C—No. 1

General. Further reference to the Waipukuiau.

Enclosure No. 2 in No. 1. Te Waipukurau, 16th December, 1850. Sir,— The Native Chiefs Paraone, Hoani, Morena, Te Waka, and others, informed me that you have been entering into anangements with them to lease tracts of land for sheep runs, that one or two of your flocks have actually arrived within a mile of this place where I am negotiating with the aforesaid Chiefs for the purchase of land, and that you have obtained their consent and signatures to a lease for a certain run for 21 years at (.£6O) Sixty pounds a year. I need scarcely tell you that theae unauthorised arrangements entail various evils, besides operating against purchases of land by the Government; moreover they are a direct violation of the "Native Land Purchase Ordinance, sees. 7, *"O. 19," the provisions of which I am directed to carry into effect. I have distinctly and publicly given notice to the (. hiefs, that the Government will not sanction the leasing of land from the Natives in this District ; therefore that they must consider your lease as cancelled, as no flockholders can be permitted to run their sheep here until the Government arrangements for the purchase of land are completed. I have therefore to request that you will make early preparations to remove your sheep from the Ahuriri plains. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Resident Magistrate. —. Tiffen, Esq.

Enclosure No. 3 in No. 1. December 17th, 1850. Sin,— I fully expected to have met you before leaving for Ahuiiri, when I should explain more fully to you the necessity that exists of your sheep being removed fiom here, and I feel certain that a verbal intimation to that effect would have been sufficient, but having spoken to the Natire Chiefs on the subject, I thought it necessary that you should at once be officially informed of the intentions of Government in reference to leasing runs in this district, 1 have, &c . Donald McLean. —. Tiffen, Esq., Aliuriri.

No. 2. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETART, WELLINGTON Ahuriri, December 28th, 1850. Sir,— I had the honor to address you on the 21st by the schooner " Rose," stating that I had held several meetings with the Natives of this district, at which they agreed to dispose of certain tracts of land, and that there was sufficient employment for two surveyors, to survey the external boundaries, estimate the extent of the purchases, and mark off the Native reserves. My reasons for applying for two surveyors are, first to expedite, as much as possible, the negotiations in which I am employed in this district, in order that a country may be opened up for the Wairaraua settlers, in which most of them may be able to obtain runs from the Government, and discontinue, without much disadvantage to themselves, the present system of leasing from the Natives. Secoudly, Hapuku, the principal chief, would be exceedingly jealous and displeased, if the laud offered by a rival chief Tareha, should be surveyed before his, which ig forty miles distant; although it is essential that Tareha's lar;d, in the neighbourhood of the Ahuriri harbour, where settlers are most likely to form their earliest establishment, should, if there is only one surveyor, be attended to first. By carrying on simultaneous surveys this jealousy could be avoided, and from the preliminary arrangements I shall make, awaiting further instructions, 1 hope to be able to superintend both parties, and conduct the service at less expense of both time, and means, than would eventually result from haying only one surveyor. The inland boundary of the Ahuriri block borders on the Taupo country, which will render a distinct survey of that part very necessary, if His Excellency favors this application by sending surveyors. Shortly, I shall write to the Taupo claimants to meet me at the interior boundary, to prevent their raiting fresh claims or future difficulties. The blocks of laud offered for sale by the Natives are not extensive, but as the tribes with whom I am negotiating are claimants to large tracts of unoccupied country, extending from Hawke's Bay to Manawatn and VVairarapa, I am in hopes that the Government may be enabled to carry on purchasing steadily towards tliese districts. The acquisition of the Ahuriri country will of itself be of great importance, from possessing- the safest, and I may say, only harbour on this side of the island, betweon Wellington and Tauranga on the North East coast. Until the surveys are progressed, and the couutry further explored, I cannot convey any idea of the terms of payment to be submitted for the Consideration of Governmenc.

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