D.—jST_. 20.

No. 1. The Hon. the Speaker of the Legislative Council to His Excellency the Goveenoe. Legislative Council, Sic,— Wellington, 24th August, 1869. I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the enclosed resolution of the Legislative Council, passed this day, together with a copy of the report therein referred to. I have, &c, His Excelfency Sir G. F Bowen, G.C.M.G., J. Ekuiardson, Speaker. Government House, Weilington, Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Extract from the Journals of the Legisiative Council, N.Z., Tuesday, 24th August, 1869. Ordered.—" That the Honorable the Speaker be requested to forward to the Governor a copy of the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Andrew Thompson, together with a respectful address, praying His Excellency to give effect to the recommendations contained in that report." (A true Extract.) L. Stowe, Clerk of Legislative Council. [On motion of the Hon. Captain Baillie.] Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Beport of the Select Committee upon the Petition of Andrew Thompson. Youe Committee have the honor to report, that, in connection with this petition, they have necessarily taken into consideration the general question of the obligation on the part of the Crown to make provision out of the lands ceded by the Natives in the Ngaitahu and other Blocks in the southern portion of the Middle Island for the half-caste families resident thereon at the time of cession ; and are of opinion that, inasmuch as it has been proved to the Committee that, for reasons of policy as weil as of justice and humanity, sucli promises were made on the part of the Crown by the Commissioner for the purchase of these lands, such obligation does exist, and that the honor of the Crown is concerned in its faithful and immediate discharge. That prior to the proclamation of the Constitution Act, it appears to have been the practice for the survey of such allotments as were from time to time awarded to such of the claimants as then obtained grants, to be conducted by and at the expense of the Government, and the chief impediment now to the immediate satisfaction of outstanding claims seems to arise from the difficulty of procuring surveys of such awards by the Provincial surveyors; and whether (Statutes 1858, p. 402, "Land Claims Settiement Extension Act," sec. 13,) from this or other causes it seems, so far as the Committee have been able to ascertain, that the attempt on the part of Government to satisfy these obligations ceased with the year 1854, although the Committee finds from papers laid before the House of Eepresentatives in 1863 (No. 77), that in the following year about twenty awards in respect of these claims received the approval of the Officer Administering the Government. The Committee is of opinion that under the fiftli clause of " The Waste Lands Act, 1858," (21 and 22 Vict., No. 75), the Governor has full power to deal with these cases, and therefore recommend that the Native Beserves Commissioner for the Middle Island be forthwith instructed to ascertain and investigate all outstanding cases in which half-caste families in the districts referred to have not received the promised jirovision in land. That in such awards as he may make, he should, in consideration of the long and grievous delay to which the claimants have been subjected, be directed to act with all reasonable liberaiity. And that a respectfui address be presented to the Governor, bringing under His Excellency's notice this report, and praying that his Excellency will be pleased to give effect to the recommendations herein contained. W. D. H. Baillie, Chairman.

No. 2. Minute by Mr. Coopee for the Hon. Mr. M'Lean. This is a question about unsatisfied claims to Native reserves in the Middle Island. I beg to recommend that the papers be referred to Mr. Mackay with reference to the minute of the Hon. the Coloniai Secretary, to see what is wanted to be done, and to get it done if possible without incurring expense ; but if expense be unavoidable, to report what it will probably be for authorization. 13th September, 1860. G. S. Coopee.

PAPERS RELATING TO SURVEY OF NATIVE RESERVES IN THE PROVINCES OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND, INCLUDING CLAIMS OF HALF-CASTES AT STEWART'S ISLAND.