E.—No. 4,

No. 1. Copy of a LETTER from E. Shobtland, Esq., Native Secretary, to H. H. Tubtox, Esq. Colonial Secretary's Office (Native Department), Sib,— Auckland, May 2, 1864. I am directed by Mr Fox to request you to undertake the investigation of the title to Ngaruawahia. Tour salary will be at the rate of £600 per annum. You will be allowed the assistance of your son, Kirk Turton, as clerk, at a salary of £150 per annum, and the usual allowance for your travelling expenses, together with any boat and canoe hire which may be necessary. You will be allowed rations and incidental expenses for natives, where requisite. The Government contemplates the necessity of continued investigations of a similar character into the titles of Natives in other parts of the "VVaikato country. Should events render them necessary, your services will bo further required. Your appointment —which is to be that of Commissioner for the investigation of Native Titles— is to date from 19th April, 1864. As far as the Government has power in reference to the Pension Acts, your previous services will be allowed to reckon in your favor. I have, &c. H. H. Turton, Esq. E. Siioetland, Native Secretary.

No. 2. Copy of a LETTER from H. H. Tubton, Esq., to the Colonial Secbetabt. Sir, — Auckland, June 17, 1864. I beg to report my return from the districts of Raglan and Waikato, whither I had proceeded on the 10th ot May, in accordance with your instructions, to investigate and satisfy the claims of friendly or neutral natives to certain undefined portions of the Waikato land, which, by reason of rebellion, had become confiscate to the Crown. After waiting eight days without success for a steamer to Whaingaroa, I started by the more expensive and circuitous overland road via Mangatawhiri, so that no more time should be lost, since the Government were so very anxious to have all native titles cleared away, and the district left to them for immediate occupation by military settlers, &c. The result of this commission, so far, is contained iv the enclosed "Agreement" of the non-belli-gerent natives to dispose of all their claims on the Waikato delta to Her Majesty's Government for a sum of money to be awarded by myself as Commissioner, but still under the sanction of His Excellency's Advisers. On arrival at Waipa I found that William Barton (assistant missionary), and his son Andrew, were the only persons cither able or willing to assist me in this investigation, and therefore I decided to take them with me to Raglan, as a counteraction to any false claims which might be put-in at that place. On reaching Whaingaroa, William Naylor sent off at once for all the claimants to come and meet me, which they accordingly did ; and at the public meeting which followed, they, after much discussion and explanation, entered into the appended " Agreement," without a dissenting voice. After the signatures had been made to this agreement (in the presence of Major M'Gregor) to dispose of all their right s to land situated within the delta formed by the two rivers, wherever they misjht flow, I paid over to them the sum of £50 as a first instalment (or " utu-maatamua ") on the land, leaving the remainder to be paid as soon as we can arrive at an approximate estimate of their real claims,—agreeing, nevertheless, that they, and not the Government, should be responsible for the equitable distribution of the money, in accordance with the claims proved, but under my own general supervision and sanction in the first place. On returning to Waipa, the same agreement was entered into with the claimants of that district; and arrangements were made for obtaining the coi sent of similar claimants residing at Aotca, Ivawhia, and elsewhere, so that no injustice should be knowingly done to any individual. The result of this negotiation (and which the natives perfectly understand, whatever they may say in future) is, that the Government shall make a specific award in compensation of their claims (whatever they may prove'to be) between the rivers Horotiu, i.e. Waikato proper, and Waipa ; and that, in the meantime, the Government can carry out their scheme of military settlement as if no such claims existed. I have, &c. H. Haxtsoh Tueton, Commissioner. Enclosure to No. 2. AGREEMENT of the Neutral Natives of Raglan and Waipa to dispose of their Claims on the Waikato Delta, Whaingaroa, May 24th, 1864. We do hereby consent to sell to the Government all the pieces of land belonging to us which lie between the rivers Waipa and Horotiu. By this (Agreement), the title and authority of that land

PAPERS RELATIVE TO SALE OF TOWNSHIP OF NGARUAWAHIA.