[From the Government Gazette, June 15.] REPORT ON THE PURCHASE OF THE RANGITIKEI DISTRICT. Wanganui, 21st May, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 404, 16 June 1849, Page 3

[From the Government Gazette, June 15.] REPORT ON THE PURCHASE OF THE RANGITIKEI DISTRICT. Wanganui, 21st May, 1849.

Sir,— I have the honor to report to you, for the information, of his Excellency the Lieu-tenant-Governor, that the arrangement* with the Ngatiapa tribe for the purchase of the district of land situated between the Rangitikei River and the Wanganui block, were satisfactorily concluded on the 16th instant. ' The Ngatiapa having arrived at Wanganui, I held a meeting with them on the 15th instant, at the military parade ground, which was attended by the officers of the 65th Regiment, also by Capt. Campbell and Dr. Rees, Justices of the Peace, Robert Park, Esq., New Zealand Company's Surveyor, and several of the European settlers, besides native chiefs from different tribes, who were invited to attend. When all were assembled, I briefly informed the claimants that I was glad to see them coming forward so promptly to conclude the negotiations respecting the transfer of. their land, and requested them to make any statement they wished on the subject before signing the deed of sale, that all who favored us with their presence might understand the object of our meeting, arid the favourable disposition- or otherwise by which they were influenced, in disposing of their land to the Government.

The principal chiefs and claimants responded to this request, by declaring in roost emphatic terras, that it was their firm and mature resolution to part with their lands to the Government ; and that they anxiously di-sired to participate in the various advantages they would derive from the settlement of a numerous European population amongst them. The deed of sale was then read over, the natives fully assenting to th'e boundaries and other conditions therein specified, excepting two, named Reihana and Ngawaka, who, although agreeing to the general provisions of the requested, before attaching their signature, to retain some large reserves they had previously applied for, as comma. nicated in my letter of the 10th of April; but which, from their extent and position, I could not grant. I therefore gave these natives to understand that as ample reserves were already provided for them, I could not now allow of those unnecessary ones after my. explicit determination to the contrary. George King, the chief of Putikiwaranui, in addressing the Ngatiapa, remonstrated against such untimely applications being made for reserves, when to his knowledge the district had been entirely <■ surrendered to the Government at the previous meetings and public deliberations of their tribe. After a short discussion among the natives, I again re^ad over the boundaries of the purchase, to which thewhole of the claimants unanimously assented. Reihana and Ngawaka, coming forward among the first to sign the deed, remarking, as they did so, to some fewaround them, (who objected to their making such demands) that they merely wished to exact as much land as they could before holding the -pen, which act they very properly regarded as signifying their irretrievable consent ,to the final transfer of their land. .On the L6th the whole men, women, and children of the Ngatiapa tribe, with the officers, and gentlemen who attended yesterday, made their appearance at an early hour on the parade ground, where a tent, with other conveniences, was provided by Lieut. Smith, of the Royal Artillery, and the officers of the 65 th. , The natives having ranged themselves in the order in which they should be paid, I directed their attention, especially those.who were not present on the previous day, to the deed of sale, which was read over by Mr. Ronaldson, a young man connected with the Rev. Mr. Taylors establishment, who afterwards assisted- in writing on the deed the names of those natives who were only able to make their marks. The signing being finished, Abraham Tipae, the, chief of Wangaehu, reminded the Ngatiapa of the necessity of adhering to the engagements now entered into, of looking up to the Governors of the island as their guardians, and to the Europeans as their friends, to all of whom they were now more closely united by the deed to which they attached their names. He then addressed the people of the Wangaehu, Turakina, and Rangitikei rivers separately, enquiring whether; they fully comprehended the' nature of the agreement they had concluded, and whether they were quite resolved to abide by , the favorable promises publicly declared by them at this meeting, to which they all replied, in their usual way of expressing^their consent, "Ai." Abraham continued, by stating that if any*of them should hereafter disturb the present amicable arrangement or interfere with the land they had ceded, that he should himself be the first to bring such offenders to justice.j ustice . . ,r f Paora Turangapito, the principal, chief of Turakina, and leading warrior of the Ngatiapa, next addressed his followers, to the effect that the alienation of the lands of their forefathers and ancestors was a great evenf ; and one in which he, was glad to -take part, before his deathj a circumstance likely soon to take place, as he, was labouring under sedisease, but he trusted his • survivors would carefully observe. and fulfil ( their present important engagements. <sne or two, laments over their country were recited by this ."chief, fhe whole tribe joining in the .chorus. Aperahama Parea of Waitotera, Mawae, and different other "chief's,, who were seated ne;;r me,, remarked' that it was quite unneif^ary'for them to address or advise the Ngatiapa on the present occasion,, as the "T.uigis" or laments for tlieir land, which they had' just repeated,,. was. the best possi,bie e\:deLce of their favourable .disposition 1 so \ai ds" the Europeans, and of their fixed (X ieiini rl a) ion to. pa^ with their land. ." , , T.he ,fitst instalment of : pne- thousand puund^w^s then divkledin eighty-six, equalproportions, of tep i pounds to -each Hapu or>> iul^diyision of a tribe, and the remaining J1 4., bags of -ten pounds, eac,h were handed to, the follo^Sng,chiefs i : T-Kingi T -Kingi Hori andHumia of Rangit&ej, 6 bags; Paora Turangapiti tf Turakjna,,,,4 r bags ; . , Aperahanqa Lipae of Wungaenu/4 bags ;,.makjmgin all onathoa-.

