5

A.—B.

places, the extent not to exceed that allowed for military settlers, viz., 50 acres per head, laid off in the same proportions and character as the military settlements. You will be at liberty to concede to them their kaingas and fishing-stations, and any other favourite spots that you may think it advisable to allow, taking care not to give a monopoly of any spots needed for villages or landing-places; and, in every arrangement, whether with surrendered rebels or the fi-iendlv Natives, reserving absolutely to the Crown the right to make any sort of road across the land which the public service may require. The Government wish to recognise the good conduct and valuable services of Hone Pihama by a special reserve of about 500 acres, and they also feel that scanty justice has been awarded to their loyal and steady friend, Ropata Ngarongomate, in the award of compensation at Oakura. They will therefore approve of a reserve of from 300 to 500 acres for him. The reserves to be made, whether for loyal or surrendered mon, should as far as possible be included and described by natural boundaries, so that no inconvenience may arise from unavoidable delay in the surveys; and it is desirable to obtain from the absentees with whom you may deal, a written acceptance of the terms agreed upon, with the signatures of the leading men, and as many others as can conveniently be obtained. It will not be desirable that you should yourself appear in a Court in which you hold a Commission as Judge, aud Mr. W. S. Atkinson will be retained as heretofore as Crown Agent. He will be instructed to co-operate with you in the duties now imposed upon you. Robert Parris, Esq., CC, I have, &c, Judge, Compensation Court, Taranaki. J. C. Richmond.

No. 6. Memorandum by the Hon. Donald McLean as Native Minister. TnE settlement of the confiscated lands on the West Coast, between Waitotara and Taranaki, requires the earliest possible attention, as upon the settlement of this question the peace and prosperity of the West Coast mainly depends. The confiscated lands on the West Coast may be divided, into two classes, viz., those north and south of the Waingongoro Kiver. The lands south of the Waingongoro comprise 3-1,897 acres 2 roods 15 perches, allotted to military settlers ; lands disposed of by auction, 2,98-1 acres 1 rood 3 perches ; awards made to Natives by the Compensation Court, 17,264 acres ; special reserves made to different tribes, 21,361 acres 2 roods 21 perches; and lands allotted to Natives for services rendered during the rebellion, 6,980 acres, to Native Contingent. The latter class have been allotted chiefly to Whanganui Natives, who do not require the land fop their own use, and it should be purchased from them at a fair price, say £1 per acre. To satisfy outstanding claims of military settlers and others, about 5,000 acres is still required, leaving land available for subdivision and sale, 39,499 acres. The awards of the Compensation Court to the Natives have not yet been defined, and it is important that this should be done ; and the claims of those who are willing to sell should be bought out at a price not exceeding £1 per acre. Claims have been advanced by Whanganui and other Natives to large portions of this block, but the grounds on which they make them are not definite. It seems, however, that the Whanganui Natives consider themselves entitled to make a claim in consideration of their past military services, and from a desire to be in a position to restore a portion of the land to the original Ngarauru owners, whom they helped to conquer, and with whom it appears they had some compact on the subject. After careful inquiry, these claims have been rejected by the Compensation Court. Moreover, the Whanganui Natives who acted with our troops received, subsequent to the decision of the Court, a bonus of £2,500 in addition to their pay for services rendered, and in full satisfaction of any unsettled land claims they might have. Major Kemp, of Putiki, the most prominent of these claimants, requested that his case should be again inquired into and decided. A Commission of Inquiry was granted, but he did not proceed with his statement to the Commissioners, from a fear that his action might embarrass the Grovernment by inducing numerous Natives to bring forward fresh claims; and it certainly would be embarrassing to have questions revived that have been already disposed of by the Compensation Court. An officer who can fully explain the whole of the questions connected with the confiscated lands in this district to the Natives, and who will survey the boundaries of their awards, and, if found necessary, subdivide them, is most essential ; and this duty is intrusted to Mr. Gr. B. Worgan, who is requested to give it his early and diligeut attention, consulting with Mr. Parris on any question on which he may require information relating to past transactions connected with these lands. The lands north of Waingongoro as far as Stoney Eiver, although nominally confiscated, are, with the exception of 1,400 acres at Opunake, quite unavailable for settlement until arrangements are made with the Natives for lands sufficient for their own requirements. Mr. Parris will provide for the location of the Natives as much in the neighbourhood of Kaupokunui and Oeo as possible, and compensate the Native owners for all lands they may relinquish south and north of that river, in order to free them from all difficulties and obstructions, at rates not exceeding ss. per acre. In effecting these arrangements, Mr. Parris will use his own judgment as to the most suitable time for commencing negotiations. All that I must urge is, the importance of due attention being paid to the subject whenever seasonable opportunity for doing so presents itself. In the meantime, Mr. Parris will use his best endeavours to extend the telegraph line from New Plymouth, so as to connect it with the station at Opunake. Whanganui, 20th January, 1872. Donald McLean. 2—A. 8.