OE NATIVE RESERVES.

31

D.—No. 16.

term. On account of the absence of information as to the dimensions, no Crown Grant or lease has yet been issued for this land, and no rent yet paid. The sum of £75 will be due on the lit June, proximo. I now send a plan of this land, and would suggest respectfully that a Crown Grant should be prepared, conveying the land to two trustees for the purpose of carrying out the object originally had in view. Mr. I. N. Watt, Sheriff of Otago, and the Commissioner of Native Beserves would, I think, be fitting persons to administer the trust. From the absence of surveys no Crown Grants have yet been issued for the Native Beserves in Southland. The lion, the Legislative Council, during its last session, passed a resolution declaring the necessity of an immediate issue of Grants, and in pursuance of this resolution, Mr. G. S. Cooper, Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, and myself lately visited Invereargill, and made arrangements for the surveys to be immediately proceeded with on the mainland, and as soon as the season would admit, on the coast of Stewart's Island; the work being executed under the supervision of the Brovincial Surveyor of Southland, to whom I have issued the detailed instructions. As each block is finished, the plan will be transmitted to Wellington for either the preparation of a Crown Grant, in Trust, or the action of the Native Lands Courc, as the case may demand. The surveys are estimated to cost about £600, at the contract rates paid in Southland. No more lines being cut or measurements made than are absolutely necessary to the construction of accurate Crown Grants. In addition to the Beserves on the mainland and at Stewart's Island, of which a schedule and descriptive plans are appended, the Natives possess original unsold territory to the extent of 4093 acres in the Island of Euapuke and its islets, of which a plan is attached. On account of the abundance of fish about this island, it is a favorite place of Native residence. The Native owners have here set apart a School Eeserve of ten acres, of which I send a map, with a view to a conveyance being made out for their execution, vesting it in the Queen. Having regard to the purpose for which the islets off Stewart's Island were reserved —that, solely, of mutton-bird catching—l think that any grant of them should not be absolute, but contain a restriction making them inalienable. The landing-places in the boat harbors which have been reserved, should not, either, be granted absolutely, but in a manner by which they shall be free to all who may require their use.

Estimate of number of Maoris and Hale-castes in the Province of Southland, as against the area of land available for their use. Maoris of all ages and sexes ... ... ... ... 248 Half-castes ... ... ... ... ... ... 94 342 souls Area of Beserves on mainland .. ... ... ... 5241 acres Stewart's Island ... ... ... ... ... 1735 „ Add Native territory, Euapuke Island ... ... ... 4093 „ Total land available for Natives ... ... ... ... 11069 or about 32-| acres for each soul. This does not include the Education Eeserves. I have, <fee, Charles Heapht.

Enclosure 2 in No. 12. Southland Native Eeseryes. Memorandum, — Invereargill, 12th May, 1870. The surveys necessary to be executed before the various Native Eeserves on the mainland and at Stewart's Island can safely be granted, are estimated to cost, at the contract rates paid by the Southland Provincial Government, about the sums respectively mentioned below, viz.:— Eight Eeserves on the mainland, as in the margin ... £199 9 0 Nine Eeserves on Stewart's Island ... ... 259 0 0 Old land claims on Stewart's Island that should be surveyed prior to the Eeserves that abut on them being defined ... ... ... 70 7 6 Beside this amount there is owing to a private surveyor, for the survey of an Educational Eeserve of 2000 acres, rented by Mr. Kingswell, the sum of ... ... ... ... 72 1 0 Making in all ... ... ... ... ... 600 17 0 I have, &c., G. S. Cooper, Esq., Charles Heaphy. Under-Secretary, Native Department. P.S. —This estimate does not inclnde a survey of the Titi or Bird Islets, lying off Stewart's Island, and for which the Admiralty Coast Survey will probably suffice. * Mainland Surveys. —Oue, Omawai, Aparima, Oraka, Kawaka Puta-puta, Onetata, Grant to Topi in Kolac's Bay, Hokonui. Stewart's Island. —Lord's River, Port Adventure, Paterson's Inlet, (2) Culmination Point, Raggedy River, Easy Cove, Mason's Bay. Old Land Claims. —G. Green's, at Smoky Cape ;J. Joss', at Glory Harbor ;J. Joss', Paterson's River ; J. Moore, Port Adventure ; E. Brady, Port Adventure.