WELLINGTON AGAINST THE COLONY

13

G.—No. 4»1

■employment of the rest of the surveyors to mark off, in concert with Mr. Carkeek, the various boundaries of reserves that h.;ve to be surveyed. The expenses of survey will, in the first instance, be paid by the General Government, and charged provincially. I shall be glad to hear that the survey parties are at work at once. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Donald McLean.

Enclosure 1 in No. 22. The Hon. D. McLean to Mr. M. Caekeek. Sic,— _ Native Office, Wellington, 3rd November, 1871. I have the honor to inform you that I shall be glad to receive from you a written report of the progress made by you in laying off the Native reserves in the Manawatu District. If the services of the remainder of the survey staff would facilitate the final definition of the boundaries, His Honor the Superintendent informs me that they could be available for this purpose. With your knowledge of the Natives, you might arrange with them as to the boundaries in accordance with the memorandum you submitted to me, and the details of the survey might be carried on by the other surveyors. I have, &c, M. Carkeek, Esq., Marton. Donald McLean.

Enclosure 2 in No. 22. Mr. M. Caekeek to the Hon. D. McLean. Sic,— Manawatu, 11th November, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of November 4th, and, in reply, beg to inform you that I am now surveying the 500 acre reserve at the " Eakihou " for the non-sellers of the Ngatikauwhata. This I will finish by the end of the week. The Kawakawa reserve of 1,000 acres will also be finished in about another week. The services of the remainder of the survey staff would greatly facilitate the final definition of the reserve boundaries, and their employment on this work would, in a short time, remove all objection on the part of the Natives to their returning to their former work. I have, &c, Moegan Caekeek, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Assistant Surveyor.

No. 23. The Hon. D. McLean to His Honor W. Fitzheebebt. (Telegram.) Marton, 1872. I want to get inland boundary Eangitikei-Manawatu Block between Waitapu and Oroua Eiver decided beyond starting point at Waitapu, and name of place only known to few Maoris in the Euahine Eanges. Nothing is fixed, and neither party can deal with the land definitely until this is done. The deed sale is not clear in its description. Mr. Jackson might be able to send some maps to elucidate matter, such as Stewart's survey of Ahuaturanga, tracing of Oroua, or other maps that would give assistance. A line from Watapu to some point on Oroua all inland boundary necessary, as Natives will soon be prepared to sell land beyond boundary, but cannot do so till boundary question settled. Hon. W. Fitzherbert. Donald McLean.

No. 24. Memoeandum for His Honor the Supeeintendent, Wellington. (No. 1302-1.) A judgment of the Native Lands Court, delivered on the 27th April, 1868, in Parakaia's claim, decided that Parakaia and his seven co-claimants were entitled to a certificate in their favour for one-half, less two 27ths of the Himatangi Block, conditionally on these parties causing a proper survey of the award to be made within six months. It appears that this proviso has not been carried out; but I should feel inclined, with your Honor's concurrence, to the opinion that it would be hardly judicious to take advantage on technical grounds of the non-completion of the survey within the prescribed time, as the Natives, though acquainted with the decision, were not aware of its stringency, and did not anticipate that any penalty would be enforced in consequence of their neglect. I further have to point out to your Honor that the half allotted to Parakaia, contained the best portion of the block, and that that part of it which reverts to the Government is of almost a valueless character. lam certain that your Honor will agree with me that in these matters it is better to exercise a liberal policy, which will set at rest difficulties incident to them, than to keep open a disputed question for the sake of some land of but little value. In this case I should feel disposed, if your Honor's views coincide with mine, to allow the claimants to have the whole of the block. Wellington, 30th March, 1872. Donald McLean. 4