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the sum of two hundred pounds (£200), which has been paid to him out of this instalment.

I find that it would be impossible to effect a final and amicable adjustment of the land comprised within this purchase, which may be estimated at eight millions of acres, for the sum originally stipulated in the deed of sale, more especially as so many more natives from different tribes (including those tribes who claim by right of conquest as well as the remnants of those who originally owned the country) are resident in that portion of the Middle Island than in any other part of it; and, as no arrangement with them could be binding without the full concurrence and sanction of the principal conquering chiefs resident on this island, I think you will agree with me that the best course was finally to dispose of the latter claims, when such a favourable opportunity for doing so, in connection with the chiefs of the Middle Island, presented itself.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) DONALD M'LEAN,
Land Commissioner.
The Commissioner of Crown Lands,
Nelson.

Auckland, June 25, 1856.

SIR—We have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, in settling the Nelson land question we found it necessary to pay the natives a sum of three hundred and twenty pounds (£320) for lands included in Mr. Spain's award in favour of the New Zealand Company, and which additional payment had not been foreseen in making the general purchase of the Nelson province.

In the map signed by Mr. Commissioner Spain, it appears that certain lands were included, such as Separation Point, the cession of which to the Company has never been acknowledged by the natives; and the claimants to this land stated to us, at a public meeting at Nelson, that the land had never been sold; that they had never signed any document transferring it; and, if such document existed, they requested that it might be produced, when they would, on the production of any deed or receipt to which their names are attached, relinquish all claims.

We could not trace out any deed or other evidence of this land having been sold by the natives; consequently, after full investigation of the subject, we deemed it advisable to make a payment of one hundred and fifty pounds (£150) for the Separation Point district, to prevent all further difficulties or disputes respecting it.

At Motupipi and Takaka a dispute had existed since the date of Mr. Spain's award, partly in consequence of some of the claimants not having received a share of the money awarded by Mr. Spain, and partly of their reserves not having been properly defined. This difficulty was overcome by making necessary reservations, and paying a sum of sixty pounds (£60).

A similar difficulty occurred at Aorere, in the Massacre Bay district; and it was deemed advisable that these outstanding claims should be definitively settled, in order that Europeans might obtain undisputed possession of sections they had purchased in these districts, and on which, in some cases, gold had been discovered, rendering the speedy settlement of the native claims a matter of urgent importance. A payment of one hundred and ten pounds (£110) was made to settle this question.

The total sum expended to make good the whole of the disputed land included in Mr. Spain's award, amounts to three hundred and twenty pounds (£320). Three hundred pounds (£300) of this amount was verbally authorized by his Excellency when at Nelson in November last; and we have now the honour to request that this amount, together with the additional sum of twenty pounds (£20) which we found it expedient to pay, be submitted for the approval of his Excellency.

We have, &c.,
(Signed) M. RICHMOND, C.C.L.
D. M'LEAN, Commissioner.
The Private Secretary,
&c., &c., &c.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, October 3, 1856.

GENTLEMEN—With reference to your letter of the 25th June last, reporting that you had found it necessary, in settling the Nelson Land Question, to pay an unforeseen sum of three hundred and twenty pounds (£320) to the natives concerned:

I am desired by his Excellency's Government to convey to you, under the circumstances stated by you, the necessary authority for that expenditure.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) W. GISBORNE,
Under-Secretary.
Messrs. Richmond and M'Lean,
Commissioners.

PRINTED BY C. AND J. ELLIOTT, "EXAMINER" OFFICE, NELSON.