2

G.—3

I attach an article that appeared in the Grey River Argus of the Gth February, 1879, on the subject, as it contains a clear account of the circumstances that led to the occupation of the Grevmouth Reserve by European tenants, and the important question that is involved in the proposed change of tenure. The present financial depression that prevails on the West Coast, as elsewhere, has created considerable difficulty in collecting the rents ; consequently the fund is in a much lower condition than ever it has been before. I have, &c, Alexander Mackay, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Commissioner.

Enclosure No. 1. Statement of the Eeceipts and Expenditure of the Nelson Native Eeserve Fund, from the Ist July, 1878, to the 30th .Tune, 1879. Receipts. July Ist, 1878,— £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance on hand ... ... ... ... ... ... 373 8 2 Eents collected as under, — Nelson ... ... ... ... .... 893 9 9 Moutere and Motueka ... ... ... ... 619 7 7 "Westport ... ... ... ... ... 97 5 0 Loan repaid ... ... ... ... ... 15 0 0 1,625 2 4 Refund by General Government in part repayment of medical officer's salaries defrayed by the Native Eeserve Fund since 1864 ... 2,000 0 0 Interest per Public Trust Office, to 30th June, 1878 ... ... 16 10 Interest per Public Trust Office, to 30th June, 1879 ... ... 1 15 2 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £4,001 2 6 Expenditure. July Ist, 1878,— £ b. d. £ a. d. By Provisions and clothing, &c, for Natives ... ... 702 7 1 Harness, Ac. ... ... ... ... ... 53 2 6 Implements, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 247 4 7 Funeral expenses ... ... ... ... ... 34 11 0 Buildings and repairs... ... ... ... ... 205 19 2 Passages, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 334 13 O Fuel and potatoes, &c. ... ... ... ... 42 10 0 Medical attendance ... ... ... ... ... 29 16 0 Schoolmaster's salary ... ... ... ... 175 0 0 Eents paid to Natives ... ... ... ... 224 0 0 2,049 3 4 Printing and stationery ... ... ... ... 16 5 1 Commission on rents ... ... ... ... ... 114 1 6 Travelling expenses ... ... ... ... ... 6 4 0 Miscellaneous expenses ... ... ... ... 60 0 9 196 11 4 Expended out of imprests... ... ... ... 2,245 14 8 Supplementary amounts paid by Public Trust Office, — By Salaries uncharged to 30th June, 1878 ... ... 83 15 0 Commissioner's salary, twelve months ... ... 225 0 0 Secretary's salary, twelve months ... ... • ... 50 0 0 Interpreter's salary, twelve months .. ... ... 40 0 0 Medical officer, Motueka, twelve months ... ... 50 0 0 Medical officer, Nelson, twelve months ... ... 50 0 0 Medical officer, Queen Charlotte Sound, four months ... 16 13 4 Medical officer, Wairau, twelve months ... ... 50 0 0 Schoolmaster, twelve months ... ... ... 60 0 0 625 8 4 Total expenditure ... ... ... ... 3,791 3 6 By Balance to credit ... ... ... ... ... ... 209 19 0 Total ... ... ... ... £4,001 2 6