35

C—No. 3.

sth. The sum of £500 is quite insignificant in comparison with the £15,000 or £20,000" or more, ■which part of their land has alread} been sold for, and for which they seek to obtain but £500: they might with every shew of justice and reason urge their right to receive from us the whole sum which has been paid to us for property still theirs at the time of payment. 6th. I feel fortified ia the views thus expressed by me, by the concurrent opinions of the Eevd. J. Aldred who interpreted, and Sir W. Congreve who was present at the meetings as an nc oncerned looker on. Both these gentlemen expressed themselves strongly on the justice of the demand for an additional sum of £300. To the latter gentleman lam indebted for much valuable information on the history of the Ngaitahu people, and their contests with the Te Kauparaha and the Ngatitoa. The whole of the foregoing observations are necessarily based upon the assumption that the Ngaitahu title to the country in question is thoroughly sound. I am in no position to enquire into the Ngatitoa side of the case. And, as Government have undertaken to treat for the land with Ngaitahu I must proceed on the belief that their title is recognized. Finally, I beg to remark that so strongly did I feel impressed with the justice of their case, that I was unable to argue against it at the meeting-s, with the Maories. And when they at last agreed to the terms I was able to offer, I regretted they had done so; for I felt convinced that in holding out for their demand of £500, and referring the proposal to His Excellency, it must inevitably have been acceded to. Any one advising them in their own interest, could not but have recommended such a course to them. I await with much anxiety His Excellency's decision in this matter : for, if an additional payment be not made, I shall cease to regret having been concerned in the bargain ; and I may say the same for Mr. Aldred, who interpreted. I have, &c,, (Signed) J. W. Hamilton, Agent for purchase of lands at Akaroa and Kaiapoi. P. S.—l enclose copy of Memorandum shewing the areas of the tracts referred to in this and other letters respecting the Ngaitahu lands, which the Chief Surveyor of this Province, Mr. Cass, has kindly furnished at my request. Kaiapoi, February sth, 1857. On completion of the purchase of the Kaiapoi lands as far as Waiau-ua and the Kaikoura land's from Waiau-ua as far as Pari-nui-o-whiti, I undertake to recommend the Governor to distribute a sum of Two Hundred Pounds among the Maories of Akaroa, Wairewa, Port Levy, Rapaki, Kaiapoi, and Kaikoura ; to be paid into the hands of the Chiefs, and of any claimants who may appear after completion of the purchases named. (Signed) J. W. Hamilton, Agent for Akaroa and Kaiapoi land purchase. Between the boundary line of Messrs. Mantell's and Kemp's purchases and the Waiau-ua, taking the sources of the Ashley, Hurunui and Waiau-ua as the western boundary of the block, the southern boundary being a line from Kaiapoi, old Pa, on Mount Thomas, (1,140,000 acres.) Between the Hurunui and the Waiau-au fron? the sources of these rivers. This tract is the portion of the recent purchase which lies in Nelson (480,000 acres.) Between the Waiau-ua and the Waiautoa (Clarence river), from their sources (1,000,000 acres.) Between the Waiau-toa and Awatere river, from their sources (757,760 acres). On the West coast, bounded on the North by the Mawhera, or Grey, (the boundary between the Provinces of Canterbury and Nelson) on the South by the Awaroa (the boundary between the Provinces of Canterbury and Otago) and on the East by a mountain range parallel with, and about 22 or 23 miles from the West coast ; contents about three millions of acres or about one fourth of the area of the whole Province. (Signed) T. Cass, Chief Surveyor. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, April 1, 1857. SlE,— With reference to ycur letter of the sth February last, recommending the payment of two hundred pounds to certain chiefs for the relinquishment of their claims to land in the Middle Island, I have much pleasure in informing you that the Government have decided to act in accordance with your suggestion, and the Sub-Treasurer at Lyttelton has been instructed to pay that sum to you, which you will be good enough to distribute among the chiefs in the manner indicated by yourself, leaving the question of a father sum of £100 to be paid or not as the Government may decide at some future time. I have the honor to be, &c, (Signed,) Donald McLean , , Chief Commissioner. J. W. Hamilton, Esq., Lyttelton.