I.—3b.

18

Otago to drop his action before the Privy Council in respect of the Princes Street Eeserve on payment by the latter of a sum of £4,650, which, with the balance of Old Naboth's Vineyard Funds, will probably, after paving costs, make a sum of £5,000 clear for division among the claimants. You further inform me that you have been relieved from the temporary trusteeship of this fund, and that I have been named by Topi to be one of the trustees with Mr. McLean to receive the money. Your letter reached me just as I was setting out on a journey with the Governor to Mount Cook, and since my return has been inadvertently neglected. I do not gather from you letter that it is in any way a formal or official communication, and therefore no harm will have come of the delay of my reply. With regard to the fact of the compromise which has been effected, I have only to say, as one who has interested himself in attempting to get justice for the Natives in this matter, that the terms are as good as I expected, and that it is perhaps better for the Natives to accept £5,000 than run the not very improbable risk of getting nothing ; but I am entirely at a loss to understand on what principle the Government admit the justice of the Natives' claim to this extent without admitting it in full. It is something to have obtained the admission. With regard to my trusteeship, I have heard nothing, and should prefer that the Public Trustee or other official of the country should carry the matter to its conclusion. I should be sorry to do anything which, in the mind of the Natives or of any one outside New Zealand, might appear to associate my name with the transaction as a concurring or a satisfied party. I am not yet asked, and if I accepted, it would be with protest on this point. I return your copy of the agreement, which has travelled to the Muller and Mount Cook Glacier, and as it is somewhat damaged I enclose a copy of it. I have,&c, Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, Wellington. W. Eolleston.

■ No. 8. Mr. Eolleston to the Hon. Mr. McLean. Mt deae Sic, — Christchurch, 2nd April, 1873. I have, at the request of John Topi, accepted the office of trustee for the Natives concerned in the Princes Street Eeserve, in respect of the moneys agreed to be accepted by them on account of their claim to that reserve. I have been furnished with the particulars of the compromise which has been effected, and shall be glad to learn from you the manner in which you would propose to deal with the distribution of the funds which I understand to be now placed in deposit in the Union Bank of Australia in Otago. In accepting the office of trustee, I have desired it to be understood that I do not therein' express any opinion on the question of whether the just claims of the Natives have been satisfied by the compromise which has been effected. I have, &c, The Hon. D. McLean. • W. Eolleston.

No. 9. Mr. Eolleston to Mr. Topi Patuki. Deab Sib, — Christchurch, 2nd April, 1873. I have received your letter of the 10th February, in which you inform me that the affair of the Princes Street Eeserve has been compromised, and the amount agreed to be paid to the Maoris in respect to their claims remitted to the Bank by the Government, and you ask me to act as trustee for the Maoris with Mr. McLean until it is decided how the money shall be distributed. I have much pleasure in acceding to your request, and will place myself iv communication with Mr. McLean on the subject immediately I have heard the particulars of the compromise from Mr. Mantell. You will understand that I accept the office of trustee, at your request, in the interest of those concerned iv the receipt of this money, without reference to the question of whether the just claims of the Maoris are satisfied by the compromise which has been effected. I have, &c, Mr. John Topi. W. Eolleston. P.S. —I have written to Mr. Mantel], and also to Mr. McLean, informing them that I have ccepted the office of trustee.—W.E.

No. 10. Mr. Eolleston to the Hon. Mr. McLean. Sib,— 28th September, 1873. It is desirable that some arrangement should be made with respect to the apportionment of the moneys for which we are trustees, the result of the compromise in the matter of the Princes Street Beserve. The reserve, as I understand it, was originally made as a town reserve for the Natives of the different kaingas in Otago, where they might reside when coming to Dunedin for trading or other purposes. It would seem, therefore, that the distribution of the moneys arising from the reserve should be made with reference to this original purpose, and that the several kaingas should receive a share in proportion to their population, such share to be expended, so far as the trustees can influence the Natives, in some useful and permanent object which will add to the personal comfort of those who