RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.

83

C—No. 1

native office. Of the three hundred pounds given on Opito, fifty pounds has been paid back from Wheuua kite, forty more was paid on Opito in November 1861, which made £340 From Whenua kite paid back 50 From Opito 162 To be taken from Hahae £128 —Therefore there is an account of this deposit £125 to be deducted from the price of the Hahae block when that is purchased, on account of this party. Also RaWiri's receipt for the forty pounds will have to be deducted from that block should not he be able to sell his land at Whangainata first. Whairahi's fifty pounds will have to be taken from the first piece that will be sold by that party. Tikankao's one hundred and fifty pounds will be paid partly by the Hoho block and partly by that of Mahakirau. Tikaokao and Maka's forty pounds will have to be deducted-from Mah:„kirau, also Pumipi's four pounds. The sum of five pounds that was lent to Anaru has been returned and is now on hand. These are the only sums that have bceu paid by me; whatever has been paid by the land office the receipt must be there. I forward herewith a return of money which is on hand at the present date. I shall be in want of cash to complete the purchases that have beeu surveyed, also blank deeds for the same with a plan on the margin of each. I herewith enclose two letters, one from Mohi of Whangapon. 1 have pvromised him thirty pounds for bis piece at the Pungapuuga, which he agrees to take. He wanted me to give that for the land and to pay for the timber besides, but I told him that that could not be done ; he is only trying to see wbat he can do at the office ; the other letter is from some of Paora's natives who say that they were promised £15 for some islands at the Big Barrier, which they request should be paid. I have, &c, James Preece.

PROVINCE OF HAWKE'S BAY, DISTRICT OF NAPIER. No. 24. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Sir,— Auckland, May 21st, 1862. I have the honor to enclose copies of letters, addressed to his Honor the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay. To settle outstanding questions with the Natives, I obtained an advance of £485 from the Provincial Treasury at Napier, and I should feel obliged if you would cause that amouut to be refunded. For adjusting a difference that had been for some years pending withreferer.ee to Mr. Northwood's homestead, I obtained an assurance from that gentleman that he would pay £100 of the sum required to obtain secure possession of his homestead, which, with all its improvements, the Natives threatened to resume unless they receive a large annual rental. The circumstance of this case may be briefly stated as follows:— Mr. Northwood leased his run from the Natives, before any land purchases were made by the Government at Hawke's Bay. His homestead was included in a reserve of 448 acres subsequently made in one of these purchases. A part of the homestead was acquired in 1854 by Mr. Northwood for horses and goods to the value of £90, some of which horses have lately been returned by the Natives. Attempts were made to get this question settled which hitherto have only tended to further complication. In addition to the 448 acres marked off on the plan as a reserve, Te Hapuku claimed an extension of its southern boundary to Tuingara which would include about 2,500 acres more than the original quantity. I herewith enclose a tracing showing the land iu question. I requested Mr. Locke to proceed to Pourererc to mark off and define on the ground the boundaries of a burial ground and some cultivations for tbe Native Chief Moreura who resides on thei reserve. When this duty is completed, a plan of the the portion of land excepted from the present sale will be furnished to you. To enable the Government to arrive at a conclusion as to the share of the expenses which should be borne by Mr. Northwood, in settling this case, I shall be glad to afford you any further information on the subject you may require. The other cases being of a general nature do not require any further notice from nr.e. I should state, however, that there are other questions still pending at Hawke's Bay which will necessitate my returning there. Messrs. Cooper and Fitzgerald are engaged in surveying selections i=et part for the Natives in the Ruahine block, the settlement and arrangement of which will probably occupy a few more weeks. I have, &c., Donald McLean, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Chief Laud Purchase Commissioner. Auckland.