Schedule.

No. 1.
The Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Sir,—

In carrying out the instructions of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief relative to the purchase of the block of land in Massacre Bay, which has not been alienated by the Natives, I went over a great part of the tract, accompanied by Mr. Tinline, the Native Interpreter, and several of the chiefs who have an interest in the land, previous to entering into any negotiations with them. By this means I ascertained that the available portion, although considerable, was neither of the character nor quantity to warrant me in recommending His Excellency to give the price (£1,000) they demanded for it. The chief value of the district consists in the minerals, particularly the coal, which is in great abundance, and of the same good quality as the sample which was tried before His Excellency while at Nelson.

The seam, or rather field, is of great extent. We walked about three miles over it up a stream called the Pakawau. In several parts it jutted out four or five feet, and it is evidently of considerable breadth, as the same indications appear in the small rivulets which run into the Pakawau as exist in that stream. There are great facilities for working this coal: barges can enter the Pakawau at halftide to within a mile and a half of the commencement of the seam, and at high-water, if spring tides, can reach to about two-thirds of the distance. The seam also lies in a horizontal position, with good natural drainage, and so near the surface, as was traced by the bed of the stream, that a large supply can be obtained for many years by merely quarrying.

There is scarcely any perceptible rise through the small valley at Pakawau, which forms a pass between the hills from Massacre Bay to a large harbour called Te Whanganui, on the West Coast, and I understand from engineers acquainted with the locality that a good tramway (the materials for which are on the spot) could be laid down, at a trifling cost, between the coal and where the barges would take in their lading.

Plumbago exists upon a hill sloping into the Pakawau, which appears easy of access; and copper is said to have been found in the rocks behind Tamatea Pa, on the sea coast, and a short distance from this valley.

With the prospect of such abundance of good coal and other valuable minerals in the district, I was the more anxious to acquire it for the Government at once, as the longer the purchase was delayed (it appears to me) the more difficult it would be of accomplishment, for I found the cupidity of the Natives had already been aroused by the reported value of the minerals upon their land, and if they were advised that it would be more to their interest to retain the ownership, the present opportunity might be lost of acquiring it. I therefore arranged with the Native chief William King Te Koihua, who resides at Pakawau, for the purchase of all the land commencing from the limits of the late New Zealand Company's survey at the mouth of the Aorere to Cape Farewell and the Sand Spit, and the page 290West Coast from Cape Farewell to Te Whanganui, including the latter harbour, for the sum of £500, out of which he engaged to settle with the other claimants connected with the district; but having had an opportunity of seeing some of these claimants on the subject since the above arrangement, I observed that William King's influence was not sufficiently recognized over a portion of the district, and objection was made to these terms; but I entertain no doubt that if His Excellency would place at my disposal a further sum of £100, making the purchase-money £600, that I would be able to conclude, finally and satisfactorily with all parties, for the acquisition of so valuable a district to the Nelson Settlement.

In my progress through the district of Massacre Bay I was grieved to find so many pas deserted, and those that were occupied so miserable in appearance and containing so few inhabitants that I suggested to them the advantages of congregating in one or two places where villages might be formed, schools established for their children, and places of worship erected; and pointed out to them at the same time the impossibility of their improvement whilst living in this isolated state. I anticipate that this advice will be acted upon except in one or two localities, where the old inhabitants expressed great reluctance to leave the places where they had buried their fathers and children. Such an appeal could not be resisted, and I promised that reserves should be made for them.

No. 2.
The Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Sir,—

Agreeably to His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief's instructions, I endeavoured to arrange for the purchase of the land on the West Coast from Te Whanganui Harbour to Ruapuke, comprising all the land along the coast to the South of the Island, which the Natives have so long been desirous to dispose of to the Government; but I found they place so exorbitant a price upon it, ranging from ten to forty thousand pounds, and obstinately adhere to these terms, that of course I could not proceed with the negotiation, and I merely promised that I would acquaint His Excellency with the matter. I may mention that the Natives of Motupipi interested in the purchase agreed for the sum of £2,000 as the price of the district, but this has been repudiated by the Natives residing in Blind Bay.

