REPORTS, &c, OF COMMISSIONERS. Patunioe, made a statement to Archdeacon Govett, which that gentleman has furnished me with, a -copy of which I here insert : ♦ i New Plymouth, July 10, 1860. Dear Sir, I have no objection to give you a written statement of what was said by Komene Patumoe to me, regarding the sale of the Block of land at Waitara. His expression was, that if Rawiri Raupongo had been a consenting party to the sale, they could not have had anything to say against it (Kahore ama tou kupu). By this I understood him to mean, that the Natives generally at the Waitara could not have reasonably opposed it. I remain, &c, Robert Pari is, Esq. Henry Govett. With respect to Archdeacon Hadfield, the position he has taken in this matter justifies me in reporting, that seeking to effect a peaceful purchase of Teira's land at Waitara, I solicited Archdeacon Govett to write to him 10 use his influence with William King to that effect, informing him that the Governor was inclined to be very liberal to him and his people, and would make ample reserves for them. Archdeacon Hadfielu replied, and Archdeacon Gove:t read the letter to me, in which he stated that "he would not advise Natives to sell their land, that he was not pleased with anything the Government had done for the Natives, and that the Governor would find that a large party of the Natives at Otaki would espouse William King's cause." [In Sess. Pap. Gen. Assembly, 1880, E. No. 3a.]

E—No. 1

commissioner's reports AND SPEECHES.

5. The Governor's Enquiry as to Wiremu Kingi's right. Memorandum. Government House, 20th July, 1860. In order to complete the documents about to be-printed for both Houses of the Assembly, the Governor requests the Chief Laud Purchase Commissioner to answer the following questions : First, — Had Tamati Raru, Rawiri Rauponga, and their people, such a title to the block of land recently purchased at the Waitara, as justified them in selling it to the Queen ? Second, —Had William King any right to interfere to prevent the sale of the above block of land at the Waitara to the Queen? T. Gore Browne.

The Governor's Minute as to Ihe title. 20 July, 1860.

Report: Auckland, 23rd July, 1860. In reply to your Excellency's memorandum of the 20th inst., I have the honor to state with reference to the first mentioned question, as to whether Tamati Raru, Rawiri, Rauponga, and their people, had such a title to the land recently purchased at the Waitara as justified them in selling it to the .Queen : I believe that the above Chiefs, conjointly with others at the South associated with them in the sale, had an undoubted right of disposal to the land in question. With reference to the second enquiry, " Had William King any right to interfere to prevent the sale of the abovo block of land at the Waitara to the Queen?" The question of the title has been carefully investigated. All the evidence that has come before me, including Wm. King's own testimony that the land belonged to the above parties, goes to prove that he had no right to interfere. The interference assumed by him has been obviously based upon opposition to the land sales in the Taranaki Province generally, as a prominent member of an Anti-land-selling League. Donald McLean, Chief Land Purchase Commissioner. [In Sess. Pap. Gen. Assembly, 1860, E. No. 3a.]

Chief Commissioner's Reply.

8. Deed of Sale of Waitara, 2ith February, 1860. [Translation.] Know all men, by this Deed, executed on the twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty (1860), We, Chiefs and Men of New Zealand, whose names are hereunto subscribed, in consideration of the sum of six hundred pounds (£600) paid to us by Parris, on behalf of Queen Victoria (and we hereby acknowledge the receipt of the said monies) We all and each of us by this Deed consent to sell, surrender, and convey to Queen Victoria, and to all the Kings and Queens, Her Successors, and to Her Assigns, all that piece of land called Pekapeka. The boundaries of which are Commencing on the beach at Onatiki, running inland in a straight line to Kohia, to the highroad to Mamaku, from thence running in a Northerly direction along the cart road to Pukeruru, descending thence to Maungahakaia to the stream called Mangahinau, from thence seaward to Opatito to a Kahikatea (tree) standing there, continuing thence to Arakauere, from thence in a Northerly direction to Pukekohe on the flat on the landside of the Pa, from thence to the steep towards the North, running along thesteep seaward to the ditch fence to Matawhitu, running in a Northerly direction to the river Waitara, following down such stream to its mouth at the beach, from thence running in a Southerly direction along the beach to Onatiki, the starting point;

Seed of Sale oj Waitara, 2ith February, I8(i0.