G—6a

care was taken with the assistance and co-operation of the principal Chiefs, to make a fair and impartial distribution of the amount, not only among the several claimants residing in the district but also to those who arrived from the Wairarapa, Manawatu, and other distant places. Te Hapuku had a neat house built for the occasion abundance of food provided, and every preparation made for the reception of his numerous guests. On the 7th instant, I arrived at Ahuriri, where I found that Tareha and his followers were not behind Te Hapuku in making similar preparations, messengers were despatched by him to collect the tribes from the different parts of the coast and on the 17th instant, the deed of sale was signed and the first instalment of one thousand (£1000), for the district and harbour of Ahuriri was handed over to the claimants. The original deeds for both purchases, with translations, are herewith forwarded. In the course of a few days I intend to proceed to Mohaka to pay the first instalment of Two hundred pounds (£200) for that district, and "shall afterwards take an early opportunity of reporting more fully on the several arrangements entered into with the different tribes at Hawke's Bay. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Land Commissioner. To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

General: Has reference to the newly acquired tracts of land in the I Hawke's Bay district <uid the general of its position.

4th Nov., 1851, Te Hapuku's Block £1,800; 17th Nov. 1851, the Ahuriri Block, £1,000; sth Dec. 1851, the Mohaka Block, £2OO.

District of Napier No. 10 The Chief Commissioner to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington Wellington, 29th December, 1851. Sir,—In continuation of my several reports in reference to the progress of negotiations for the purchase of land from the Natives of Hawke's Bay, I have now the honour to state to you, for the ini ormation of his Excellency the Governor in Chief, that the several arrangements with these tribes for the cession of: Te Hapuku's Block of 279,000 acres at £4BOO, The Ahuriri Block of 265,000 acres at £l5OO, The Mohaka Block of 85,700 acres at £BOO, have been carried out, the separate deeds of sale for each purchase duly executed, and the first instalment of £3OOO handed over to the claimants, on the dates and in the proportions specified in the margin. The terms of payment granted by His Excellency for these districts have given general satisfaction to the Natives; so much so, that Te Hapuku (in consideration of having received the sum he applied for in his letter, forming an enclosure to my report of the 9th of July last), has freely granted and pointed out to me the boundaries of another beautiful block in the Ruataniwha plain in extension of the late purchase, which may be estimated at twenty miles long, by one to two miles wide. I consider, moreover, that this liberal treatment of Te Hapuku's claim is likely to ensure that Chief's friendly co-operation in purchasing the whole of the country from Hawke's Bay to the Wairarapa, of which district, comprising upwards of three millions of acres he is allowed to be the most influential and powerful Chief. Tareha and other Chiefs at Ahuriri were anxious to have several portions of valuable land reserved for them on both sides of the Harbour, especially on Mataruahau Island, which they had always considerable reluctance in transferring, from a fear that they might be eventually deprived of the right of fishing, collecting pipis, and other shell-fish which abound in the Bay; these rights so necessary for their subsistence, I assured them they could always freely exercise in common with the Europeans, and in order that they should be fully satisfied on this point a clause has been inserted in the deed to that effect. With reference however, to the reservations for fishing villages and other purposes, I objected to all of them excepting one Pa, in the occupation of Tareha, where some of his relatives are buried, and which he is to retain until such time as the Government may hereafter require the spot for public improvements, such as deepening or reclaiming some portions of the Harbour.

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