C—No. 1

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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