G.—sb

4

make enquiries amongst the Natives at Mercury Bay respecting the Tairua Reserve; and probably would not have resorted to the extraordinary measure of issuing a writ in the Supreme Court against myself and others. I consider the more constitutional course for His Honor the Superintendent to have pursued in the matter, if he had any reason to suspect me of wrong doing, would have been to have complained to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, and requested him to cause an enquiry to be made into my conduct in the matter. I must, however, respectfully submit that it does not appear light for one officer of the Colonial Government to proceed against another, in the Supreme Court, even on public grounds, unless with the consent of the General Government first obtained. It is unnecessary to enter further into the question; but if any vindication of myself were necessary it is to be found in the fact that they who instituted have found it expedient to withdraw proceedings. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. James Mackay.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Peneamene Tanui to Mr. Mackay. [translation.] Mr. James Mackay,— Mercury Bay, 11th May, 1875. Friend, greetings. This is our word to you, We, too, are desirous that our thousand acres at Tairua should be separated (laid off). It will be good for you to at once send a .surveyor to exclude our piece from that of the Government, so that we may fix the site for the thousand acres. If you are willing, send over John Guilding to assist me in laying off the thousand .acres. That will be well. All from your friend, Peneamene Tanui.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Peneamene Tanui to Mr. Mackay. [translation.] Me. James Mackay,— Mercury Bay, 26th May, 1875. Friend, greetings to you. Friend, we are very much vexed. We do not wish the burial place, known as Te Karaka, at Tairua, to lie included within the Government land. We wish twenty acres to be taken there; let it be deducted from the 990 acres at Te Pukiore, leaving there 970 acres. Let there lie twenty acres set apart for that burial ground, outside Te Pukiore. All, By Peneamene Tanui. Price del]