A.—No. 20.

20

PAPERS RELATIVE TO

whole block of land, containing about two hundred thousand acres (200,000), therefore fifty thousand (50,000) remain to the Government. Enoka: No, the Governor did not say so to us. Why has the Governor raised his demands ? Why is the amount increased ? Colonel Haultain: The Governor has not increased his demands ; he said what has just been told you, and this will be adhered to. Hene Taka: How many men were in arms, that the Governor should take so many acres ? Tomika : Tes, this is for the people that fought; I, who did not fight, will do as I like with my own land. Colonel Haultain: The Government will require certain lands of friendly Natives, on which to put settlers for the protection of the district. What they take they will pay for. PeneTaka: When you have taken these lands you will keep returning and taking more and more. Colonel Haultain: The Government always adheres to what it promises. Pene Taka : I wish to live among the Europeans, and am afraid the want of land may prevent my doing so. Colonel Haultain : I wish you to think over this question. There was also an agreement made in reference to the purchase of certain lands for which you received one thousand pounds (£1,000). I have to remind you of that agreement, and will say nothing more at present further than that the terms made at the time of surrender will bo carried out by the Government. Enoka : If the matter of the one thousand pounds (£1,000) had been done by all the tribe, wellbut it was the work of the men who went to Auckland. I knew nothing of the arrangement to sell land at Katikati. Can you tell me where the boundaries are? Some of the people who lived peaceably on that land would object to being involved in that manner. Tomika : I received a letter from the Governor which promised me my lands should not be interfered with. Colonel Haultain: We will see you again in a few days on this question ; think over it. Tareha : Very true; I will take this matter into my consideration. If I had been one of the leaders in the peace I should speak ; I shall consider about the piece of land I have to give to the Governor.

No. 27. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Clarke to Colonel Eussell. (D. 1G7.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir, — Tauranga, 13th April, IS6G. I have the honor to request that I may be instructed, with as little delay as possible, as to the course I am to pursue with regard to the settlement of the Native lands now in progress in this district. Am I to act on any instructions I may receive from the Government Agent in this Province ? Please do not misunderstand me by supposing that I am in any way reluctant to carry out any instructions I ma}' receive from the Government Agent. No one will be more rejoiced than myself to see this anxious question settled in some way, and the Government may command my best services to attain this end. But for my own satisfaction I should be glad to obtain the wishes of the Government on this matter, lest I should inadvertently act contrary to its wishes. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, H. T. Clarke, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 28. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Claeke to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (D. 241.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir, — Tauranga, 20th September, 18GG. I regret to have to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that the surveys on the north bank of the Wairoa have been stopped by the Pirirakau Natives, and the instruments of the surveyors taken away. A copy of Mr. E. C. Jordan's report (one of the surveyors) I herewith enclose, from which you will see that, although his camp was on the south side of the Wairoa River, his tent was entered stealthily by the Natives, and his surveying instrument, chains, <&c, were taken. Mr. Hewson, the surveyor employed on Te Puna side of the Wairoa, came into town this evening and has verbally reported that a visit was also paid him yesterday by the Natives, and that his instruments were taken away, that he had visited the Natives at their kainga to request the restoration of his property. This the Natives distinctly refused to do, intimating that they were acting under the instructions of Wiremu Tamihana to Waharoa. Shortly after W. Thompson's return from Wellington, I received the enclosed letter from him requesting that the surveys on the north side of the Wairoa might be stopped, a step which I could not do in the face of the arrangement made by His Excellency the Governor and Mr. Whitaker with the Tauranga Natives on his late visit, i.e., that if 50,000 acres, to be confiscated, could not be obtained between the Wairoa and Waimapu rivers, then the deficiency was to be made up on the north bank of the Wairoa. The district surveyor reported to me that 50,000 acres was not to be obtained between those two rivers, consequently it became necessary to extend the surveys to the north bank of the Wairoa. This I took great pains to explain the Natives.