Enclosure.

You will oblige me by acquainting. His Excellency the Governor with my return from the mission I had undertaken at the request of Captain Hobson, R.N., Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, to the Native chiefs and tribes on the eastern coast.

Captain Hobson being absent at present on a tour of duty, I feel a delicacy, in entering into the details of the circumstances attending my visits officially: it may, however, interest Sir George to know, that I visited the harbours of Coromandel, Mercury Bay, Tauranga, Akaroa, Hawke's Bay, Cloudy Bay, Port Nicholson, Ruapuke Island (Foveaux Strait), the Islands of Kapiti and Mana, Otago, and Southern Port (Stewart's Island). From all these places I obtained the necessary, signatures, excepting in one or two places where my mission had been, anticipated by other gentlemen sent by Captain Hobson.

At Southern Port (Stewart's Island), and at Cloudy Bay, (Middle Island), Captain Niasand myself judging it would be for the best interests of the Natives as well as European settlers that further delay, should not take place, we proclaimed the Queen's, authority with the usual ceremonies: at the former place on the 5th of June, where we did not meet with Natives, by right of discovery; and at the latter on the 7th of June, from the sovereignty having been ceded by the Native chiefs. At Port Nicholson I learned that Captain Hobson had also taken a similar view of, the subject by proclaiming the Queen's authority. Here we met with Mr. Shortland, and a subaltern's party from my detachment, who had been sent by the Lieutenant-Governor. The place appeared, tranquil, and well supplied with provisions; and Mr. Shortland as well as the troops had been, I understand, well received on their landing by the inhabitants.