I.—3a

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gether —namely, Tapuae Nc. 4; Whawharau, A and B; Motukaraka Native settlement; Kaitaia; and Maungamaru. As the result of the search, I discovered and reported that the Tapuae No. 4 Block had not passed through the Native Land Court, and that the Whawharau blocks were inalienable. As to the other three blocks I found the titles were simple and easily dealt with. I left the result of the search with Mr. Cadman. He said, as I was going away, that we had been neglecting land-purchase north of Auckland; that he would now like to give them a little more attention, and would probably make a small experiment with these three blocks, as the transactions would not be very large. In the afternoon, the late Mr. Lewis, who was Under-Secretary—l was chief clerk at the time—brought me the following memorandum from the Minister for record : — " Memorandum. " Mb. John Lundon has this day, on behalf of the various Natives interested, offered to sell to the Government the following blocks of land—namely, Mangamaru, 1,327 acres, at ss. per acre; Motukaraka East, Block A, 140 acres, at Bs. per acre; Motukaraka East, Block B, 500 acres, at Bs. per acre; Motukaraka East, Block C, 167 acres, at Bs. per acre ; Motukaraka East, Block D, 145 acres, at Bs. per acre ; Motukaraka East, Block E, 145 acres, at Bs. per acre; Motukaraka East, Block P, 340 acres, at Bs. per acre ; Kaitaia, 5,200 acres, at 7s. 6d. per acre : on the understanding that, when the Government obtain a complete valid title to Mangamaru, he is to receive a commission of £15; a complete valid title to Motukaraka East, Blocks A, B, C, D, E, F, a commission of £35; and a complete valid title to Kaitaia, a commission of £50. The purchase to be complete within six months from present date. " In connection with the purchase of these blocks, it is understood that the Government are to be put to no expense whatsoever outside of the purchase-money, which will be paid to the Native owners whenever they present themselves to the officer authorised to receive signatures. " The reason that a complete title to all the above-named Motukaraka East Blocks is to be obtained before any commission is paid to Mr. John Lundon, is in order that the Government may be saved any expense in connection with subdivisional surveys." "I-have accepted Mr. Lundon's offer.— A. J. Cadman. 8/10/91." Pursuant to this memorandum, I was directed to draft the necessary instructions to the postmaster at Eawene to look after the negotiations. The Minister first inquired from Mr. Gray, the Secretary to the Post Office, whether Mr. Millar was a thoroughly reliable officer, and whether the Postal Department would have any objection to his services being utilised by the Land-purchase Department. This is Mr. Gray's reply : — " Mb. Bate. —There will be no objection. Mr. Millar is a most reliable and trustworthy officer. Of course the matter will be arranged through the Treasury.—W. Gray. 7/10/91." I thereupon drafted these instructions: — " Native Land-purchase Office, Wellington, 14th October, 1891. " The Hon. the Native Minister having approved of the purchase from the Native owners of the blocks of land noted in the margin [Kaitaia, Maungamaru, Motukaraka], has decided to ask you to be good enough to take charge of the deeds and payments in connection therewith. The Natives will be brought to you by Mr. John Lundon at convenient times to sign the deeds and receive payment for their shares. "It will be necessary for you to satisfy yourself as to the identity of the Natives who should sign the deeds, after the contents have been explained by a licensed interpreter, and be paid in the presence of a Justice of the Peace and another male adult witness. Mr. Lundon will arrange for the attendance of a licensed interpreter without expense to the Government, " The Eegistrar of the Native Land Court at Auckland has been requested to forward you the deeds, lists of owners, and other necessary particulars. The Treasury will lodge the funds to credit of an Imprest Account, which will be opened in your name at the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland. " It will be necessary for you to furnish accounts, with duly receipted vouchers attached, to the Paymaster-General weekly, in accordance with Treasury regulations. A supply of forms and cheque-book are enclosed herewith. You should not make any payments on account of shares of deceased owners, unless successors have been drily appointed by the Native Land Court, nor of owners who are under disability as minors. The lists to be supplied to you by the Eegistrar of the Native land Court will distinguish minors, if there are any in the titles. " Any further information or instructions which you may require will be promptly supplied on receipt of a letter or telegram. " The Secretary of your department approves of your undertaking this duty. "T. L. Millar, Esq!, Postmaster, Hokianga." "T. W. Lewis. Under-Secretary. It was afterwards necessary to modify these instructions in as far as we found that the payments must pass through the Post Office accounts instead of the Treasury, and on the 13th October the following further memorandum was addressed to Mr. Millar :— "The Undeb-Seceetary, Native Department, Wellington, to the Postmaster, Herd's Point. "22nd October, 1891. " BEFERRiNGtomymemo. of the 14th instant, I have the honour to inform you that the instructions therein contained are modified to the extent that the necessary funds will be placed at your disposal by the Postal Department instead of the Treasury, and that you will therefore have to account under the regulations of your own department, and not those of the Treasury. An advance of £300, of which you will be duly advised, is being arranged accordingly.