P.—No. 8.

No. 1. The Hon. D. McLean to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Wellington. S IE) — Native Office, Wellington, 2nd November, 1871. From intelligence received from Eangitikei, I am glad to be able to inform you that Mr. Carkeek is progressing satisfactorily with the survey of reserves in that district. I beg to suggest to your Honor that it would bo most advisable that the Native reserves should be accurately defined and laid out before the subdivision of the lands for sale and settlement. In almost every instance where this step has been omitted, delays have occurred and differences with the Natives have frequently arisen, which might otherwise have been easily avoided if this necessary preliminary had been more fully attended to. I have, &c., His Honor tho Superintendent, Wellington. Donald McLean.

No. 2. The Hon. D. McLean to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Wellington. Sic— Native Office, Wellington, 30th March, 1872. Eeferring to the suggestions made by your Honor in a conversation held with you on the subject of the Eangitikei-Manawatu Block, I have the honor to inform you that I entirely concur with your views on the subject of the resumption by you of the management of these lands. I have already intimated to your Honor that the main difficulties connected with this question have been removed. They consisted chiefly in the surveys and definition of reserves and boundaries; and now all arrangements concerning the larger reserves, and those whose adjustment was attended with the greatest difficulties, have been completed so as to obviate any future complications. At the same time, there are still details to be settled, such as the definition of burial grounds, eel lagoons, &c. Tour Honor is aware of the importance often attached by Natives to isolated spots of this kind, and of the advantage which in many cases attends the surrender of a few acres situated in localities where the land is not of much value. With regard to the surveyors whom you so promptly placed under my instructions to mark off the Native reserves, I consider that the time has now arrived for re-transferring them to your Honor, and for the discontinuance of advances for their pay. Ido not think that the services of more than one will be necessary to complete the arrangements entered into by me with the Natives, and for this service I would suggest the employment of Mr. Morgan Carkeek, who was present at the several interviews affecting the reserves. Among the unfinished transactions, there is one touching two mortgages—one, for one thousand pounds; the other, for five hundred pounds. On the thousand pounds mortgage, the Natives have already obtained an advance of three hundred pounds, leaving them to receive a sum of twelve hundred pounds altogether. This is to be paid, at the request of the Natives, on the completion of all surveys in which Ngatikauwhata are interested, and on the final definition of all reserves. It has also been arranged that maps should be furnished, signed by the Natives prior to the payment of the money, and that some of the leading chiefs should give the necessary authority for Mr. Macdonald to receive it for them, and should attend in Wellington to witness the payment. The drafts of the deeds are now in the hands of the Attorney-General for preparation. Instructions will be issued to the Treasury to enable you to obtain the above-named sum of twelve hundred pounds when required. I have, &c., Donald McLean. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington.

No. 3. The Hon. W. Fitzheebeet to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 29th June, 1872. Eeferring to your letter of the 30th March last, No. 1,304, in which you inform me that instructions will be issued to the Treasury to enable me to obtain twelve hundred pounds when required, I have now the honor to inform you that I shall probably require the above-named sum on Monday next, and shall be obliged by your giving the necessary instructions for it to be placed at my disposal. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Superintendent.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE MANAWATU-RANGITIKEI PURCHASE.