SETTLEMENT OF CONFISCATED LANDS.

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C—No. 4a,

mutually agreed upon, while survey questions were similarly discussed and decided. The result is, so far, emineutlv satisfactory. Definite rights to land have been fixed in the most economical manner possible, and in situations least likely to interfere either with the occupation or peace of the district. A large proportion of the land thus allocated to the Natives has been purchased by the Government, and vague bat troublesome claims have been got rid of. I have no knowledge whatever of the purely Native part of these transactions, but assuming that branch of the business to have been properly managed, as no doubt it was, the settlement of that one question fully j ustifies the expenditure incurred in this department. I trust that the Government will allow the remainder of these lands to be systematically surveyed and sold. How this might be best effected, it is for the Government to determine. I have, as you are aware, placed my own opinions on record as to the best mode of insuring their profitable occupation. I have also called the attention of the Government to the fact that the more local the management of these lands, the greater will be the real economy of administration. So far as lam personally concerned, lam not afraid of responsibility if accompanied by power. So far as the public are concerned, they would rather see a few mistakes made than find weeks and months elapse while some simple question is going through the offices in Wellington, and perhaps getting buried in the ever-increasing heap of current work. At the same time, the more full adoption of such a course, which you have already pursued to some extent, would relieve you of a considerable amount of work, without in any way lessening the advantage of having every transaction connected with land recorded in your office. I have, &c, EOBEET P.IIAEAZYN, Commissioner of Confiscated Lands, The Secretary for Crown Lands, Wellington. West Coast District.

No. 16. Memorandum for the Hon. the Native Minister. (No. 27-72.) As I understand from Mr. Worgan, the Native Commissioner, that the practical result of his efforts will be the extinguishment of Native titles in my district as far as possible, it will bo necessary that some arrangement should be made by which any land acquired by the Native Commissioner would be placed under my control, as it is obvious that its administration should centre in one head, with a view to economy and systematic settlement. I therefore suggest that Mr. Worgan should report to me from time to time what land he has acquired for the Government or allotted to particular Natives ; and that, if the former land does nofc necessarily come under the Confiscated Land Regulations, that steps should be taken, either by the operation of an Order in Council or otherwise, to bring it withiu that category. EOBEET PIIAEAZYN, Wanganui, 21th January, 1872. Commissioner of Confiscated Lands.

No. 17. Mr. B. Phaeazyst to the Seceetaey for Ckown Lands. (No. 30-72.) Sie, — Confiscated Lands Office, Wanganui, 31st January, 1872. I have the honor to forward the attached copy of a memorandum from the Hon. the Defence Minister, instructing mo to have the land described therein surveyed for the Hawko's Bay Defence [Force and Military Settlers, and to inform you that I have taken the necessary steps to have the survey in question executed immediately. The whole of the records in the Defence Office relating to this subject have been referred to me, and from them I find that only about 2,500 acres is likely to bo selected. Although the regular and proper course would have been for the Defence Office to have instructed me through you to provide a certain number of sections for the satisfaction of certain specified claims, this work has been done in my office with the view of preventing further delay in the settlement of the question, and, with your sanction, I propose to have as many sections laid off on a selection map as I think will be required, and then to transmit this to the Defence Office, together with a schedule of the names of the persons whose claims appear from the records to have been admitted by the Government, leaving it to that office to make arrangements for the actual selection of the land. When this is done, a list of names of the. selectors would, I presume, be sent to me, in order to the preparation of Crown grants. In the meantime, I append a copy of the list of names on which my instructions for survey have been based, in case any further action is required. I have &c, KOBEET PhAEAZYJT, Commissioner of Confiscated Lands. The Secretary for Crown Lands, Wellington. 4