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No. 54. The Undee Seceetaet, Native Department, to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell Native Office (Land Purchase Branch), Wellington, Sib,— ' 15th August, 1874. As it appears from a late report received from Mr. Brissenden that that gentleman and yourself have been acting together successfully north of Auckland in land purchase operations, it has been deemed very advisable that such a course should be pursued in future operations. lam therefore directed by the Hon. the Native Minister to request you will continue to co-operate with Mr. Brissenden, and unite with him in his efforts to acquire lands for the Government. To obviate a duplicate set of accounts, Mr. Brissenden will obtain from the General Government Agent in Auckland the sums required by you jointly for your purchases, and will account for the same in the usual manner. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. H. T. Claeke.

No. 55. Lieut.-Colonel St. John to Mr. Beissenden. Native Office (Land Purchase Branch), Wellington, Sic,— 21st August, 1574. By direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, I have the honor to inform you that your suggestion respecting Mr. Nelson's salary has been approved, aud that gentleman is to receive as full salary, including every allowance, the sum of £1 10s. per diem, commencing from Ist July last. I have, &c, E. T. Brissenden, Esq., Auckland. J. H. H. St. John.

No. 56. Memobandtjm to the Hon. Sir D. McLean on Matters connected with the Land Purchase Branch of the Native Department. I abetted here on the 18th instant, and proceeded at once to push forward the work I had in hand. I experienced difficulty in soothing the feelings of the Inspector of Surveys. He seemed anxious to object, on all points, to my taking any action in the matter of surveys, although he acknowledged his inability to carry on the work at a definite time. "Without going into particulars I may state the affair is settled between us: he has approved of the surveyors proposed by me, and is to send his first assistant to oversee and to connect the various blocks under survey with his trigonometrical stations. By this plan I shall succeed in completing my transactions at an early date, aud the Government will secure an accurate map of the country. I would advise that any application made by Mr. Stannus Jones, or others, for the sanction of the Government to acquire lands direct from the Native owners, bo refused. It would prevent opposition and confusion. In making such applications the parties are likely to misname blocks, under-estimate the acreage, Ac, &c. I feel sure that if the Government permits it in one case they will be inundated with applications. It would be far better for the Government to agree to sell to applicants the land applied for at a nominal price than to make any such promises. Mr. Jones is the head of a ring of small speculators, and plumes himself on being able to work the Government and their agents as he likes. Several of the Northern Natives are here, and express themselves pleased with the prospect of a speedy survey and an early Court. Using despatch will do much to make future negotiations easy. I only require funds to enable me to make a good return in a short time. I enclose letter from the Inspector of Surveys in reference to Dalton's claim for survey of Patetere No. 2, and hope it will enable you to authorize me to settle. Auckland, 22nd August, 1874. E. T. Beissenden.

Enclosure in No. 56. Mr. Heale to Mr. Brissenden. Sic, — Inspector of Surveys' Office, 20th August, 1874 In respect of the payment for the survey work by Mr. Dalton, on Patetere No. 2, I see that the last reference made to me was by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, requiring information as to the actual value of the survey to the Government, and observing that the Government could only recognize the surveyor as the party to be paid. To this I replied, with a hope that as Jones had supplied necessaries, and had appealed to me, his claims might be met. I have, &c, E. T. Brissendeu, Esq. Theo. Heale.

No. 57. Memorandum for H. T. Clabke, Esq., Under Secretary for Native Office. Eefeeking to my verbal communication with you on the subject of commission being allowed on leases and purchases of Native lands, I have the honor to submit the following proposition in reference thereto:—

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