A.—No. 13.

I am at present engaged obtaining information respecting the blocks north of the "Waitara, and south of the Hangatahua Eiver, preparatory to the next sitting of the Compensation Court here. I have, &c, W. S. Atkinson. The Hon. the Native Minister. Crown Agent. Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Mr. W. S. Atkinson to the Native Agent, New Plymouth. Sib,— New Plymouth, 10th July, 1866. I have the honor to submit for your consideration the following proposals of settlement in satisfaction of all claims of friendly resident and absentee Natives and half-castes for compensation, on the block of land known as Waitara South. 1. To give to the above-mentioned claimants the whole of the block to seaward of the Military Settlements in the Waitara South Block with the exception of the Waitara Township. 2. The whole of the reserves contained in the above-mentioned Military Settlements with the exception of the Towu Belts. 3. A fourth part of the land which is comprised in the Township of Waitara, outside of that which is intended for the town present and future, comprising about 500 acres. 4. Also the Matitaiora bush supposed to contain about fifty acres. 5. One hundred and twenty-five sections in the Waitara Township to be chosen in the following order, viz.: The Natives to choose one, and the Government nine sections alternately. Also sections on the site of the Hurirapa Pa. I have, &c, E. Parris, Esq., Native Agent, \V\ S. Atkinson, New Plymouth. Crown Agent. Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Native Agent to Mr. W. S. Atkinson, Crown Agent, New Plymouth. Slß,— New Plymouth, 12th July, 1866. In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, conveying certain proposals for the settlement of all claims of friendly and absentee Natives and half-castes for compensation, in the block of land known as Waitara South; I have the honor to inform you that I agree on behalf of the Natives to accept in fulLcompensation of their claims over the said block, the block of land seaward of the Military Settlers', line, said to contain 8,000 acres altogether, with all the reserves in the Military Settlers' Settlement. In the Waitara Township, I accept on behalf of the claimants, your oft'er of 125 Town Sections, together with 500 acres of the Town Belt, and that portion of the Town Belt at Mataiore returned by authority of the Hon. the Native Minister to Mahau and his people. I have, &c, W. S. Atkinson, Esq., Crown Agent, B. Pareis, New Plymouth. Civil Commissioner and Agent for the Natives. Enclosure 3 in No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Native Agent to the Ceown Agent, New Plymouth. Sir,— New Plymouth, 17th July, 1866. In further reference to my letter of the 12th instant, you are of course aware that the Hon. the Native Minister awarded to the Waitara Natives in addition to the 125 Town Sections and 500 acres of the Town Belt, the land comprised in the Huripapa Village extending to the Mangaiti Stream, except the streets as laid out on the map of the township. I have, &c, The Crown Agent, New Plymouth. E. Paeeis, Civil Commissioner and Agent for the Natives. Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Ceown Agent to Native Agent, New Plymouth. Sir — New Plymouth, 19th July, 1866. In reply to your letter of 17th instant, I beg to state that in the .offer I made to you on behalf of the Crown, 1 included the site of the Huripapa Pa, excepting of course the streets as laid out on the map of the Waitara Township. I have, &c, E. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner and Native Agent, W. S. Atkinson, New Plymouth. Crown Agent. No. 1. Copy of a Letter from the Civil Commissionee to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic— Wellington, 7th August, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the Under Secretary's letter of the 21st ultimo enclosing copy of an Order of the Legislative Council requiring certain information relative to the settlement out of Court of claims of friendly Natives to laud at Taranaki and Waitara. In reply I have the honor to enclose herewith a statement containing the information asked for.

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