G.—2. (Appendix E.)

3.—The Hon. Major Atkinson to Major Brown. 6th April, 1876. Re Eeserve on Mountain Eoad. Please consult Superintendent, and arrange any change you think advisable, and which he approves. Keep me informed. Will be in New Plymouth soon, and will wire when shall like to see you.—H. A. Atkinson.

4. —His Honor the Superintendent, New Plymouth, to Major BitowN. 6th April, 1876. Me Native reserve, Mountain Road. I have telegraphed Major Atkinson, and approved your suggestion. —Ered, ACaruinston, Superintendent, New Plymouth.

s.—Mr. Blake to the Hon. the Native Minister. Whanganui, 7th December, 1878. Sir,- I have the honor to submit to you the following notes re " 10,000 acres reserve for Toi and others." I attach copy of my instructions from late Sir Donald McLean as to my dulies when he placed me in charge of Native affairs, Patea District, and next attached is his memorandum authorizing me to make the reserve in question. You will here observe, too, that I was instructed about Mountain Eoad (with some restrictions which were very soon afterwards removed), and I was placed in entire charge of the Mountain Eoad works. When I began tbis work I eould only get some seven men to turn to, and then only by high wages and promising a bonus. I had also to increase II eke's reserve from 1,000 to 1,500 acres. On reaching Matawhero, a long distance in from starling point, I deemed it best to stop aud wait till making some definite arrangement with Titiko's people, as we had received notice that we would be fired upon if we proceeded on from here beyond the Tawhiti Stream. 1 held a large meeting of Ngatiruanui at my place in Ketemarae (now Normanby). Toi, their then principal chief, attended. After a long talk, and my making the reserve above-named, he and his people consented to allow the Mountain Road work to goon, and I agreed to employ any of tbe Ngatiruanui that might wish to be taken on. This reserve I allocated as shown in following sketch, hounded on the West side by tbe AVaingongoro River, East by Heke's 1,500-acre reserve, South by Kanihi Native Reserve of 500 acres, and North by confiscated lands. Captain Wray was made fully aware of this reserve, and showed it. in his returns and district sketch maps. This reserve was one distinctly and ch-arly arranged, allocated, and fixed, made by me with due authority, and is an engagement that should be strictly and faithfully adhered to. Trusting that you will see this matter justly settled, —I have, &c, E. T. Blake.

Enclosure in No. 5. —Memorandum by the Hon. D. McLean. Bth February, 1873. In addition to the 1,000-aere reserve intended for Pepe Heke and others, there will be a reserve of 1,000 acres more allowed for use of Toi (AVhakataka) and others of tbe Ahitahi hapu, to be set out in direction of towards Araukuku. There will also be made a reserve of 1,000 acres for Ngatitupaea, to include the following villages : Puketi, Tirotiromoana, and Popoia. Eeserve Maori Cemetery in Ketemarae Clearing, ou Eailway Eeserve : mark oil' 2 acres, so as to allow road to pass round the cemetery. 17 acres about to be reserved at Maori burial-ground, ou Temptation Hill, between Manutahi and Kakaramea, on Eailway E> serve. Captain Blake will, as soon as practicable, take steps towards having a trial line cut for road behind Mount. Egmont, towards Waitara ; and, after being inspected, approved, or amended by Mr. Williams, arrangements are to be made for having the roadway cleared, the small timber and undergrowth only to be felled, burnt off, and grass Bced sown.—Donald McLean.

