APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

Appendix D. CHIEF commissioner's memoranda.

D—No. 2. EXTRACT FROM CHIEF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONER'S LETTER TO COLONIAL SECRETARY, DATED AUCKLAND, JUNE 4tH, 1860. With regard to the recommendation of the Board—that Crown Grants should be issued in certain cases to Natives—whilst I fully agree in the opinions of the Board as to the advantages that would flow from such a system, I fear that the plan proposed in paragraphs 29 and 30 could not be carried into practice. The Natives never would consent to make the mutual concessions that would be necessary to carry out the plan. A reference to the preceding portion of the Report will show that the Natives have of themselves no original idea of a transfer or exchange of land in perpetuity, —and that this idea has only of recent years become fully intelligible to them, as a matter of bargain and sale—in which light alone can they understand the subject, and in which manner alone could they be induced to give to the Crown such a title as would enable the Crown to issue grants to individuals. But I consider it of the utmost importance that every facility should be afforded to the Natives to acquire land by purchase from the Government, as this will be the surest means of breaking up their tribal confederacies, and of inspiring greater confidence in that power from which their more secure and permanent tenure is derived. I am aware that to effect this, will be a work of time, as existing customs and the mode of living in communities, will only be gradually relinquished when the Natives— naturally a jealous race—feel an entire security not only in the present but in the eventual objects of the Europeans towards them: and nothing will tend so much to induce this confidence as the certainty that they can obtain land which they can leave with an undisputed title to their posterity. In certain cases also it may be found desirable, in making arrangements for the purchase of land, to make it a special condition of purchase that certain properties should be secured by the Crown to influential and deserving Chiefs and others. This condition would of course have to be exercised with great caution, and made applicable only to certain specific cases, requiring in every instance the approval of the Governor. In reference to paragraph 33 of the Report, I fully concur in tlie opinion of the Board as to the necessity for some provision being made by enactment of the General Assembly to enable the Governor, under certain defined regulations, to issue Crown Grants to half-caste children. It is of great importance that early legislation should take place on this subject, Donald McLean. «

D—No. 3. EXTRACTS FROM NATIVE SECRETARY'S INSTRUCTIONS TO MR. BULLER, RESPECTING KAIAPOI RESERVES, IN THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY. Lyttelton, February 6th, 1860. * * * * In the event of the Natives expressing their willingness to have their Reserves subdivided in allotments for individuals, hapus, or families, you will be able to report to me on my return (from Otago) how far you consider this may be accomplished on the plan suggested when at Kaiapoi—namely, that you should go out with them to witness the boundaries of such subdivisions as may be agreed to by themselves. It will not be necessary to engage a surveyor for this purpose until they have fixed the boundaries among themselves, and agreed to adhere to such partitions of the land as may be fixed upon by you, in conjunction with the Chiefs. A year should elapse after such partition before any survey is undertaken, and then it must be done at the expense of the Natives themselves. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Native Secretary W. S. Buller, Esq., Christchurch.

April 4th, 1860. With reference to your suggestion —that, in order to the final settlement of .the disputes arising out of the question of title to the Native Reserve at Kaiapoi, the whole of the Reserve should be surveyed, mapped, and allotted by individual Crown Grants—l am directed to inform you that His Excellency sees no reason why the allotments should not be laid off in couformity with some plan adopted by the Natives themselves, aided by your advice and directions, as soon as funds can be raised for the purpose —which might be done by the Natives concerned making over a few acres to the Commissioner of Native Reserves for sale, if they are willing to do so. With respect to the issue of Crown Grants to the allotters, the desired object can be obtained

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