D.—No. 16.

No. 1. The Hon. Mr. M'Lean to Major Heaphy, V.C. Sik— Auckland, 13th October, 1869. Eeferring to a conversation I recently had with you, I have the honor to inform you that the Government has decided upon placing under a Commissioner, who will be responsible to the Native Minister, the various duties iv connection with Native Eeserves, and certain other Native lands that are specified in the margin.* Being aware of your knowledge of the circumstances under which most of the lands were set apart, your long experience as a surveyor in the various Provinces, and on the confiscated lands, and your acquaintance with the tribes, the Government has determined on offering you the appointment. The salary will be for the present £600 per annum, with travelling expenses. As much of the work incidental to confiscated lands and reserves will lie in the North, together with the greater part of that connected with the operation of the Native Lands Court, it will be necessary that your office should be in Auckland, but frequent visits will be necessary to be made to other parts of the Colony, especially Taranaki, Nelson, and Wellington. It will be necessary to classify the various Native reserves as soon as possible, bringing them all under one schedule that shall be descriptive of the objects and circumstances of the trusts, with a view to the most efficient management of the estates for the future. Such schedule should be prepared in time to be laid before the next Session of Parliament. Also, to negotiate with the Natives for the acquisition of land for the site of the telegraph line, and for the supply of timber for the maintenance of the constructions on the line. I have, &c, Charles Heaphy, Esq., V.C. Donald M'Lean.

No. 2. The Hon. Mr Gisborne to Major Heaphy, V.C. Sir, — Auckland, November 6th, 1869. 1. Adverting to Mr M'Lean's letter to you of the 13th ultimo informing you generally of the duties to which you have been appointed, I have the honor in his absence, to define more particularly the nature of some of those duties. 2. You are aware of the Native Eeserves Bill which passed the Legislative Council last session but was postponed in the House of Eepresentatives to next session, and I beg to refer you to a copy of it, which, if you have not one in your possession, you can no doubt easily obtain, as passed through the Legislative Council, from "Wellington. The principal object of your duties is to enable you to collect and arrange such information respecting Native reserves and the present administration of them, as will, in the case of the proposed Native Eeserves Bill being passed next session, enable effect to be given to that Bill at once. It will be necessary to that end that you should be appointed a Commissioner of Native Beserves. 3. It is also important that you should so far as the law will allow you, perform the duties which were also contemplated under the proposed Native Eeserves Bill, with a view in all cases of alienation of Native Lands by means of the Native Lands Court to proper provision being made, if such does not exist already, for inalienable reserves, for the support of the Native owners of the land going through the Court and of their descendants. I shall feel obliged if you would in this matter place yourself in communication with the Chief Judge of the Lands Court, to whom I shall send a copy of this letter, for his suggestions in what way you can under the present law effect this object. Mr Fenton, also, who introduced the Native Beserves Bill and takes a great interest in its object will no doubt be kind enough to aid you with his suggestions on the other matters contemplated by the Bill. You will, however, in no way interfere with the duties of the Inspector of Surveys under the Native Lands Acts. 4. The conduct under the Minister in charge of the administration of the lands taken under the New Zealand Settlements Act is also another duty which will devolve oil you. It is expected that there should be an officer who would be fully informed on all points connected with that administration, and who should furnish the Secretary for Crown Lands, for record, with details of it and tracings of all surveys connected therewith. The different Orders in Council and Eegulations should be collected, and should be considered with a view, if possible, to their issue in one uniform and easily accessible shape. * 1. The administration of Native reserves held in trust by the Government, and other lands set apart for the benefit of the Natives. 2. The supervision of Native hostelries. 3. The supervision of the payment to the Natives of the proportionate amount due to them on sale of certain blocks at Remuera, and elsewhere. 4. The supervision of lands taken under " The New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863," and " The New Zealand Settlements Amendment Act." 5. The recommendation to the Government of lands proper to be rendered unalienable by the Native owners, through the operation of the Native Lands Court, and generally the duties devolving on the " Trustee" contemplated in the provisions of the Native Reserves Act, which passed the Legislative Council last Session. 6. A general supervision over the laying off of the main lines of road through the North Island, and setting apart of districts of land suitable for immigration from Europe.

PAPERS RELATING TO MAJOR lIEAPHY'S APPOINTMENT AS COMMISSIONER OP NATIVE RESERVES; AND, REPORTS EROM THE COMMISSIONER OF NATIVE RESERVES.