Memo. relating to Waitotara purchase, 26 Augt., 1865. In reference to the preliminary proceedings connected with the Waitotara purchase I have to state that the Natives including the principal Chiefs and claimants offered the land for sale to the Govt. During Governor Brownes visit to Wanganui in May, 1859, a large party of Natives came from Waitotara to pay him a visit. It was upon this occasion that they formally offered the land and received an instalment of £500 on account of it. The reserves were then marked off and the external boundaries of the purchase surveyed. The understanding was that after completion of Survey the price to be paid for the block should be determined and the purchase concluded. The disaffected stateof the Natives prevented this from being done during the time I was conducting negotiations for the purchase. This arrangement was delayed in consequence of the disaffected state of the Natives and no further action of any consequence was taken by me in the matter during the time I was conducting negotiations for the purchase. Previous to the receipt of the first instalment of £500 - paid in May 1859 the Natives frequently discussed the sale of the Waitotara block.