituhauriri, and I cannot conscientiously recommend any deviation from it:—nay more, —I am convinced that such deviation would tend to render inevitable those disturbances, which, should my decision appear just to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, a firm support of it would render impossible. I transmit herewith certain letters entrusted to me, and belonging to the department of the Private Secretary. I would request you to do me the honor of returning them to the proper office. My mission is now ended; but in submitting to the Lieutenant-Governor this account of my fulfilment of the duty entrusted to me, I would beg you to express to His Excellency my thanks for the honor conferred upon me by the appointment, and my high sense of the confidence reposed in me; and I cannot conclude without adverting to the untiring zeal and unwearied energy of the Surveyor who accompanied the expedition, my late fellow-traveller, Mr. Wills; and I would beg to be permitted to record here my thanks to that gentleman for the cordial support and valuable assistance which I have invariably received from him through all the difficulties and privations which we encountered. I have, &c. (Signed) Walter Mantell. Commissioner for Extinguishing Native Claims. To the Honorable Colonial Secretary, &c, &c, &c.,