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made for reserves, when to his knowledge

the district had been entirely surrendered

to the Government at the previous meetings

and public deliberations of their tribe. After
a short discussion among the natives, I again

read over the boundaries of the purchase, to

which the whole of the claimants unanimously

assented. Reihana and Ngawaka, coming

forward among the first to sign the deed,

remarking, as they did so, to some few around

them, (who objected to their making such
demands) that they merely wished to exact

as much land as they could before holding
the pen, which act they very properly regarded as signifying their irretrievable consent to the final transfer of their land.

On the 16th the whole men, women, and

children of the Ngatiapa tribe, with the
officers and gentlemen who attended yesterday,

made their appearance at an early hour

on the parade ground, where a tent, with

other conveniences, was provided by Lieut.

Smith, of the Royal Artillery, and the officers of the 65th.

The natives having ranged themselves in
the order in which they should be paid, I
directed their attention, especially those who

were not present on the previous day, to the
deed of sale, which was read over by Mr.

Ronaldson, a young man connected with
the Rev. Mr. Taylor’s establishment, who
afterwards assisted in writing on the deed
the names of those natives who were only

able to make their marks.

The signing being finished, Abraham Tipae,
the chief of Wangaehu, reminded the

Ngatiapa of the necessity of adhering to the

engagements now entered into, of looking

up to the Governors of the island as their
guardians, and to the Europeans as their

friends, to all of whom they were now more

closely united by the deed to which they attached their names. He then addressed the

people of the Wangaehu, Turakina, and

Rangitikei rivers separately, enquiring whether they fully comprehended the nature of
the agreement they had concluded, and

whether they were quite resolved to abide

by the favourable promises publicly declared

by them at this meeting, to which they all

replied in their usual way of expressing their

consent, “Ai.” Abraham continued, by stating that if any of them should hereafter
disturb the present amicable arrangement or

interfere with the land they had ceded, that

he should himself be the first to bring such
offenders to justice.

Paora Turangapito, the principal chief of

Turakina, and leading warrior of the Ngatipapa, next addressed his followers, to the
effect that the alienation of the lands of their

forefathers and ancestors was a great event;

and one in which he was glad to take part

before his death, a circumstance likely soon

to take place, as he was labouring under severe disease, but he trusted his survivors

would carefully observe and fulfil their present important engagements. One or two

laments over their country were recited by

this chief, the whole tribe joining in the

chorus.

Aperahama Parea of Waitotera, Mawae,

and different other chiefs, who were seated

near me, remarked that it was quite unnecessary for them to address or advise the

Ngatiapa on the present occasion, as the

“Tangis” or laments for their land, which

they had just repeated, was the best possible evidence of their favourable disposition

towards the Europeans, and of their fixed
determination to part with their land.

The first instalment of one thousand

pounds was then divided in eighty-six equal

portions, of ten pounds to each Hapu or

subdivision of a tribe, and the remaining 14

bags of ten pounds each were handed to the

following chiefs:—Kingi Hori and Hamua of

Rangitikei, 6 bags; Paora Turangapiti of

Turakina, 4 bags; Aperahama Lipae of

Wangaehu, 4 bags; making in all one thousand pounds, in one hundred bags of ten

pounds each. The enclosed schedule marked

A. exhibits the name of the Hapus, and

natives to whom the money was delivered.

After the payment of the money the natives quietly dispersed to their encampment,

on the south side of the river; and on the

following morning they were seen in busy

groups passing from shop to shop, more

eagerly disposing of their cash than they

appeared the previous day to obtain it.

Upwards of eight hundred pounds of the

whole amount has already been expended by

them in the purchase of thirty horses, agricultural implements, a variety of different

articles including clothing, of which they

very much needed a supply.

The deed of sale with its translation is

herewith forwarded, in which it will be perceived the terms of payment are inserted,