APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

G.^-Xo. i

30

To Me. Halse,— Waikanae, Bth June, 1871. Salutations. Tour letter to Wi Tako has been received, and he has requested me to write to you. I now answer your question as to the price. It is Is. 6d. per lb. That is what we want, and only on getting that price will we give the flax. Sufficient. Tour friend, Wi Tamihana Te Neke.

(No. 27.; —The Hon. the Native Ministee to Chaieman.—Alexandra, 28th February, 1871. I have the honor to request that a sample of the Maori flax, for which the Government have undertaken to give £40 per ton, may be sent to Mr. Hunt, the Manager of the Waikato Navigation Company at Newcastle, together with a memorandum of what quantity of it the Commissioners would be prepared to take from Waikato.

(No. 45*.) —Chaieman to Mr. Hunt, Manager Waikato Navigation Company.— 11th March, 1871. At the request of the Hon. Mr. M'Lean, I transmit to you a sample of flax dressed by the Natives at Waikanae, for half a ton of which the Flax Commissioners have agreed to pay £20 on delivery, and, also, if valued at a higher rate in England, the nett balance after the expenses of transmission have been deducted. The Commissioners would be glad to obtain a like quantity on the same terms from the Waikato district, if the Natives can be induced to prepare it, and authorise you to make the necessary arrangements, provided it can be delivered within three months from this date.

(No. 71.)—Mr. R. R. Hunt to Chaieman.—sth May, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 11th March last, enclosing samples of Native dressed flax, and authorising me to procure half a ton of a similar article from the Natives in this district, at £20, provided it can be delivered within three months from 11th March. I have delayed replying till I could send you some definite information, which I now do, in the following extract from a letter from Mr. Searancke, R.M., through whose influence with the Natives I have been enabled to obtain a sample, and promises to produce Muka. Extract from Mr. Searancke's letter: —" I hope to get the Muka dressed at Karakariki so soon as the Natives have finished their potato digging, maize gathering and drying, and wheat thrashing. I may tell you that this is not the right time of year to get Natives to go to work cleaning flax, at least to commence it, but let winter once set in and I believe that flax dressing will set in with it; until then I can hold out no hopes of your obtaining the article you require." From the above you will see that unless you extend the time for delivery that the flax cannot be produced. I would, therefore, suggest the extension of time till next spring, when the half ton of Muka would be forthcoming, fully equal to your sample.

(No. 99.)—Chaieman to Mr. Richaed R. Hunt.—27th May, 1871. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of sth instant, and to inform you that the Commissioners, though they regret your not being able to procure half-a-ton of Native dressed flax by the date they had formerly fixed, will still be glad to receive it as soon as, with your assistance, and that of Mr. Searancke, it is possible to be procured.

(No. 44.*)—Chaieman to R. W. Woon, Esq., R.M.—llth March, 1871. Referring to your letter of the Ist February, with which you transmitted two specimens of flax, dressed by the Natives of the Wanganui River, I have the" honor to inform you that the Flax Commissioners will be glad to obtain half a ton of the same quality as the samples, if the Natives will supply it on the terms agreed to with Wi Tako, of Waikanae, viz.: —£2o to be paid on delivery of the half ton, which will be sent to England, and, if it is valued at a higher rate, the nett balance, after deducting expenses of transmission, will also be paid to the sellers. The flax must be prepared before the 31st May next.

(No. 73.)—Mr. Woon to Dr. Hectoe.—26th May, 1871. Natives have disappointed me at the last moment about the half-ton of flax; their excuse being deaths amongst the tribe.