E—No. 9 Sec. VI.

Court give damages for their trespass. The lower plains would then be used for dairy cattle, working bullocks, butchers' stock in immediate use, and so on. The back plain would be used for store stock, young stock, and all those not wanted from day to day. This arrangement would meet all difficulties for the present. It is quite clear that the plains must be brought into use for agricultural purposes by some not very tardy process. I see no reason why the process should not be very rapid. Most of the land title is well ascertained, and can be readily certified by the Runanga. This would enable to be given a good leasehold title for all purposes, while sales might be effected under it by a machinery which would only involve a formal and very safe act of the Crown in conveying the title. I have impressed upon the Natives the absolute necessity of recording all title before the Runanga, and they are quite alive to its advantages. I may remark that the plains are over estimated by the European settlers. I doubt very much whether, reserving land occupied by the Natives, much more than 20,000 acres remains of really available country. The Natives are willing enough to deal with this land in a way which will not alienate it, and they would be willing even to sell small portions. I should suggest a scheme of this kind. Both on the Pakowai and on the Waipureku portions of the plain, good sites for villages might be formed, say 300 acres each. Surround these with about 5000 acres of arable land, laid off in 100 acre sections. Sell the first, and lease the second, granting the right of common pasturage outside of all. I am sure that the Natives would fall in readily with this plan, or one like it. I see no reason why titles should not be confirmed, surveys made, scheme iii operation, and land occupied within nine months from the present time. Yet, undue haste, or any attempt to remove from the hands of the Natives the management of their own lands, would, I conceive, be seriously detrimental to the ultimate success of any scheme either for occupying the laud or for governing its owners. The land is at once the cause of troubles which must be settled; it is the inducement to the Natives to submit to the law ; and it is the engine for schooling them in a system of self-government, by teaching them to manage their own property. The Natives will become comparatively rich when their lands are turned to the best account. I think that an endeavour should be made from the first to have set apart from all receipts a certain portion for general purposes—for expenses of government, roads, bridges, schools, surveys, &c. To some extent this is already done by the Runangas already in existence: for instance, at Waimarama, under the superintendence of the estimable chief Harawira. All grass money questions are already virtually disposed of. Shirley's case has been settled by law, and forms a precedent for all others which may arise. All a Native has to do, if he cannot get paid for trespass committed, is to summon the offender to Court. A case by the Natives against a Mr. Hill is now pending. Another case, of old standing, by Natives in the Porangahau district against Captain Newman, is also awaiting settlement, and must follow the same course sooner or later, for the two parties will not come to terms. A bad case occurred in the forcible removal of the sheep of a Mr. Mason, by the chief Te Hapuku, who claimed rent from him for land for which he had already paid rent to another party of claimants. Mason suffered, of course, from the consequences of his own illegal act in dealing with Natives at all. Nevertheless, I deemed it right to remonstrate against so flagrant a breach of order. Hapuku, on my remonstrance, returned the sheep, and agreed to permit the claimants on his side to meet the claimants on the other to settle the ownership. Nothing has yet been done, and it will be necessary to see that something is done, lest Hapuku, who is not to be depended on, should commit a fresh offence. I may mention, that I told Hapuku that the Government would not permit the occupation of land about which there is a dispute among rival claimants. I held in reserve a threat to stop his pension, not wishing to use it except in cases of emergency. In my opinion, it would be very well to induce Hapuku to take his part in working out the new system, and to give him due weight if he doea so. But if not, he should be left outside and disregarded, until he should begin to feel his isolation from the rest of his race, when the hand of welcome should be offered him again. Still, I fear that he will be a thorn in the side of those who wish to establish good government among the Natives of this Province. Among the conditions which I stated to the Natives at the late meeting, and of which they approved, was this, that no obstacle should be placed to the formation of any road or bridge through the country. As to ferries, if the Governor wanted some land for the ferryman's house and garden, he should either buy it or lease it; but nothing should be payable for the working of the ferry, inasmuch as that was only part of the road. In conclusion, I assured the Natives that the Government would investigate carefully the Waitara claims, and do full justice to those who proved the rightful owners ; that they would not make war on the king, but treat him with contempt, and let his throne fall to pieces. In botli these intentions the meeting of which I have spoken fully concurred. Ckosbie Ward.

Sub-Enclosure in Enclosure No. 4. ADDRESS TO THE NAPJER NATIVES ON THE INTRODUCTION OV THE NEW STSTEM. Napier, 24th December, 1861. Chiefs of Ngatikahungunu,— Salutations. Do you listen to the words of the Governor—of Sir George Grey, concerning the work of making laws by the Maories, that they may manage their own affairs ami

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