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at once, and the land thrown open to the settlement of the Nova Scotian immigrants, or whether it will be necessary to await the relinquishment of this outstanding claim —or, in my opinion, pretended claim —on the part of the Natives. I have, &c., John Grant Johnson, District Commissioner. Donald McLean, Esq., Chief Commissioner.

No. 72. MR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Whangarei, 29th May, 1858. Sir,— With reference to my letter of the 17th instant, on the subject of the adjustment of the. Native claims to the Kaiwa Block, I have the honor to inform you that I have seen the Chief j Edward Pohe, and reasoned with him on the matter, and that the result is, that he now will consent < to the occupation of the Block by the Europeans, although he still expects to receive a portion of the money from Tirarau. The question would now appear to be entirely a Native one between themselves, and I do not see any reason why the land should be any longer withheld from settlement on account of Native opposition. I have, &c, John Grant Johnson, District Land Commissioner. Donald McLean, Esq., &c, &c.

Kaiawa. • Eru Pohe has withdrawn his opposition to its occupation. ' vrLeHerNe, JL

No. 73. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO MR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, May 31st, 1858. With reference to your Letter of the sth instant, forwarding a plan of the survey of the Waikare block and reporting thereupon;— I have the honor, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, to request that you will be good enough to complete the purchase of the block at the price named by you, viz., not exceeding ten pence per acre, as it is very important that the Native Title should be extinguished over the said block, it being much required for expected immigrants from Nova Scotia. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Chief Commissioner. John Grant Johnson, Esq., J.P., District Commissioner, Whangarei.

Waikabe. To complete purchase ttt the Waikare block,

No. 74. MEMORANDUM BY THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Recommended that Mr. District Commissioner Johnson should be informed that the arrangements he has made with the Natives for the withdrawal of their opposition to the sale of the Kaiawa block are very satisfactory. The claim adduced by Pohe, as being derived from one of his ancestors whose rights or occupancy according to Maori custom cannot be substantiated, is so vague and unsatisfactory that it appears no compensation should be made to Pohe, inasmuch as that Chief failed to produce any evidence of his having a valid right of ownership over the land, after a careful investigation which I made when he was last in Town. In fact the impression left on my mind by Pohe was that he

Kaiawa. Approving of Mr. Com. missioner Johnson's ar. raugements. ' Y. Letter Ne, 71,

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RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.