C—No. 1

66

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

m;i,.-<>\- province cuntinlid,

i'UO.

£xo.

JEICO. f ICO.

23. On the 24th of this month, I crossed the Straits from Wellington to Cloudy Bay, in a small vessel, taking al, ng with me the Ngatitoa Chiefs Rawiri Puaha. Hohepa Tamaihenga, and others, and was followed by Matene Te Whiwhi, and Tumihana Te Rauparah.i, in courte or a few days. 24. The left bank of the Wairau River being the Southern boundary of the purchase, I held a meeting with the Natives of that place, in number about one hundred and twenty (120). They fully assented to the sale, baring participated —except a small party of the Rangitane —In the first and second payments made at Porirua. 25. To the Rangitane one hundred pounds was now paid in full satisfaction of all their claims. 26. The Reserves laid off at the Wairau consist of seven hundred and seventy (770) acre 3 <.n the left bank of that river, a small bay named White's Bay, an I about two hundred (200) acres adjacent thereto; and two sections, of fifty ;:cies each, to the Chiefs Wiremu Nera Te Kanae, and Te Tana Pukekowhatu. The latter section has been marked out ; but the former, in consequence of the absence of Te.Kanae, though its general position was defined, had not been survejed. For these two s>ec.ions I beg to recommend that individual Crown Grants should be issued to the above-named Chiefs. 27- From the Wairau, I sailed for Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte's Sound, a portion of the country inhabited chiefly by the Ngatiawa. The people had assembled at Waikawa to meet me, where, after several debates, which lasted for some days, I was enabled to effect a final settlement of their claims, for a sum of Five hundred pounds, the receipt of which is acknowledged in the Deed signed by them on the (9th) ninth February, 1856. 28. The unsettled state of the Ngatiawa tiibe, and the disposition manifested by them to return to tlieir former possessions at Taranaki (where their presence could only increase the troubles that already beset the land question in that Province) rendered the present negociation with them one of no small difficulty and delicacy, which might, if in any way mismanaged, affect the general tranquility of the country. I was induced, therefore, to ai>ree to reserves of considerable extent being assigned to them in the various bays they were then inhabiting, wi.h which tliey appeared to be fully satisfied. A plan, exhibiting these reserves, is heiewith furnished for His Excellency's information. 29. To this part of the country, from its past associations, the Natives attach great importance, as the scene cf many hard-fought battles, and of final conquest; the great resort, moreover, in former years, of whale ships from different parts of the world, with whom they carried on a lucrative trade ; they could also, at all seasons of the year, resort to its well-sheltered bays and haibours for supplies of fish. 30. As expressive of the national interest felt by them for the place, one of the principal chiefs, Roi.oama Te One, the last of several who had spoken, in a most emphatic harangue, in which he alluded to these various circumstances, stiuck into the ground at my feet a green-stone adz.?, saying, in their usual metaphor, "Now tlu.t we have for ever launched this laid into the sea, we hereby make over to you, as a lasting evidence of its surrender, this adze, named Paewhenua, which we h;.ve always highly priztd, from having regained it in battle after it was used by our enemies to kill two of our most celebrated chiefs, Te Pehi and Pokaitara. Money vanishes and disappears, but this green stone will endure as a durable witness of our act, as the land itself which we have now, under the shining sun of this day, transferred to you for ever." I allude to this incident that it may, if necessary, be referred to hereafter, as an evidence of the importance attached by this tribe to the treaty now concluded, and a striking circumstance likely to be long remembered by them. 31. From Queen Charlotte's Sound I crossed by the Anakiwa Pass to Kaituna and Pelorus Valleys. At the Kaituna the txtent of reserve which I deemed necessary for the Ngatikuia tribe residing there, was three hundred (300) acres. Out of ihis extent I had to recommend that an individual Crown Grant be issued to the chief Hura Kopapa. The position of the reserve lias been pointed out in the presence of the Natives interested, but I had not then time to have it surveyed. 32. In addition to this reserve, a landing-place for canoes at a place called Pareuku was requested by Kopnpa. Its extent, as pointed out to me, will not exceed ten (10) acres. A very long pah occupied by this tribe, at a place called Motueka, is likely to be the only site available in that locality for a township. If it should really be required for this purpose, the Natives agree to relinquish it; if uot, then I would certainly recommend that it be reserved for them. Should a town be laid out there, I would submit that Hura and Manihera ought to receive, by way of compensation, four (4) of the town sections, of fair average value. I trust that Hie Excellency will be pleased to sanction this proposal. 33. From Kaituna the next visit was paid to the Hoiere or Pelorus river, to fix the reserves and cultivations for the Natives residing there. When these had been decided on, as shewn on the plan herewith furnished, the Ngatikuia, formerly the owners of the beautiful aud fertile valleys of the Hoiere and Kaituna, now reduced in number to about fifty (50) souls, were paid One hundred pounds, in extinction of their title, with which sum they appeared well satisfied, it being the first time since the conquest that their claims had in any way been recognized. 34. I next proceeded to the Croixelles Harbour; but I found that the Chief of that place had preceded me to Nelson, where I afterwards decided the reserves to be allotted to himself and to his people, the Ngatikoata, and paid them a sum of One hundred pounds for all their claims. 35. Before going to Nelson, I called at Wakapuaka, where a section of the Ngatitama live. These declined to give up any portion of the land held by them at that place, as they considered it not more than sufficient for their own subsistence; they object also to its being sold, without