[Translation.]

Salutations. Colonel Russell has referred your letter of the 1st February to Mr. Mantell, and asked him to state whether any promise was made with regard to the eel-weirs of the Maoris at Lake Ellesmere, when he paid for the land.

Mr. Mantell says that at Waihora he showed Maopo, Pohau, and others of the Kaiteruahikihiki interested at Taumutu, that although years might elapse ere their old style of breaking down the dam might be interfered with, the stoppage of the outlet must so seriously affect the drainage of so large an extent of country that the Government must be free to do as it pleased with regard to it.

If therefore the Superintendent were draining the lake, he would not wrong the Maoris; but he is not draining the lake. Enough.