APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

Appendix C. NATIVE COBRESPOJfJJENCE.

C—No. 7. Auckland, September 22, 1857. Friend Takerei,— Salutations. Your letter has arrived, and has been seen by the Governor, and His Excellency's word is that he desires to see all the Tribes of New Zealand following after those things which will promote their improvement and civilization. The thing which will give him the greatest pleasure is to hear that you are advancing. His Excellency says that it will be good that you should come to see him (as you proposed), as he also wishes to see yovi. From your friend. D. McLean. To Takerei Te Rau, Timaru, Waikato.

C—No. 8. Rangiawhia, September 30, 1857. Friend Mr. McLean, — Salutations to you. Friend, I have not forgotten our conversation relative to the sale of land: one piece of land has been laid out by the meeting appointed by us to sell land at Auckland. One side of that land has been divided by me into portions for the men of Rangiaohia, as a run for our cattle and sheep. That land is to be a model for the other tribes that it may enable them to regulate the Maori land, and that there be no confusion. I have divided the land into portions, each person to have his own piece. It is to be surveyed and mapped that it may be right. But it will remain with you, to direct us, and then we shall act right. Do you write to us. From your loving friend Wiremu Toetoe. To Mr. Commissioner McLean, Auckland.

Recommended that Wiremu Toetoe should be informed that the plan he is adopting of sub-' dividing the land is much < approved of by His Ex- , cellency—that his pre-! vious letter on the subject has been inserted in the «' Maori Messenger," and , that Mr, McLean will make further suggestions' to him on the subject. Donald McLean. 9th October, 1857. Approved—T. G, B. Oct. 9,

C—No. 9. Horahora, Oct. 22, 1858. Friend the Governor, — Salutations to you. My letter now reaches you for the first time. The grass seed I have only sown this year : the cause of the delay was, I waited last year for the men for whom the seed was intended ; the men have only now all turned to plant; this seed was sown on the 10th day of July. Enough upon this subject. I write that you may know that the men took credit for this seed, and they have not yet given me the money. This is all. From your loving friend. Hetaraka Muru. To His Excellency the Governor, Auckland.

C—No. 10. [EXTRACTS FROM ARTICLES IN " MAORI MESSENGER" 0N THE SUBJECT OF CULTIVATION BY THE NATIVES.] THE AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. Of late years, New Zealand has derived no small amount of wealth from the exportation of her agricultural produce to the neighbouring markets of Australia. During the present year, that export has received a most disastrous check, and the consequence has been that money has become scarce, the coasting and the colonial trades have greatly diminished, and a very general depression has prevailed. It is our wish to investigate this question upon which the prosperity of both the natives and the colonists so immediately depends; and to see whether, by an improved and extended system of culture, New Zealand cannot become an abundant producer of the principal necessaries of life, to her own great and immediate gain, and to the benefit of those neighbours who would be so ready to relieve her of her redundant supplies. A great deal has been said of the prolific harvests that have been gathered in all parts of Australia during the past season ; and from this it has been left to be inferred that New Zealand could only part with what produce she had to spare at a ruinous sacrifice to her farmers. As far as the mere article of potatoes is concerned this has unquestionably been the fact. At the best of times the commodity is a perishable one ; and, in too many instances, cargoes were landed at the wharves at Melbourne in such a state of decay, that the very name of New Zealand potatoes was sufficient to scare intending purchasers. Nor was this the only objection to be urged against the commodity. Even those potatoes which had been carried across in the best condition speedily began to exhibit indications of inherent disease and decay, being sadly affected by the worm, and therefore by no means a

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