D.—No. 8.

No. 1. Mr. Commissioner Beckitam to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Silt, — Compensation Court, Auckland, 10th June, 1865. Adverting to your letter of the 29th April, 1865, requesting me to investigate the claim of Mr. T. Leddra Wallis, on account of injuries inflicted on his son Joseph Coates Wallis, by the rebel Natives: I have the honor to report that I have made a strict inquiry into his case, and find from the evidence of medical men (vide Enclosure) that the wounds which the boy received will incapacitate him from earning a livelihood, and that he will be constantly liable to inflammation of the brain, from the excitement and bustle of life, in consequence of the brain being exposed to injury by the removal of a portion of the skull, and beg to recommend for the consideration of the Government, that the sum of Five hundred pounds (£500) be awarded for his benefit. Should the Government take a favorable view of his case, I would suggest that the sum awarded be invested for the boy's sole benefit. I annex a copy of the inquiry. , I have, &c., The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Thomas Beckham, Commissioner.

Enclosure to No. 1. TJwmas Leddra Wallis, states :—I was a settler residing at the Wairoa in the year 1863. "When my eon who is now in Court, was wounded, I was residing at Papakura. The child now in Court is the one for whom I claim compensation for injuries he sustained. He is my son and will be twelve (12) years of age in the month of October next. On the 13th of October, 1863, the child now present was sent with the late Mr. Job Hainlyn to the Wairoa. Mr. Job Hamlyn was shot dead, and my son, now present, was found near him all but dead from severe tomahawk wounds. The body of Mr. Job Hamlyn was found on the Wairoa Road, at the entrance of the bush, on the 13th October, lsi;:!. William llai/nrr, states : —I am Assistant Surgeon in the -4th Waikato Regiment of Militia. I recollect the circumstance of Mr. Job Hamlyn being shot. He was murdered, supposed to be by the rebel Natives. This occurred on the 13th October, 1863. I was at that time stationed at Papakura, about four or five miles from the place of the murder. The boy Joseph Coates Wallis was brought to Papakura, and was received into the Military Hospital there by order of the Brigadier. I examined the boy, he was then insensible. He had an extensive incised wound on the left cheek extending from the outer angle of the eye to the extremity of the nose, which had evidently been inflicted by the sharp edge of a tomahawk. That wound was accompanied by the fracture of the molar bono ; in addition to this he had received a fracture of the skull, a portion of the frontal bone being depressed. I was compelled to perform the operation of trepanning in order to relieve the pressure upon the brain, and to restore sensibility. Those were the only wounds he had received. After the operation sensibility was restored. The fracture of the skull was evidently done by the hammer end of the tomahawk. I am of opinion that the wounds have progressed most favorably, and that the wound on the cheek will not interfere with the lad's prospects, further than the disfigurement of the face ; but the brain being exposed to injury by the removal of the jiortion of skull will render him liable at any time, from the excitement and bustle of life, to inflammation of the brain. The action of the sun, if exposed to its rays, would seriously affect him. In fact anything of an exciting nature would have a prejudicial effect: the injuries however will not affect his physical powers. At present the brain is not impaired, but excitement might impair it at any moment. Mental application would affect the brain: it would not be safe for him to apply to study, nor can I say that it would be safe for him to apply himself to severe study at any future time. I had observed that the boy was afflicted with partial paralysis of the left side before he received the wound. The severe wounds he has received inflicted a severe shock upon the system, and may have for a time affected the weak side. The wounds inflicted would hare been more likely to affect the opposite or the right side. Joseph Coates Wallis, states:—l recollect going to Wairoa with the late Mr. Job Hamlyn. We started from Papakura together on one Sunday morning about eighteen months ago. Ido not recollect the month. We had been to the Wairoa, and on our return I saw a Native who came after me. I have no recollection of what happened to me, neither do I recollect what happened to Mr. Hamlyn. I heard Mr. Hainlyn screech before the Native got up to me. Thomas Moore Philson, states : —1 am Provincial Surgeon, and have examined the boy Thomas Coates Wallis in conjunction with Dr. Rayner. I have discovered the traces of the wounds, similar to those described in the evidence given by Dr. Rayner. In my estimation, the effects of the wounds will render him an invalid for life. It will be necessary for him to use the utmost circumspection when occupied with his daily avocations. The wounds place him in an unfavorable position for earning his own livelihood, and are of such a nature as to render it extremely problematical whether he will be enabled to do so. I consider him invalid for life.

No. 2. Mr. Commissioner Beckham to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Compensation Court, Graham's Buildings, Sir, — Auckland, 17th June, 1805. Adverting to your communication of the 29th April, 1865, referring me to the Journals of the House of Representatives, IS6I, for a Schedule of Petitions to the House specially referred to Government, preferring claims for compensation arising out of the rebellion in the Province of Auckland, and requesting me " to investigate and report on them for the information of Government," I have the honor to inform you that I have investigated the claim of D. McCaskill (£1,640), but find that the applicant has no right whatever to compensation, as his farm was occupied during the whole period for which he claims recompense. Moreover, had the farm been abandoned, the particulars of his claim are of such a nature that Ido not think they could be recognized.

REPORTS ON CLAIMS FOR LOSSES ARISING OUT OF THE NATIVE REBELLION.