General Reasons why such Liberal Reserves were made.

When the purchase of the Waiwhakaiho Block was effected, a considerable length of time had elapsed since any land had been obtained from the Natives at Taranaki, and it was looked upon as a matter of great importance to make a commencement in any direction and on almost any terms, in the hopes of its leading to further purchases. The Waiwhakaiho Block was never looked upon as being, in itself, of any particular value, and, from its peculiar shape, but a very small portion of it is composed of open and immediately available land, the greater part being, though generally level and rich in soil, so heavily timbered and lying so far inland that its intrinsic value as an additional acquisition of land to the settlement was never thought to be very great. But the fact of making any purchase at all at that time at Taranaki was considered a great point gained, and more particularly so in reference to the Waiwhakaiho Block, because it was looked upon as being (what it afterwards proved to be) the key to the Hua Block, and because many Natives joined in the sale who had previously been obstinate opponents to the sale of land. I may mention Tangutu and Raniera as instances of this. It was also at that time believed that dealing liberally with the Natives in the matter of reserves in this block might operate as an inducement to the Mangaoraka, Waiongana, and Waitara people to sell some of their much-coveted lands, as it was hoped their opposition might become less obstinate when they saw that really nothing more was asked for, or sought to be obtained from them, than those lands which were of no use to themselves or their children. These are generally the reasons which led to such liberal reserves being made in the Waiwhakaiho Block; and I may add that Mr. Henry Halse, who at the time of the purchase filled the office of my Sergeant-Major, and gave me most valuable assistance in conducting the negotiation, was fully aware of all these reserves, and might have explained them to the Provincial Government, in whose service he now holds office. They are equally well known to officers of the General Government now in New Plymouth. I now come to the special reasons connected with the granting of these reserves.