AFFAIRS AT TAURANGA.

19

A.—No. 20

No. 23. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Teuton to the Hon. the Native Minister. (No. 672.) Native Lands Court Office, Sin,— Auckland, 11th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, No. 475, informing me that the Government will relieve me of pecuniary responsibility in the matter of the £75 advanced by me to Mr. Hay, on account of the survey of the Katikati Block, and beg to thank you for your ready attention. I have, &c, F. D. Fentois-, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Chief Judge.

No. 24. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Clarke to the Hon. the Native Minister.. (No. 106.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir, — Tauranga, 10th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant (No. 656), drawing my attention to a copy of a letter from Mr. Civil Commissioner Maekay, on the subject of the Katikati purchase, forwarded to me for my remarks. This document was transmitted to your office by the first opportunity. Referring to the latter portion of your letter where you request me to report fully on the position of the present land claims at Tauranga, I presume you are not aware that there is a report of mine now in your office on this subject (dated 23rd June, No. 50.) Since writing that report the position of the case is but little changed. Complications may have been increased, arising out of the illegal action taken by some Europeans, in paying large deposits on the most valuable blocks —vide my letter of 23rd August (79), and they are now, I am led to believe, urging the Natives to press upon the Government to ratify these transactions. With regard to the promises made by His Excellency the Governor to the Arawa chiefs, that they should have each a town section in Tauranga, Mr. Commissioner Smith informs me that the question has been brought under his notice by the chiefs to whom the promise was made. The question of Motiti is continually being raised, and ought to be speedily settled. I have, &c, Hexht T. Clatcke, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner,

No. 25. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eollestois" to Mr. Clarke. (No. 874) Native Secretary's Office, Sic, — Wellington, 4th December, 1865. I am directed by the Honorable the Native Minister to call your attention to the fact that a mtting of the Native Lands Court will take place at Tauranga on the 28th of the month : as it is possible that questions may arise in respect of confiscated land, and other lands in which the Government have, as you are aware, pecuniary interest, I am directed to request you to attend and watch the proceedings on behalf of the Government. I enclose a copy of the Gazette which contains the applications for investigation of title at Tauranga. I have, &c., AY. Eoli.eston", The Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Under Secretary.

No. 26. Proceedings of a Meeting held with the Tattraxga Natives, 20th February, 18GG. Colonel Haultain: We have come to settle this question of land now so long pending. There were certain terms made at the time of the surrender, on peace being concluded; we are about to carry out those propositions. You gave to the Government a portion of land, thrse-quarters of this land was to be returned to you. The object of the Government now is to obtain your assistance in carrying out this arrangement. The Government will adhere to the terms that were agreed upon. Te Kuka : I ask what portion of land do you mean has been given up ? Colonel Haultain : Don't you know the boundaries of the land you gave up ? Enoka: Yes, we know them. All I gave at the surrender was from Katikati and along by the mountains to Wairake. I explained to the Governor that there were certain lands at Katikati disputed by the Thames Natives. The Governor replied : Give me the land ;by and bye I will give you every third acre, and keep the fourth acre. The fourth acre was taken for the sin {hard) I had committed, my land only was taken because 1 had sinned: it was not taken from the men who did not fight. The Governor said, let there be one piece {i. c. of land), I objected, and said it would not be just that another should suffer for me : let mo pay with my property at Katikati and Wairake. Also, those who own the forest land, let them do likewise. Then the mana of the land was given to the Governor, and the conversation ended ; I have repeated all that was said then. Colonel Haultain: The Governor said, on making peace, that he required one quarter of the-