fi. —Captain Blake to Mr. James Mackay, Special Commissioner, AVellington. AVanganui, 11th September, 1879. Sib, —My brother Edward was down here on Monday evening, and in conversation with him the matter of Toi's reserve turned up. He told me that Major Brown had said that there was no record about it, and that all claims of tbis kind would be absorbed in the 10,000-acre reserve made by him. Now, this 10,000-acre reserve is given to Hone Pihama's people, Ngatitupaea and others, who would never consent to Toi's people holding any right therein. I may also mention hrTe that when this 10,000-acre reserve was laid out and surveyed by Dalton, then Government Surveyor, it turned out to be 16,000 acres. Major Brown, lam informed, is now going to cut off fi,ooo acres. I send you herewith a copy of letter written to Native Minister about this 1,000 for Toi and others. And my object in writing to you now, is that you may take steps at once towards having this place, where this 1,000 acres should have been allocated, reserved from pale or other action until it is finally settled whether this reserve is to be made and confirmed, or whether this matter is to become another unfulfilled promise. Ido this because I hear from my brother that the surveyors are at work cutting up tbis land for tale. This was a reserve approved and authorized by tbe late Sir Donald McLean in 1873, was shown in schedules and on maps of district by Uaptain Wray, the oflLer in charge of confiscated lands, and was also under instructions to be surveyed, along with other reserves, during tbe time I was in charge of Native affairs, Patea District; in fact, the survey of it was partly done and would have been completed, but that Mr. Skinner, the surveyor doing it, was carried away to do other work wbich was thought of more importance. Major Brown himself was. made aware of this reserve by myself, Hone Pihama, and Takiora, long ago, and was also made aware of the i'act by my being possessed of the original memorandum authorizing such reserve to be made. It is such cases as Major Brown's action in this matter that have brought about an utter distrust amongst the Natives, and a firm belief among them that good intentions by the Government or any Government are not to be believed in. I also send you a list of most of the people to whom this reserve belonged, which, you will see, comprises some of the principal and leading men across the AVaingongoro. At the time that I hauded my letter to the Native Minister (Mr. Sheehan), he looked it over and remarked that the matter was " clear enough ;" but I suppose the letter was filed away somewhere carefully, has been overlooked, and no action taken on it. I look upon it as being of the greatest importance to have tbis reserve fixed, confirmed, and settled, as breach of faith in this matter will certainly make it very difficult dealing with the Natives concerned in thus question, or any other Natives, when it comes to treating with them towards arranging a settlement about lands north of Waingongoro. Trusting that you will see into this business with as little delay as possible,— I have, &_., E. T. Blake.

Enclosure in No. 6.—Native Eeserte for Toi (Whakataka) and others (1,000 acres). Bounded on the West by the Waingongoro Biver; South by Kanihi Native Eeserve; East by Heke and others' Native Eeserve; and North by Crown Lands : Eor Toi, Te Kaho, Wharerata, Whakataka, Hemi AVhakataka, Eangiaitu Tauke, Hauwhenua, Wairao, Taketake, Takiora, Katene, Aktaki, Te Matoe, Pokiha (at Dr. Buller's), Komene, Te Wake, Kangihawe, Pepe Heke, Te Mira, Tonga, Mange, Torutoru, Kokiri, Toro, JYloro, Tukarangatai, Tumahuki, Taniwba, Eangiwhetu, Kangiwananga, Wbatakaraka and others (of Te Inuawai), Ngatiruanui Tribe.

7. —Memorandum by Captain Blake. 20th November, 1876. To E. Parris, Esq,—l saw Pepe (Heke Pakeke) and others at Ngarongo, on the 19th, with regard to the selling of their interests in lands between Waingongoro, Mangapoau, and Palea, and advised them to take steps now, while they could secure favourable terms, 'ihe principal people opposing will be Eangiaitu and Taketake (Whakalaka's sons), and others. These could be easily pacified, I think, when it is explained to them that there is a reserve of 1,000 acres for them next to Turangatapuae (which would uioro than cover their claims). This is the Native reserve made by Sir Donald McLean for Toi and others.—E. T. Blake.

B.—Papers relating to the Survey of the 10,000-acre Eeserve at Ketemarae (Mountain Eoad). Mr. Dalton to the Commissioners. Normanby, 28th February, 1880. Gentlemen, —I take the liberty of writing you, as I feel it a duty I owe myself. Major Brown, in making his statement ou Tuesday last, said that I was dismissed from the Government through not completing the Araukuku Eeserve. I was not, nor have I ever been dismissed from their service. I myself resigned, having the offer of more remunerative employment. The first intimation I had of there being any dispute as to tbe size of this reserve was upon meeting Mr. Humphries, the Chief Surveyor, to whom I explained Major Brown's instructions, which were, " That he had made all arrangements with the Natives as to where the line should go, and that I had only to ' follow in the footsteps of Patohe and

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