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as comprehensive as possible, feeling assured that you will be able to collect much valuable information relative to the character of the country, vegetation, rivers, harbours, timber, Native inhabitants, &c, &C, in a country comparatively so little known. I have only to add that the Lieutenant-Governor desires you will lose no opportunity of communicating with him from time to time should such offer after you have once started on your mission. I have, &c, W. Mantell, Esq., &c. W. Gisborne, Private Secretary.

No. 7.—Despatch from His Excellency Governor Grey to the Eight Hon. Earl Grey. My Lord, — Government House, Auckland, 10th February, 1849. In reference to my Despatch No. 80 of the 20th August last, reporting the arrangements I had directed to be carried out for the extinction of the Native title to the tract of land in the Middle Island, lying between the block of land purchased for the Nelson settlement and the block purchased for the Otago settlement, I have now the honour to state that, although official information has not yet reached me regarding the final adjustment of those details of this purchase which relate to the survey, and defining the reserves kept for the use of the Natives, yet I have received information which I believe to be authentic, that the whole of these details have now been conclusively and satisfactorily adjusted, so that the land question, in as far as nearly the whole of the Middle Island is concerned, has been set at rest; and, with respect to that portion of the Middle Island which is not yet purchased, I will take care that at the earliest possible period arrangements are made for the final settlement of the Native claims in relation to that tract of country, as well as of those which are connected with Stewart Island. I think it will be a source of great satisfaction to your Lordship to find that so large a tract of country of the most fertile description is thus unrestrictedly open to British enterprise, without any possibility of any of those embarrassing questions arising in relation to it between the European and Native population in reference to titles to land, which have been a source of such loss and embarrassment to the settlers in the North Island. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Grey. . G. Grey.

No. B.—Mr. Mantell to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Wellington, 30th January, 1849. I do myself the honour to transmit to you, for the information of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, the following report of my mission to New Minister as Commissioner for extinguishing the Native claims on the block of land there purchased by Mr. Commissioner Kemp. Having left Akaroa on the 15th August ultimo, I proceeded down the Peninsula to the northern part of the plain, and reached the boundary, Kaiapoi, on the Ist September. The Natives (Kaituhauriri) who had accompanied me had meantime retarded and embarrassed me to the utmost of their power. At the old pa at Kaiapoi I listened to many speeches from the Natives actually residing on the plain, complaints that they had received no portion of the last payment. They also continued to assert obstinately, as they had previously done at Akaroa, that the land between Waimakariri and Kaiapoi had not been sold by them, and that they were resolved to retain it. On the afternoon of the 2nd September, the meantime having been spent in this mission, I commenced laying out the Tuahiwi Reserve, all the Natives present agreeing to the limits as I described them. On Monday the survey was continued, but closed early in consequence of the misconduct of a young man named Metehau, who afterwards returned to the camp, set fire to our hut, and was about to attack me with a tomahawk when he was stopped by the Natives. At daybreak the next morning he left for the Peninsula, and the survey concluded on the 7th. Having left a rough plan with Aperahama te Aika, at Eua Taniwha, we returned to Waimakariri, and set out a reserve (No. 2) of about five acres, a plan of which we gave to Tainui. I further promised the Natives that the old pa, Kaiapoi, should be reserved by the Government, so that neither Native nor European might dwell there. It is about four acres in extent and unsurveyed. Leaving plans of the reserves (copies of which I enclose) 1 and 2 at Port Levy with Horomona Iwikau, to be delivered to Paora Tau on his return from Wellington, I reached Akaroa on the 15th September. Kaiapoi, prior to its destruction by the Ngatitea and their allies, having been the head-quarters of the Ngaitahu, and the source from which issued successively the war-parties which, proceeding through the Island, virtually exterminated the Ngatimamoe, the land around it has been densely populated, and the proprietorship is more minutely divided than in any other place which came within the sphere of my operations. Now, however, there are, including the Kaikanu census, not more than forty resident Natives between Kaiapoi and the Waikirikiri. Most of the Natives resident at Port Levy and other places on the Peninsula belong to but do not occupy the district. These, and, at their request, those living at Moeraki and Murihiku, I considered in making the Tuahiwi Eeserve. The principal men appear to be Paora Tau, of Port Levy, and John Tikao, of Akaroa ; the latter, however, of questionable rank, but raised into notice by a little knowledge of the English language, and a great amount of audacity towards Europeans. Having completed my prepartions I set out southward, and reached the small wretched settlement of Te Taumutu on the 23rd September, passing Wairewa, a small kaika within the French claim. Here I had very little difficulty, Taiaroa and Maopo, the principal men of the place, having secured a share of the payment at the last distribution. Accordingly, after taking the census, I set apart the reserves (6 and 4) in the accompanying map, one or two gardens beyond the limits to be abandoned. I cannot here omit to mention that Maopo's house, court-yard, and gardens were distinguished by great cleanliness and neatness, and that he conducted himself extremely well. Tiaki Tai, another leading man, was, with his family, absent on a visit to the south.