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all, both pakeha and Maori, may know it. You wished me to remark on the subject. It is well. Sufficient from all of us. Eaniera to Iho, Hemi te Miha, and others. Wairarapa Moana (Te Tonga). Eaniera te Iho. Tiki Pahura. Piripi te Maari. Aporo Hare. Maraea Toatoa. Tamihana Hiko. Tunuiarangi. Paraone Pahoro. Hohaia te Eangi. Paiura Watarauhi. Apiata Hakiaha. Eamari Watarauhi. Eaharuhi Anaru. Te Kooro te Kahu. Wairarapa Moaua (Whakatera). Eaniera te Iho. Paratene Nuku. Piripi te Maari. Wi Tutere, Maraea Toatoa. Matini te Ore Hohaia te Eangi. Pahoro te Tio. Tamihana Hiko. Ngatuere Tawhao. Paraone Pahoro. . Manihera Eangitakaiwaho. Eamari Watarauhi.

No. 6. Native Office, 31st January, 1874. I have the honour to inform you that, while on the one hand the Wairarapa settlers are anxious for periodical openings of the Wairarapa Lake to the sea, in order to afford additional pasture for their cattle, Eaniera and other Natives, on the other hand, object to it, as they say such openings injuriously affect their eel-weirs. I wish, therefore, that you shoufd see the latter, and endeavour to arrange with them to buy out their alleged right to the closing of the lake. As the matter is of importance to the settlers in the vicinity, you are authorised to offer as high as £200 to buy out any presumed claims the Natives may have to object to the letting-out of the waters of the lake at times when it is so full as to take away pasture-grounds. H. Wardell, Esq. Donald McLean.

No. 7. Mr. Clarke. Wellington, 28th October, 1874. I think it would be advisable that the Government should, instead of purchasing the Native claims for fishery on the Wairarapa Lake, to purchase their rights to whatever land may be hereafter reclaimed from the lake by natural causes, inclusive of their claims of fishery. As the Wairarapa Lake appears to be rapidly filling up, and if the mouth of the lake can be kept open by the settlers there will be a considerable extent of grazing-land rendered available, outside of the boundary of the land sold to the Crown. I annex a sketch showing the boundaries of sale, up to the margin of the lake. E. S. Maunsell.

No. 8. The Hon. the Native Minister, Napier. Government Buildings, 28th October, 1874. No. 144. — Be Waibarapa Lake. —Have gone into the matter and examined deeds, and conclude that Wairarapa Lake has never been ceded. Deed of West Wairarapa follows on borders of the lake to Patungamatangi; thence to Kiriwai on the coast; thence along sea-coast eastward. The spit has never been ceded, nor do I see how we can fairly claim that part of the lake which has become dry land since purchases were made ; will send you paper on subject by post. H. T. Clarke, Under-Secretary. Of course, the lake affects the interests of only a few, and no large expenditure can be incurred by the public. At the same time, if the settlers interested will state distinctly what they want, and what they are prepared to pay for extinguishing the rights referred to, Mr. Maunsell could then negotiate. 28th October, 1874. Donald McLean.

No. 9. —Mbmobandum for the Hon. the Native Minister. 29th October, 1874. With reference to Mr. Maunsell's memorandum, hereto attached, I would state, for your information, that I have gone over the boundaries of the land sold on the west side of Wairarapa Lake. The boundary starts at Turakirae, follows the course of the Orongorongo Stream thence to several places named, into the Otauira Stream, following it down to the lake; then it follows west bank of lake to Patungamatangi; then to Kiriwai, straight out to the coast, following along coast to starting-point, Turakirae. Certain eel-fishing rights are named, but, as I take it, these can only refer to spots within the boundary.* The purchases on the east side follow the east margin of the lake to the mouth and then along coast to eastward. Clearly, then, the dry strip of land and shingle between outlet of lake and Kiriwai has never been ceded. J submit, therefore, that the Government cannot equitably claim a right to the lake, nor to any land which has since the cession become dry land through natural causes.

* Vide your letter land-purchase, printed papers, page 2SB, 2nd September, 1853.