The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to Mr. Mantell.

Sir,—

I am directed by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to transmit to you, to report upon, a communication lately received from Matiaha Tiramorehu, complaining of the insufficiency of the reserves set apart for his tribe in the Middle Island; and at the same time to request that you will instil into the minds of the Natives the sacredness of all obligations they may enter into, and that such arrangements, once made, cannot be altered.

With respect to the Kaiapoi, the Natives themselves brought the subject before the Governor-in-Chief, when at Wellington, many months since, and were distinctly informed that no changes or new arrangements could be made or allowed.

In furnishing your report, it will be as well to mention the extent of the reserves at Moeraki, and the number of Natives, so that it may appear how far the complaint of their insufficiency is correct or otherwise.