RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

C—No. 1

9

The proximity of Wairarapa renders the ideas of the Natives most extravagant on this subject. I have, &c, Donald McLean, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Land Commissioner. Wellington.

No. 3. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, WELLINGTON. Hawke's Bay, January 23rd, 1851. Sir,— I have the honor to report that since my letters of the 21st and 28th ultimo, the Natives off Ahuriri have agreed to sell another fine district of land in extension of the block offered by them at the public meeting held at the Waipukurau, the particulars of which I have already communicated. There are several portions of land such as the head land, and water frontage, at the Ahuriri river and harbour, which the Natives are retaining for the purposes of fishing and trading, and which, together with some belts of timber reserved by them, it would be very desirable to purchase, even at a higher price than is usually paid for waste lands. Wood is rather scarce in this district, and the land about the harbour would be indispensable for the purpose of a Government settlement. To prevent the expense of future negotiations, and obviate the difficulty of hereafter acquiring land when its value is enhanced by the location of English settlers, I shall act until further orders under the impression that it is the desire of Government to acquire, consistently with a due regard to the interests of the Natives, as great an extent of land, especially between this and the Wairarapa, as it is possible for me to purchase. From the desire by several parties, some of whom are named in the margin, to obtain sheep runs for which this country is peculiarly adapted, I have reason to expect that in a few years a considerable revenue may be realized from the Ahuriri. With a view of extending the coast frontage of the block offered for sale at the Ahuriri harbour, T intend in a day or two, to visit some of the claimants at the Mohaka river, about 30 miles north of this place, thence to extend my journey to Turanga, to give the people here time to save their wheat crops, and to acqu're information for the Government respecting the Natives in that quarter, some of whom are interested in the negotiations in which lam now engaged. After my return from Turanga another general meeting of the Heretannga tribes will be held at Pa Tangata, to consider the boundaries and extent of the block recently offered for sale, after which it would he desirable to have the necessary surveys vigorously carried on. Hoping that you will have the goodness to notice these proceedings to His Excellency the Governor in Chief and the Lieutenant Governor. I have, &c, Donald McLean, To the Hon. the Colonial (secretary, Land Commissioner. Wellington. __^_^^__^_^^^__^__^^___^_

No. 4. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO niS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B. Hawke's Bay, 14th March, 1851. Sir,— As your Excellency must feel interested in hearing from different parts of the Island, I beg . to forward, by the present opportunity, duplicate of letter connected with my late visit to Turanga or Poverty Bay district, the (original of which I sent to Auckland,) in case your Excellency might have arrived there. In proceeding to Turanga, I took an inland route from Te Wairoa, returning by the coast to see the country, the principal chiefs, and the different whaling establishments, the largest of which is at Table Cape, a narrow neck of land, about fifteen miles long by six wide. On this peninsula, usually called by its Native name, "Te Mahia," there were twenty-six boats employed this season in sperm whalin", and upwards of 400 souls, including a large majority of Natives : and Europeans from almost all nations are employed, or in some measure depending, on what is realized from these fisheries. This year they have been more unfortunate than usual, having only caught thirty-three tons of oil. This is attributed to the number of whaling vessels from Hobart Town and other places, that hover off the Bay, and prevent the whales from setting into the shoals, where they were usually captured by the land parties. There seems also to bs a great want of unanimity among the different European parties, and an entire absence of such regulations as might prevent them from wantonly injuring each other's interests. The occasional visit of a Resident Magistrate, to adjust disputes at these places, would be productive of much good. Te Matenga, on« of the Chiefs at the whaling station, offered to sell a block of land at Nuhaka, which he pointed oat to me ; and at the vVairoa a small but valuable tract of land was offered by one of the principal chiefs. In coining along, I also obtained an extension of the Ahuriri block towards

General.

J. Thomas, Esq., —, Tiffen, „ Mr. GolUnd, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Munn, Mr. Villiert.

General.