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No. 10. The Hon. Mr. Mantell to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sie, — Wellington, New Zealand, 11th June, 1875. In accordance with the wish of the writers, I have the honor to hand to you a petition from Topi and Taiaroa, praying for the rents received by Government, on account of the Natives, from tenants of the Native Eeserve, Princes Street, Dunedin, prior to the issue to the Superintendent of the grant which was recently the subject of litigation between the parties. They also pray that interest, at the rate of 4 per cent., may be added to the amount. The writers request me, in presenting to you this petition, to add a word in support of its prayer; but I feel confident that the fairness of their request will be too clear to you to need any advocacy on my part. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Wellington. W. B. D. Mantell.

Enclosure in No. 10. John Topi and Hoki Keeei Taiaeoa to the Hon. Sir D. McLean. Sie, — Otago, 12th October, 1874. Greeting. "We pray you and your Government to pay us the rent for the Princes Street Eeserve—that is to say, the £6,000, with interest accruing thereon, at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, for the period the said money has been lying in your hands. We pray you to pay that £6,000 now, with the interest thereon. We consider that there is no reason why that money should now be withheld from us. In our opinion that reserve was admitted to be Maori land, because £5,000 has been paid on account of it, which amount has been received by the owners. It will be right to pay us the back rent for the period prior to the issue of the Crown grant to the Superintendent of Otago. We were grieved at receiving no answer to the letter written to you on the 6th of March, 1874, and also to one written to Mr. Vogel, dated the 21st July, 1874, applying for the payment of the said money. Our prayer to you is for these moneys to be paid over to us. Do you reply to this letter. From your loving friends, The Hon. Sir Donald McLean. John Topi. H. K. Taiaeoa.

[Tbanslation.] E Koeo,— Otakou, 12th Oketopa, 1874. Tena koe. E tono ana maua kia koe, ki a koutou hoki ko tou Kawanatanga, kia utua mai e koutou nga moni utu reti o te whenua i Otepoti, ara, te ono mano pauna (£6,000), me utu mai hoki nga moni takoha o waho e wha pauna mo ia rau mo ia rau, pena tonu te utu mai o aua moni i nga tau katoa o te takiwa e takoto ana aua moni i a koutou. E tono ana maua kia utua mai e koe te ono mano pauna i naianei ano me nga moni takoha o waho o aua moni. Ki to maua mahara, kahore he take e puritia atu ai aua moni i naianei ki to maua mahara kua tuturu taua whenua i Otepoti he whenua Maori ano, no te mea kua utua hoki ki nga pauna moni e rima mano, kua riro mai ki nga ringaringa o nga tangata mana taua whenua ka tika hoki kiahomainga moni utu reeti o mua atu o te tukunga o te Karauna karati ki te Huperetene o te Porowini o Otakou. E pouri ana maua ki te kore kupu au mo te pukapuka i tuhia atu ki a koe i te 6 onga ra o Mae he 1874, me te reta kia te Pokera, o te 21 onga ra o Hurae, 1874, he tono ano i aua moni kia tukua mai. Ko ta maua inoi tenei ki a koe kia tukua mai aua moni, me whakahoki kupu mai koe mo tenei pukapuka. Na o korua hoa aroha, Kia Ta Honore Te Makarini. Na John Topi. Na H. K. Taiaeoa.

No. 11. Memoeandum on No. 10, for the Hon. the Native Ministeb. The legal aspect of the Otepoti Native Beserve has been conceived to be, as stated by His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, in his letter of 20th November, 1872, viz., that the Natives have no legal claims. It was with a desire to meet the Natives' wishes, and prevent their throwing the money away in useless litigation, that the sum of £5,150 was paid in full of all demands, and as a settlement of the whole question. H. T. Claeke.

No. 12. Memokandttm by Mr. H. T. Claeke. His Honor Mr. Macandrew, in his letter of 20th November, 1872, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, states distinctly the terms upon which he agrees to give the £5,000 to Natives. He says, "I may observe that, in agreeing to the course indicated, I am influenced by a desire that a reasonable sum. shall be paid to the Natives rather than be thrown away on litigation, and not because I think there is the shadow of a claim. In fact, as lam advised, the claim on the part of the Maoris has not a leg to stand upon." 16th October, 1875. H. T. Clabke.