A.—No. 4.

Ngatiwehiwehi, Erina Te One, Te Kooro Te One, Ema Te Bangiotu, Mukakai, Ateria Te Whena, Eeihana Te Piki, Te Horo, Eeupena Te One, Hoani Te Puke, Te Kipihana, Hori. Epiha Te Moanakino, No. 9. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. the Native Minister to His Honor I. E. Featiiebston. (No. 362.) Native Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 17th July, 1866. In reply to your letter of 30th ultimo, enclosing notes of your proceedings in connection with the Eangitikei-Manawatu Block, I have to express my regret that my absence from Wellington until yesterday has prevented its reaching me at an earlier date. I have not yet had time to read the notes with the attention they deserve, but I observe in the concluding paragraph you state, " The deed will be signed by over a thousand Natives, and on its completion the purchase money will be handed over to certain chiefs, as in the case of the Upper Manawatu and other purchases, to be nominated by a general meeting of the tribes at Parewauui (Eangitikei), of which sufficient notice will be given. The chiefs will divide and distribute the money in such manner as may be agreed on among the tribes sharing it, and it is not anticipated that any difficulty will arise." May I request that before you make any payment you will be so good as to refer to the Hon. Colonel Haultain's letter of the 3rd May, 1806, enclosing, with other papers, an extract from a memorandum in this office respecting outstanding land purchases, which memorandum requires that, beyond the payment of such instalments as may be actually and immediately due, na further action should be taken until a report, therein described, had been furnished to the Governor through the Native Minister. I lose no time in informing you that I have not yet received, for the purpose of laying before His Excellency, such a report as is required by the memorandum transmitted by the Hon. Colonel Haultaiu for your guidance. I have, &c, His Honor I. E. Featherston, A. H. Eussell. Land Purchase Commissioner. No. 10. Copy of a Letter from Eawiri Te Waniti and others to the Hon. the Native Minister. El a Te Eatana, Minita o Noa Tangata Maori,— Otaki, 19 Hurae, 1860. Tena koe! E hoa kua rongo matou c haere mai ana ate Petatone kite kawe mai ite inoni mo Eangitikei. E hoa kia rongo mai koe ko to matou whenua i Eangitikei kaore matou c pai ki a poke kau mai nga twi ke me nga tangata ke ki tehoko, he tika koia ki a poke kau atu tetahi tangata ki runga kite whenua whare ranei a tetahi tangata hoki ai ? Kaore ra taua tangata c pai ma te tangata ke he hoko. He tika koia ki ta te ture tenei tv mahi c mahia nei c te Petatone ratou ko ona hoa, c tika ana koia ki ta koutou titiro te mahi ate Petatone? Xi ta matou c ho ana, kaore c tika ki ta te ture. Ehe ana, me whakahe hoki c koutou. Kaua c tukua mai a te Petatone kia haere mai kite whakararuraru haere i waenga i a tatou, engari mahia kite ritenga o te ture, whakawakia matou me te Petatone ratou ko ona hoa hoko ito matou whenua. Whakaaetia mai tenei c koutou tukua atu te whakawakanga ki Poneke. Na Eawiri Te Wanui, „ Te Kepa Kerikeri, „ Pita Pukeroa, „ Eota Tahiwi, „ Wiremu Wharewhiti. [translation.] To Coloxel ErssELL, Native Minister,— Otaki, 19th July, IS6G. Salutations to you! O Friend, we have heard that Dr. Featherston is coming to bring the money for Eangitikei. O Friend, give need, as regards our land at Eangitikei, we are not willing that other tribes and other men leap on to it and sell it. Is it right that a party not interested take upon himself to sell land, or a house, belonging to some one else ? No, that person would not agree to it, for another man to sell it, in that way. Is such doing in accordance with the law, that which Dr. Featherston and his colleagues are doing ? Is that which Dr. Featherston is doing correct in your estimation ? To our mind it is wrong; it is not according to law, it is wrong ;do you also condemn it. Let not Dr. Featherston come here, and go on disturbing the (relations which exist) between you and us. But rather carry it out in accordance with the law. Let the Court decide between Dr. Fcatherston and his friends, the sellers of our land on the one part, and us on the other part. That is aIL Eawiri Te Wanui, Kepa Kerikeri, x Pita Pukeroa, x Eota Tahiwi, x Wiremu Wharewhiti.

32

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO