A.—No. 4.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from His Honor Dr. Feathehstox to the Hon. Colonel Hatjltajx. Superintendent's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 7th May, 1860. In reply to your letter of the 30th ultimo (No. 243) I have the honor to state that T shall be prepared to furnish you with a report of my proceedings as Land Purchase Commissioner in connexion with the purchase of the Manawatu Block, shortly after the arrival in town of Mr. Buller, who is daily expected. I beg to thank you for the enclosures in your letter. I have, &c, I. E. Featiiehstox, The Hon. Colonel Haultain. Superintendent. No. 4. Copy of a Letter from His Honor Dr. Featherstox to the Hon. Cor.oxEL Haultain. Superintendent's Oilier. Sin— Wellington; 7th May, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, forwarding me the substance of an extract from a memorandum of the Native Secretary's Office, respecting outstanding land purchases, and also enclosing copies of sundry letters and documents relating to the Manawatu purchase, and in reply to tender you my thanks for the same. I have. &c., I. E. Feathebstox, The Hon. Colonel Haultain. Superintendent. No. 5. Copy of a Letter to the Hon. the Native Mixistee to His Honor T. E. Featherstox. Native Secretary's Office, Sik,— Wellington, Dili May, 1866. I have the honor to forward, for your information, a copy of notes of an interview which I had this morning with a number of jVaiiws of the Ngatiraukawa tribe on the subject of the sale of the Manawatu Block. Also, copies of letters as per margin.* I have, Ac, T. M. H.UT.TAIX, His Honor I. E. Featherson, Wellington. In the absence of the Native Minister. -Enclosure 1 in. No. 5. Notes of an interview between the Hon. Colonel Hauxtain, acting for the Native Minister^ and thirty-five Natives of the Ngatiraukawa tribe, on the subject of the sale of the Manawatu Block. After some preliminary conversation. Henare Ilerekau, in the name of all present, suited the object of the interview. He said that those present represented the Ngatiraukawa tribe, who were opposed to the purchase of their land by Dr. Fcatlierston. In the first instance only eight of their tribe agreed to the sale; subsequently, however, in consequence of the representations of Dr. Featherston and Mr. Buller, seven more agreed, and ultimately seventeen. Those present, however, were unnanimouslv opposed to the sale ; and not one of them had signed the agreement. Parakaia Ponepu then spoke and said that ho came to protest against Dr. Featherston's statement that 1100 natives consented to the sale. He had not seen that number, and those who consented belonged to strange places; they came, he believed, from various parts of Wanganui. Colonel Haultain then informed them that Dr. Featherston had not yet sent in any report to ilie Government of what had taken place in respect of the purchase of the Manawatu Block, but when Mr. Buller came down a full report, would be made to the Government. In the meantime they were not in a position to state what they would do, not having sufiicieut information to enable them to judge of the case. r» Ho wished them to leave a document signed by all of them stating their objection to the sale to Dr. Featherston. Parakaia then read a document, (Enclosure 1), which was to be accepted as expressing the opinion of all present. In reference to this document Parakaia said that they had applied first to Mr. FitzGerald, secondly to the Bishop, and thirdly to the Grovernment, and expressed in general terms strong disapproval of the course taken by Dr. Featherston in respect of their land. Colonel Haultain then told them that he would take the letter, and it should be considered by ihe Government when they had received Dr. Featherston's report. In the meantime they might rest satisfied that no sale would be allowed, unless the owners of the land agreed to it. * Nepfc, Taratoa, ami others, to His Excellency—-Rangitikei, 2-ith April, 1800. Xepia. Taratoa, and others, to Captain Russell—Otaki, 30th April, 1860, Aperahama te Huruhuru, and other*, to Runangae of Wellington, C'hri.-lelunvh, Auckland, and England —Otaki, 30th Aptfl, 18G0.

11

THE MANAWATTT BLOCK.