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C.—No. 4.

CONFISCATED LANDS.

No. 12. Mr. G. B. Wokgan to the Hon. D. McLean. g lEj Survey Office, Patea, 12th February, 1872. I have the honor to inclose a tracing of sketch of the block lying between Whenuakura and Patea Eivers, showing the position of the lands given to Major Turner and Mrs. Hewitt, 400 acres each ; the position of the lower boundary of the University reserve of 10,000 acres, the railway reserve &c. The Patea Eiver has not been traversed more than four miles from the mouth inland, and the Whenuakura about five miles. Of the block shown as Native award (portion included in railway reserve marked 1) to Eruete te Powa and others, 800 acres have been arranged for by negotiations for purchase ; the remaining 112 acres belonging to Haimona Hiroti, Mete Kingi, Eamia Poari, Pango, Wikitoria, Eamia Eoe, and Eiheta Paihi has been partly offered for sale, but may stand over for the present. Deducting, therefore, these 112 acres, and other reserves, there remains an area which may be estimated at 8,000 acres, the survey of which for sale I will proceed with at once, in conjunction with other work in hand. I shall hope to have plan ready for Gazette notice within, say four months, provided it be cut up into blocks not less than 100 acres in extent. I have, &c.., Geoege B. Worgan.

No. 13. The Hon. D. McLean to Mr. G. B. Wohgan. g IE Hawera, 14th February, 1872. With regard to your letter of the 12th instant, I have to request that you will proceed to mark off the reserves, and get the land between the Whenuakura and Patea Eivers ready for sale as soon as possible. You will be careful that the proposed site of the town and railway crossing at Hukatere is not included. I have, <fec, Donald McLean".

No. 14. Mr. G. S. Coopeb to Mr. G. B. Worg-an. (Telegram). Government Buildings, 24th September, 1872. Me. Staitoed is most anxious you should push forward purchases of Maori interests in confiscated lands as rapidly as possible. G. S. Cooper.

No. 15. Mr. G-. B. Worgan to the TTndek Secretary, Native Department. gIK _ Whanganui, 27th September, 1872. Referring to your telegram, No. 573, I beg to state that, from the unsettled position in respect of title of several blocks of Native land lying within my district, I am hindered from doing more at present than temporize with the owners, and by small advances and conciliating measures gam time and prevent reoccupation. I allude particularly to the large reserves. Eor instance, in Hone Pihama's case the claimants to the Wareroa reserve of 10,500 acres are legion, and did Hone return thither, there would be no preventing his following doing likewise. I know no means other than those I have already suggested in former letters on this subject (namely, by vesting these reserves in the hands of a certain limited number of Natives to act as trustees for their several tribes or hapus, giving them power to lease &c ) whereby these lands can be made available, or the Native title determined. 1 feel no confidence that these lands could be acquired for the Government ; the Proclamation under the 42nd clause of the Public Works Act, although not applying to confiscated lands, created a lasting feeling of great bitterness against the Government amongst the Natives, and they have a strong movement on foot to get it rescinded, and also to obtain much greater liberty and facilities for dealing with their lands according to their own pleasure. _ , , . At the time I induced Hone Pihama and people to return to Oeo, m consequence ot the hostile attitude assumed by the Wairoa settlers, it was distinctly promised him that no longer delay than prudence dictated should elapse before he was properly reinstated in his property, the present position of which is certainly a scandal, and calculated to shake the confidence of the .Natives in the justice and good faith of the Government; the Europeans in its neighbourhood use it to depasture their cattle, as a hunting ground for pigs (now wild, but formerly the property of Hone's people), whilst timber for all purposes is cut and carried away without let or hindrance. The condition ol other reserves is precisely similar. Of the compensation award, some 6,000 acres still remain the property ot Natives. Such interests (see report and accompanying tracings) as I have already acquired, or am at present engaged in acquiring, have been carefully selected with the view of obtaining the greatest advantages derivable from position and quality of soil, as also with a view to saving in the costs of survey. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington particularly desired to acquire a block of B,ooA acres which was allotted by Mr. Parris, C.C., to forty-two Natives on the north-west bank of the Waitotara lliver; from its position this block is admirably adapted for settlement, whilst the only impediment to its being dealt with at once, is a lease hanging over a portion of it. 7