15

I.—B

number of reserves in each locality as you can persuade them to agree to, and in as regular shaped blocks as circumstances will admit of. Much may be done towards accomplishing this bymducing the Natives of very small settlements to unite in taking their reserves at one locality, and by getting them to consent to give up the smaller patches of cultivations in exchange for additional land nearer the larger ones, a liberal provision being made both for their present and future wants, and due regard shown to secure their interests and meet their wishes. Secondly: To ascertain the number and names of all the Native settlements within the block purchased, the number of Natives (of all ages) resident at each, the hapu to which they belong, the name of the person whom they acknowledge as their principal'chief, and the names of the principal or most influential men in each settlement. This might be perhaps given in a tabular form. Thirdly :To notify to all the tribes in passing that the second instalment of £500 will become due and be paid on the 12th December at Akaroa, to which place each must send its representative or inform you who among the Natives at Akaroa or Otakou is authorised to represent them. It is most desirable that the third and fourth instalments (also of £500 each) should be paid only at intervals of a year froir; the one immediately preceding, so that the third would be due on the 12th December, 1819, and the fourth on the 12th December, 1850. This arrangement you will announce to the Natives as having been directed by the Lieutenant-Governor. It would be useful, also, if you could ascertain in what proportions the first instalment of £500 paid by Mr. Kemp to -two individuals was afterwards subdivided amongst the others, and what hapus or kaingas received a share. Fourthly :It will be necessary to have a new deed executed by the Natives conveying the lands to Her Majesty and hexsuccessors, instead of Colonel Wakefield or the directors of the New Zealand Company (which was the form adopted by Mr. Kemp), and the Natives should be informed of this, and. an explanation given of the reason of the change. The Crown Solicitor will furnish you with the proper form, which can then be filled up so as to meet the requirements of the case. Fifthly :At each locality where reserves are set apart for the Natives, the principal chief of the place must have a plan given to him showing the position, shape, and size of such reserves signed by yourself ; and all these separate reserves must be distinctly shown on the general map of the district to be attached to the new deed. Sixthly : Upon your reaching Otakou you are authorised to provide, at the expense of Government, passages to Akaroa for yourself and such of the Otakou chiefs as you may consider it desirable should be present at the payment of the second instalment, or if no opportunity should occur to Akaroa, then to Wellington ; but in this case as few Natives as possible should be taken. The Government will take measures either for your being met at Akaroa before the second instalment becomes due or they will arrange that the requisite funds should be sent in time to enable you to make that payment. Seventhly : It is of paramount importance in making the payment of the second instalment that you should not hand over the sum to any one or two individuals, as was? done with regard to the first, leaving them afterwards to subdivide or appropriate the amounts as they might choose; but, on the contrary, it will be your duty to consider carefully and weigh maturely the relative rights or interests of the various claimants, and then yourself to subdivide the whole amount, to be paid into as many portions as there are hapus or kaingas entitled to receive, giving to each that proportion which their numbers, importance, rights, or other circumstances may lead you to believe to be fairly and legitimately their due out of the whole amount; these portions, when determined, should be delivered to the principal Native belonging to the settlements for which they are respectively intended, and upon them will devolve afterwards the task of appropriating it among their own people. Within the limits of the district to which your present mission relates are two claims to land which have been recognised as valid by the Government. These are : (1) That of the French company at Akaroa, and (2) that of Mr. Jones at Waikouaiti. In both cases, however, it will be your duty to see that suitable and sufficient reserves are set apart for the Natives, the boundaries distinctly marked on the ground, and plans of the same given to them. This being first done, the lands to which the French company or Mr. Jones may be respectively entitled must then be shown on the map in some distinct and separate manner, and must not be included in the purchase, the Natives being given to understand most clearly that, though it is our duty to see that proper and adequate reserves are set apart for them out of all lands sold, we acknowledge and respect the rights of the parties referred to, and are not entering upon any arrangements to their prejudice. The amount of the French company's claim, as admitted by the Natives, is said to be shown in the map accompanying the deed signed in June, and herewith forwarded to you; but the published statements relative to it in the blue-books will afford you, perhaps, more authentic information. With regard to Mr. Jones's claim at Waikouaiti, I need only remark that, after you have set apart such reserves as you may deem suitable and sufficient for the Natives, that gentleman is to be allowed to select the quantity of land to which he is entitled wherever he may choose in the vicinity, and in as many separate blocks as he may please, not exceeding three, and the aggregate amount of acres of which shall not be greater than he is authorised to retain. It will be requisite that these blocks should be defined and shown, as otherwise a difficulty would occur in executing a grant of the district to the New Zealand Company, in consequence of uncertain and indefinite reserves to be kept for Mr. Jones. Should any unforeseen difficulties arise, not anticipated or provided for, the Lieutenant-Governor feels assured he may with confidence commit to you a discretionary power to act as upon a mature consideration of all the circumstances you may deem best, requesting only that on such occasions you will keep in view the objects and intentions of your mission, and endeavour to adhere as nearly as you can to the general principles laid down for your guidance. One other point the Lieutenant-Governor would earnestly press upon your attention, and that is the great necessity of exercising the most indefatigable perseverance in all inquiries or discussions with the Natives, both in ascertaining their respective rights and interests, and in winning them to acquiesce in such arrangements as you may consider most just and best. It will be also requisite that you keep a journal relative to your proceedings; and the Lieutenant-Governor wishes it to bo