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Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 10th January, 1850. SlK, — I have had the honor to receive, and lay before the Lieutenant Governor, your letter of the 27th ultimo, reporting that, in pursuance of instructions from Mr. Fox, you had discontinued the survey of the Block of Land for the Nanto-Bordelaise Company ; and at the same time forwarding Maps of the Government and Native Reserves at Akaroa and Bank's Peninsula. In reply, His Excellency has directed me to inform you, that your duties, so far as the Government is concerned, have terminated ; and I am to take this opportunity of conveying to you His Exeellency's thanks for the manner in which you have discharged the service confided to you. I have, &c, (Signed,) Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary. Octavious Carrington, Esq., Akaroa. Sydney-street, Wellington, March 13, 1851. Sir,— In accordance with the desire of the Governor-in-Chief, expressed in conversation on the 10th instant, I do myself the honor of submitting to you for His Excellency's information, the following suggestions relative to the contemplated purchase and partial exploration of the Southern portion of the Middle Island. The Native owners of the district reside, I believe, principally on Stuart's Island and Ruapeke, and a few in the neighbourhood of Otago. The first step would be to assemble and confer with these and, in company with some part of them, to visit the various settlements on the proposed purchase. I am not aware that there are more than a very inconsiderable number of Natives actually resident in these settlements, and have been informed that these few are mostly mere hangers-on of the Europeans scattered along the coast. With regard to the numerous petty land claims of the latter, I would suggest that distinct instructions be given to the Commissioner for the purchase of the district: on the question of Native Reserves also, as some may be necessary, I should wish to be fully instructed. In carrying out the spirit of my instructions on the block purchased by Mr. Kemp, 1 allotted on an average, ten acres to each indivinual, in the belief that the ownership of such an amount of land, though ample for their support, would not enable the Natives in the capacity of large landed proprietors, to continue to live in their old barbarism on the rents of an uselessly extensive domain. With respect to the equipment necessary, it must be borne in mind that in parts, especially toward the West Coast, overland communication is reported to be impracticable ; I would therefore recommend the chartering of a serviceable coaster sufficiently large to carry a useful boat: the vessel, if such a course were sanctioned by Government, might be useful in payment for the territory to be acquired ; In such a craft too, the Natives resident on the Western portion of the block purchased by Mr. Kemp might be visited and some idea obtained of the nature and valuo of that country. I have been unable to ascertain what season is the best for such an expedition : I may state, however, that from what experience I have had of the climate of the Middle Island, the earliest spring (July and August,) would be the most favourable time for commencing it. The first harvest would, for some time, distract many of the Natives from the busiaess of the Mission, but I doubt not that the presence of the chiefs most interested might be secured. On the subject of the scientific exploration of the country, it is almost needless for me to remark that the amount of information acquired must depend in a great measure on the time and means placed for that purpose at the disposal of the purchaser : but, whatever may be the restrictions necessary in this respect, a constant attention to the subject on his part, and overland journeys, whenever practicable may, with little if any additional expense to the Government, enable him to ascertain with tolerable accuracy the geological structure and mineral wealth of the country, and any features in its zoology or botany in which it may differ from those portions of the Islands with which we have been longer acquainted. I have, &c., (Signed,) Walter Mantell. To His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, Wellington. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 14th April, 1851. Sir,— With reference to your communication of the 13th ultimo, offering certain suggestions relative to the contemplated purchase and partial exploration of the Southern portion of the Middle Island, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency has had the subject under his consideration, and that as you executed the duties on which you were previously engaged, in purchasing so large a portion of the Middle Island in a very satisfactory manner, His Excellency thinks you have established a fair claim to be entrusted with the charge of purchasing the remaining portion of that Island ; for the due performance of which duty, the experience and knowledge of such subjects which you have already acquired must specially qualify you.