[ENCLOSURE REFERRED TO.] Land Commissioner's Office, Wellington, 15th December, 1557.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 286, 17 July 1860, Page 4

[ENCLOSURE REFERRED TO.] Land Commissioner's Office, Wellington, 15th December, 1557.

Sir,—ln reference to the arrangement concluded with the Ngatitoa natives previous to the departure of his Excellency Sir G. Grey in August, 1853, by which they undertook to dispose of tbeir claims by right of conquest, -and to settle those of other tribes living on the spot, to the whole of the districts ih the northern and western portions of the Middle Island, in consideration of the sum of live thousand pounds (£5,000), of which two thousand (£2,000) ■was paid at the time, and the balance three thousand (£3,000) was to be paid in six (6) annual instalments of five hundred pounds (£500) each ; and on which arrangement I reported fully to the Civil Secretary at the time: I have now the honor to report, for tho information of his Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, that the principal chiefs of the Ngatitoa tribe residing on the southern shore of Cook's Strait, having crossed over to this side, and Taiaroa, the chief of the aboriginal tribes in the Middle Island, together with several chiefs of other tribes inhabiting the Nelson province, being in Wellington, I took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the presence of so many of the parties interested, to call a meeting at Porirua (the principal residence of the Ngatitoa in this jaeighborhood), for the purpose of discussing the •whole questions. The chiefs were exceedingly anxious that a final settlement of all their claims in the Middle Island should take place at once; urging as-a principal reason, that so many of their leading chiefs had died since the conclusion of the first arrangement, and those who survive had become jso weak from recent illness, that their existence for any length of time could not be depended upon j and further, that a sum so small as five hundred pounds (£500) being divided once a year among such a number of claimants, afforded bo trifling an amount to each, that there was ©very probability of the natives becoming. dissatisfied with their bargain before its conclusion ; when difficulties, hitherto unforeseen, might be thrown in the way of the settlement of the district. . * ' Taking these reasons into consideration, as well as the fact that so good an opportunity of discussing the question in the presence of the principal chiefs of so many different tribes (including those ofthe conquerors, as well as those of the remnants of the conquered and original possessors of the soil), might not again occur. Considering the great influence possessed by Te Rangihaeata and the other Ngatitoa chiefs, not only over their own followers, but extending to tbe other tribes Inhabiting the Middle Island; looking to the great advantage to be derived from the immediate acquisition of this land for settlement; and having received the assurances of the chiefs that they would accompany me as soon as my duties in this province would permit of my crossing to the Middle Island, for the purpose of using their influence in settling with the natives of their own and other tribes resident there, and that, as soon as proper and sufficient reserves were marked out for their use, they would give up peaceable possession of the country, I deemed it advisable to accede to their wishes, and accordingly paid them, oh the 13th instant, the sum of two thousand pounds (£2,000), taking a receipt from them for the amount, a translation of which, as well a3 of the original deed of August, 1853, I do nijeclf the honor to enclose herewith.

This sum, and tbat paid last year, amount together to four thousand pounds (£4,000), leaving one thousand pounds (,£1,000) of the sum originally agreed upon. Of this one thousand pounds (.£1,000), however, I have already paid seven hundred pounds (,£700) to the Ngatiawa tribe in Taranaki for their claims, so that three hundred pounds (,£300) only remain unappropriated. This sum, I feel it my duty to report, will not be sufficient to extinguish the remaining claims of the natives resident upon the territory now ceded, which is the most populous portion of the Middle Island, and the area of which may be estimated at about eight millions (8,000,000) of acres. As soon, however, as I shall have had an opportunity of visiting the spot, and discussing the question with the resident natives, I will lose no time in making, for his Excellency's consideration, a report of the amount for which the extensive and valuable district can be finally purchased ; the cost under any circumstances, is not likeiy to amount to the rate of one farthing per acre. , I have been engaged during.the greater part of the present and past weeks in discussing fully the claims of the different tribes, and other questions affecting tbis transaction, and I have muoh pleasure in stating that the division of the two thousand pounds (£2,000) was affected with the most perfect fairness, and gave ge« nerally satisfaction to the parties concerned; a sum of two hundred pounds (£200) being paid lo Te Kangihaeata as the principal conqueror of the country and leading chief of the tribe; tho remainder of the money being paid to the other chiefs in amounts corresponding to their interest, and the number of their relatives and followers. His Excellency will be glad to learn that the aged chief Te Rangihaeata, who has always been a determined opponent to the sale of any land, took a prominent part in this discussion, exerting all his influence in inducing his followers to bring the negotiation to a satisfactory conclusion, and in restraining the exorbitant demands of some of the chiefs. He came forward without hesitation, and affixed his name to the deed of sale, being the first time within my knowledge that Te Rangihaeta has voluntarily done so. I venture to hope that the course which I have adopted on this occasion may meet with his Excellency's approval, as it has finally settled all questions between the Government and the Ngatitoa tribe as regards an extensive and valuable tract of land, rich in coal, copper, and other minerals, and will, through their influence materially facilitate the negotiations with the other tribes possessing claims there. I have the honor to enclose, for his Excellency's information, the copy of a letter which I have addressed to th c Commissioner of Crown lands at Nelson in reference to this subject. I have &c, (Signed) Donald M'Lean, Land Commissioner. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary. Auckland.