that save a few fixed points, (Pakihiwitahi Peak being the northernmost), there is in my office no map whatever of even the coast line toward the VVaitahi excepting Mr. Kettles' Topographical Sketch, which only extends to Kaitahi. lhns, although in obedience to your letter of Oct. 15,1851,-1287, I have reserved from runs, town and village sites, such resetves are more vague and purposely more extensive than they would be were I enabled to cause the extent really requisite in each case to be marked on a map of the district. (Instances as the Moeraki and the Kuri will be detailed in my report on Mr. Schultz s case.) There being on the North a good natural boundary for the future County of Otago, (of which I have the honor to enclose a description), I consider that it would, in future, be found better to adopt that natural boundary than to follow heedge of the surveyed land ; the additional area being of very little value save or its timber. In conclusion, I have the honor to request that, with your reply, I may be favored with the return of the enclosed sketch maps, or copies thereof, leaving such comments and corrections as His Excellency the Governor in Chief may be pleased to direct. (Signed) Waiter Mantell, Commississioner, To the Civil Secretary, &c. &c. &c. Wellington,

Civil Secretary's Office, Wellington, 22nd June, 1853. Sir, — In reference to the enquiry in your letter quoted in the margin as to whether any particular districts in the Province of Otago should be ratified as " Proclaimed Districts" under the Regulations dated 4th March 1853, I have the honour toacquaint you that this is a question which must be determined from time to time by His Excellency the Governor, as it is necessary that any districts to be so proclaimed, should have already been or should be immediately surveyed. Those Districts of which it may be for the present intended to make a general survey, and which consequently are not " ratified" are those implied by the term " unproclaimed" for the disposal of which as you are already aware, an entirely different set of Regulations has been made. As you will perceive by the euclosed copy of a Dispatch the Secretary of State, that the lands in the Otago Settlement have now reverted to the Crown, the whole of those lands will therefore in future be administered by you as the Commissioner of Crown Lands. But in accordance with the spirit of the instructions of the Secretary of State, you will continue to sell the remaining unsold portion of the block of one hundred and forty four thousand, six hundred acres of land which formed the original Otago Settlement in accordance with the terms of purchase of 1849, relating to that settlement, distinguishing the sums paid into the Treasury on account of these last sales from those received on account oi sales under the late Proclamation - in order that the portions due under the Otago Scheme to public purposes may be reserved for the same. All other lands whatsoever, with the exception of the above mentioned 144,600 acres, will be sold under the Government Regulations of the 4th of March last. As it is probable that the surveyed districts of the Otago Settlement will ere long be brought under Regulations based upon the same principles, as those obtaining in the rest of your district, it will perhaps be best to consider all lands with the exception of the 144,600 acres above referred to, as unproclaiuied districts. The Crown Surveyor will however be directed to employ any spare time he may have in proceeding with a trigonometrical survey of any such blocks of land as it may appear to you desirable to have formed into " Proclaimed Districts." It only remains fur me to add, that it is presumed that in treating for the present the land above referred to as " unproclaimed Districts'" no difficulty respecting surveys will arise which is not met by the Regulations relating to Districts of that class. I have, &c., (Signed) Alfred Domett, Civil Secretary, Walter Mantell, Esq,, Commissioner,. Otago.

20tb April, 1853