The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to Mr. Mantell.

Sir,—

Your letter of the 24th ultimo, with its enclosures, on the subject of a rumoured purchase having been made by the Government of the Murihiku District from Wahapiro and others, having been referred to Messrs. McLean and Kemp, I have the honor, by direction of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, to transmit to you copies of the replies of those officers, from which you will be enabled to contradict the report which you state to be in circulation.