sand pounds, in one hundred bags of ten pounds each. The enclosed schedule marked A. exhibits the name of the Hapus, and natives to whom the money was delivered. After the payment of the money the natives quietly dispersed to their encampment, on the south side of the river ; and on the following morning 1 they were seen in busy groups passing from shop to shop, more eagerly disposing of their cash than they appeared the previous day to obtain it. Upwards of eight hundred pounds of the whole amount has already been expended by them in the purchase of thirty horses, agricultural implements, a variety of different articles including clothing, of which they ' very much needed a supply. The deed of sale with its translation is herewith forwarded, in which it will be perceived the terms of payment are inserted, as authorised in your letter of the 25th ultimo ; that is, that the total purchasemoney should be two thousand five hundred pounds, one thousand pounds of the said amount to be immediately paid to the natives, and the remaining fifteen hundred pounds to be paid in three subsequent equal annual instalments, falling due on the 15th day of May in each year. Attached to the deed there is a plan showing the probable extent of the purchase and the position of the native reserves. A~ more accurate map will be furnished when Mr. Park has completed a contemplated survey ol the interior of the Rangitikei river. From the desire of the natives to possess the whole of the land between the Turakina and Wangaehu rivers, I considered it advisable to acquiesce in their wishes, as the place is peculiarly adapted from its welldefined natural boundaries for a reserve, and from its extent will also render it a sufficient and desirable situation for the eventual settlement of rhe whole tribe. .There are already several villages and native cultivations on this reserve, and the, chief, of Turakina informs me, that in the course of_ a few years he will dispose of the Turakina reserve of eight hundred acres, ashe intends at . my suggestion, to make immediate preparations to settle between the rivers. The right of eel-fishing, in such places as may not fee drained by European settlers, the village and cultivation, including six,teen hundred acres of land at Parewanui, Kawana Hakeki's burial ground, fifty acres near some fishing lagoons colored red on the map, the right of cultivation till March eighteen hundred and fifty- two on some spots of land opposite Awahou, and a similar right for a period of three years on two places on the north bank of the Wangaehu, comprehend the whole of the native reserves within the purchase, as specified in the deed of sale, which further provides that the Government have a right of constructing a public road or roads through all the native reserves. Mr. Park, whose experience as a surveyor renders him most efficient in .discharging his duties, is at present engaged in making maps for the natives, which with - copies of the deed I shall leave with the chiefs, as records of reference, in which the arrangements now concluded are detailed. The Ngatiapa are as yet a rude, uncultivated race, whose improvement as a tribe has hitherto been muchneglected.consequently settlers may have some little difficulties to contend with in their first intercourse with them, but the cession of their country, increasing knowledge, and ameliorated circumstances, will sobn bring about a perfecfJy amicable understanding. I am glad to observe that many of the chiefs in this neighbourhood congratulate the Government on the successful termination of the present purchase, notwithstanding the opposition evinced by various tribes ,when ihe negociations were first undertaken 1 . ■ I have the honor to remain, ' ' \Sir, Yotu 4 ' most obedient Servant, Donald M 'Lean, Inspector of Police.' The Hon: the Colonial Secretary; &c, &c, ■ Wellington;