APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

(2), That it would facilitate the profitable disposal of several hundred acres of valuable timber, which, having been charred in the recent fires, must in a short time, unless removed, decay and perish. * * * W 7 alter S. Buller.

Appendix D. CHIEF commissioner's memoranda.

D—No. 5. FURTHER REPORT FROM MR. BULLER TO THE NATIVF. SECRETARY DATED CHRISTCHURCII, MAY 25TH, 1860. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Chief Clerk's letter of tlie 4th Aprillast, which reached me per " Lord Worsley," on the 21st instant. The only paragraph requiring a reply is that relating to the Kaiapoi Reserve. His Excellency the Governor proposes to effect the issue of Crown Grants through the medium of the Board of Commissioners of Native Reserves , and I apprehend that this is, at present, the only practicable channel. Unfortunately there exists among the Natives of this District a very strong prejudice against any interference by the Commissioners in reference to their lands, —so strong, indeed, as effectually to neutralize all effort on the part of the Board to promote their interests. Nevertheless I shall —immediately on receiving the appointment indicated in the concluding part of your clerk's letter, —convene a general meeting of the Natives, and use my best efforts to obtain their assent to a cession of the land in terms of " Native Reserves Act, 1856." In the meanwhile, however, I must urge the expediency of issuing some special instructions to the Board, requiring their strict adherence, in their subsequent disposition of the land, to the subdivision and apportionment previously agreed to by the Natives (for particulars of which I beg to refer you to enclosures in my other letter of this date) : for I am persuaded that unless I am in a position to give them some guarantee that their arrangements will not be disturbed by the Commissioners, without their consent, I shall be unable, under the existing prejudices, to obtain their assent. And before concluding I would ask His Excellency's attention to the present dismembered condition of the Canterbury Board, there being but two of the Commissioners ( Messrs. Cox and Hamilton) now resident in the Province. Walter S. Buller.

D—No. 6. FURTHER REPORT OF MR. BULLER TO NATIVE SESRETARY, DATED CHRISTCHURCH, 25TH MAY, 1860. I do myself the honor to transmit herewith a detailed minute of the proceedings of the Kaiapoi Natives in reference to their Reserve ; together with a similar document in the Maori language, signed by five Chiefs on behalf of the tribe, a duplicate of which I have given to the Natives. I hope to be in a position to forward you, per next mail, a map in illustration thereof. You will observe from this record that the open land has been subdivided into small farms of definite extent, and allotted to individuals ; while the Bush land has been portioned out without reference to acreage, the quality of the timber, and other considerations having determined the extent of the parcels respectively : and these lakes have been defined by marked trees representing boundary lines. Some of these Bush parcels have been bestowed on single individuals ; but most of them are allotted to associations of two or more persons ; and when the latter course has obtained, the most careful regard has been given, as well to the wishes of individuals as to the opinions of the people generally. In the peopling too of the rural blocks (as set forth in the Minute) the rule of family connection has regulated the selection ; and this precaution will, tt is hoped, obviate future misunderstanding or disputes. And for the His Excellency the Governor I would here express my conviction that the sub-division of the Kaiapoi Reserve has been effected on the soundest basis. Long and deliberate consultations preceded the adoption of the leading rules. With a few exceptions all the Natives interested in the land were present at the several meetings, and those lew absentees were represented. The opinions of all were canvassed, and the most patiei.t attention given to the objections of a disaffected few who at the outset opposed the scheme, but subsequently gave it their cordial support ; and in the final distribution of individuals on their respective farms, according to their family relations, the feelings and wishes of every one present were consulted. For weeks I was in constant intercourse with them, and when, afterwards, I proceeded to the

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