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Admitting (to commercial and, to some extent, political advantages arising from he system of payment by instalments, your Committee are nevertheless of opinion hat itis ca'cnlated to introduce serious confusion into the public financial transactions ol tins Colony, and that, in order to place the financial position of this Colony vear by year, upon a sound basis, it is essential that the total amount of the funds necessary lor Native Land Purchases should be provided in account with the financial Denod in which the transactions actually take place. Whilst your Committee are not in a position to suggest any mode by which a correct estimate may be made of the amount which will be required in any financial period lor the service under consideration, they are of opinion that any estimate actually made should not be exceeded, but that any surplus required should be provided for in some other manner. If this course be not adopted, and rigidly adhered to the financial arrangements of the Provincial Governments are at all times liable to be thrown into the utmost contusion. Your Committee further beg to express their em* phatic opinion that in the instance referred to by His Excellency's Message, and also as a General Kule no payments should be made to natives for lands over which rival tribes or families have claims, the adjustment of which amongst themselves have not been previously amicably and definitively arranged. Your Committee find that the other Messages referred to them, relate to matters which more properly come under the cognizance of the Committee of Supply. HENRY SEWELL, Chairman*