Mr. Commissioner M'Lean, to the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, New Munster.

"I have the honor to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor, that the inland boundaries of the Wanganui and Rangitikei purchases were finally adjusted on the 12th ult., the date on which I returned with Mr. Park, the New Zealand Company's principal Surveyor, and a large body of natives, from fixing the inland boundary at Turakina.

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* * I shall address you a separate despatch in reference to arrangements which, subject to His Excellency's approval, I propose to carry out with page xlvi the natives respecting their reserves in the Rangitikei district; in the meantime I would earnestly advise the Government, against encouraging or in any way sanctioning the leasing by the Natives to Europeans anxious to make terms with them, of their large reserve marked red on the enclosed sketch, and situated between the Turakina and Wangaehu rivers, as I conceive that such a measure, even if consented to by a portion of the Natives, would seriously injure and interfere with their future welfare and prosperity as a tribe.