G.—s

6

Now, with regard to the Tuakau Block of 19,388 acres, or Mr. Campbell's lease, there was a question of disputed boundary and rival claimants, which progressed to such an extent that firearms were resorted to (see Major Eopata's letter herewith). One party of Natives seized the other party's chains, &c, and I suggested to the G-overnment that the same course should be taken as with the Waingaromia Block : they coincided, and it was attended with the best results. It will be seen in the attached correspondence that Mr. Wilson stated at the time, "this appears the best course to pursue." The land has since passed the Court, 12,612 acres having been awarded to one party and 6,776 acres to the other. I am sorry Mr. Wilson, having gone so far in casting inuendoes, should deem it expedient not to repeat a statement he alleges that I made to him regarding Mr. Campbell's survey. I consider it is my duty to report to G-overnment if reasons exist in my mind which lead me to think that a disturbance might arise in regard to any lands about to be brought before the Court, and, with their sanction, to take measures to prevent, if possible, such a catastrophe. I feel convinced that the action I took in both cases alluded to by Mr. Wilson tended much to the preservation of peace in the district, and prevented the Maoris from taking it for granted that, rightly or wrongly, the Government was determined to take their lands. The peace of the country appeared, to my mind of more consequence than the acquiring of a few thousand acres of a very rough country. I fear that like troubles from the indiscriminate payment of public moneys are not yet over in the district. After making these vague and malicious charges, Mr. Wilson goes over the same ground in another form. He then makes a charge in reference to surveyors not being supplied, &c. With regard to this, I would state that the law is clearly laid down on this point. The Inspector of Surveys or his deputy is responsible for this part of the business. The deput3r was not appointed to the district until about the beginning of last year ; prior to that I acted for all parties. I attach a memorandum sent in at that time in reference to the subject. The assertion that I had to put up a Native to cover the retreat of the Court is simply ridiculous. Instead of running off to Wellington, had Mr. Wilson remained at his post and attended to his duties in investigating the claims of the parties with whom he was dealing, he would not have made such an unfounded and splenetic remark. I was not at the Tologa Bay and Waiapu Courts, not being able to attend either. Mr. Campbell, R.M., was authorized by the Government to act at both places as District Officer, and not Captain Porter, as stated by Mr Wilson. Captain Porter is Land Purchase Officer in the Waiapu District, and not District Officer, it not being deemed right that the purchasing agent for the Government, any more than the private speculator, should interfere in Court. In conclusion, I would state that I have confined myself to facts in answering the charges that have been made against me, and that it is my urgent wish and request that a Board of Inquiry may be appointed to investigate the whole matter. S. Locke. Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 3. The Deputy Inspectob of Subveys to Mr. Locke. Sib,— Survey Office, Gisborne, 24th May, 1875. I have the honor to enclose a copy of the register in which all applications for surveys are entered, as received at this office, after your certificate has been attached to them. In reply to the question contained in telegrams received from you on the 23rd May instant, the survey of the following blocks, authorized by you prior to my appointment to this district, are not yet completed : —Tuakau, by Mr. Skeet; Waingaromia, by Mr. Eiffie; Tuawhatu, by Mr. Sheppard. I learn from Mr. Cooper, who is, I believe, acting as an agent for the Waingaromia Block, that Mr. Eiffie has finished the survey of the said block, but that he has gone back again to retake some bearings. Mr. Skeet, when at Gisborne, informed me that his men were cutting the lines of Tuakau, and that he intended to go on with the survey at once., Mr. Sheppard has finished the survey of Tuawhatu, but he has not yet sent in the plans. In reference to the Tuakau-Piranau dispute, after receiving your telegram, I sent Mr. Spencer with Mr. Teesdale to see the Natives, and he got Mr. Teesdale's instruments back for him. I sent a letter to Euka Aratapu and others, telling them to give back the surveyors' instruments ; that 1 had communicated with you on the dispute, and had received a reply that Sir Donald McLean desired to have the survey of both blocks gone on with ; that after the surveys were finished, the case would be heard by the Native Land Court. I also sent a letter to Judge Eogan, enclosing a copy of your telegram, and asked him, in event of the Natives refusing to give back the instruments, to speak to some of the chiefs who, I thought, would be attending the Laud Court. I told Mr. Teesdale that if he was again prevented from going on with his work in that part of Piranau overlapping Tuakau, he was to take up the survey at some other part of the block, and to report to me. I sent a copy of your telegram to Mr. J. A. Wilson, who attached a memorandum to the effect that " this appears to be the.best course to pursue." I enclose a letter from the Natives who took Mr. Teesdale's instruments. Since writing the above I have seen Mr. Eiffie, who is plotting his work on the Waingaromia Survey. I haYe, &c, Hoeace Bakee, S. Locke, Esq., District Officer, Napier. District Surveyor.