COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

C—No. 1

20

Respecting sums required for Land Purchase, at

Enclosure No. 2, in No. 14. Estimate of sums required to effect new purchases, negotiations for which have been opened, and the amounts named to the Natives, but no instalments paid and for which the money should be provided. Hawke's Bay, Porangahau, North Block, £1,400 do. South do. 1,500 Forty mile Bush 1,500 Maraekakaho 1000 Otaranga 10C0 Waimarama 6)0 £7000 G. S. Cooper, District Commissioner1 i

No. 15. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Auckland, September 25,1856. Sir,— I In reference to my letter of the 22nd instant, I have the honor to state, that of the sum of Four thousand two hundred and twenty^five pounds required for the service of the Land Purchase Department in the Wellington Province during the ensuing quarter, an amount of Two thousand six hundred and twenty-five pounds will be sufficient for present emergencies in the Hawke's Bay District, if further arrangements can be made, by which the balance of £1600 can be made available within a reasonable time. For this purpose, I think it will be sufficient to remit a sum of £2,500 to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, directing that officer to pay me, on my requisition, an amount not exceeding the £2,625. in the whole, pending further instructions. I am not aware what arrangements are to be made as to the repayment of advances made to Native Chiefs; but, if recoveries under this head are to be paid over, as received by Commissioners, to the nearest public Accountant, the payments which I shall make to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, will more than provide for the additional £125. I have, &c., 1 G. S. Cooper, Donald McLean, Esq., District Commissioner. Chief Commissioner, Auckland.

No. 16. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO G. S. COOPER, ESQ., AUCKLAND. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, October 7th, 1856. Sir,— - I have the honor to request that you wlil proceed to Hawkes Bay in the schooner Krin, 0 which vessel will sail hence in the course of a few days. Upon youi arrival you will be good enough to make the payments to the Natives of that District, for services enumerated in the schedule enclosed herewith, amounting to the sum of Two thousand six hundrett and twenty-five pounds. The money for this purpose will be remitted by the Colonial Treasurer to the Sub-Treasurer at Napier, who will be instructed to advance to you from time to time, upon your requisition, such sums as you may require. You will account to the Sub-Treasurer for these advances as soon as possible, in the usual form of an account current, supported by the original deeds as vouchers. You will pay over to the Sub-Treasurer any monies recovered from Native Chiefs on account of advances made to them. The sums thus deposited will be subject to your requisition, should a necessity arise for your drawing them. You will inform the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Hawke's Bay of all arrangements you may make. With reference to the Blocks offered by the Natives at Porangahau and Waimarama, I should feel obliged by your ascertaining, if possible, whether they will accept the sum of One thousand four hundred pounds for the former, and six hundred pounds for the latter, reporting the result to me. You will also endeavour, as far as time will admit, to ascertain the sentiments of the Natives respecting the Forty Mile Bush. Mr. Bousfield has been appointed to lay informations under the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, in the place of Mr. Fitzgerald. You will be good enough to direct him to proceed at once against all squatters upon lands not acquired by the Crown from the Natives.

inducting District Commisaioner to proceed to