No. 3.
The Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Sir,—

Referring to my letter of the 5th January, on the subject of the purchase of the block of land in Massacre Bay there alluded to, I have the honor to report for the information of the Governor-in-Chief that His Excellency's instructions have now been carried out, and the purchase completed to the satisfaction of the Natives residing in the district, as well as all others who we could learn had any interest in the land; indeed, the greatest pains have been taken, and every information sought, in order that no claimant, however small his interest, should be left out.

The accompanying documents testify the fulfilment of the negotiation, and the concurrence of the several parties to the sale.

The reserves that I previously reported should be made in two localities, it will be observed, are not inserted in the deed, as the Crown Solicitor was of opinion that it would be better to take a conveyance for the whole block, and then give others for the reserves to the respective Natives, when the exact boundaries were ascertained.

The importance of this acquisition to the Nelson Settlement can scarcely be overrated, as it not only extinguishes the Native title to a tract of land which was required to complete the Nelson Block, but more especially as it contains those elements of wealth and prosperity to the settlement which I brought under His Excellency's notice in my communication of the 5th January.

No. 4.
The Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Sir,—

During the stay at Nelson of the Natives who had assembled for the sale of the land at Massacre Bay, they were urgent that an arrangement should be made for the purchase of the West Coast. I pointed out to them that the present was a good opportunity for their arriving at a decision as to the price they required. The result is that they still adhere to the sum of £2,000 for the coast line, and now add £1,500 for the interior of the country, from the Rotoroa proceeding southward, which is claimed by the tribe represented by Te Iti and Ngapiko (of Motueka).

page 291

The coast line from Te Whanganui to the southernmost portion of the Island is claimed by Natives of the Ngatitama and Ngatirarua Tribes, and the claims of the Ngaitahu Tribe resident upon the land is said by the Natives now here to be included in the £2,000. Indeed, I have reason to believe that the whole of the claims could be satisfied for the sum of £2,000, but as His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, on a previous reference, considered the sum exorbitant, I of course could not treat with them on these terms.

As this purchase has been a long time pending, and the Natives have become very importunate and troublesome, I think it would be advisable for the Government to fix a sum, and if it is not accepted by the Natives, then that an end be put to any further negotiation on the subject.

No. 5.
Mr. Tinline to Mr. Brunner, Government Surveyor.

Sir,—

I am directed by His Honor the Superintendent to request that you will hold yourself in readiness to proceed with the party who are going to Massacre Bay on the 30th or 31st instant, as you will be required to go to that district to make a survey of the newly acquired block of land, and to lay off two reserves in it for the Natives, the particulars of which will be given you before you go.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands will also have some instructions for you relative to the survey of the Tata Islands.

No. 6.
Mr. Tinline to Mr. Brunner, Government Surveyor.

Sir,—

With reference to my letter of the 24th instant, I am now directed by His Honor the Superintendent to convey to you his instructions relative to the survey you are required to execute in the lately purchased block of land in Massacre Bay.

1.	You are to lay off two small reserves, to comprise about 10 acres each, for the use of the two families of Natives at present living on the purchased block; one at a place called Te Rae, which is a short distance north of Pakawau, for the chief Wiremu Te Koihua, and his son James Cook; the other at Te Whanganui, for the Native Matiaha and his family.

With respect to the reserve for Wiremu Te Koihua and his son, His Honor is anxious that it should be laid off according to such natural boundaries as may be found upon the ground; and His Honor believes, from his recollection of the locality, that there are two small streams which will form good natural boundaries on the north and south sides. It will be necessary to reserve a sufficiently wide strip of land between the eastern boundary and the sea-beach as a right of way, and the western boundary will approach to the hills.

With regard to the reserve to be made at Te Whanganui, you will consult the wishes of the Native Matiaha, as to whether he will prefer it near to the small pa called Toiere, on the south shore of that harbour, where he is now living, or on the opposite side of the harbour, where he has got his cultivations, and at the same time inform him that the land to be reserved for his benefit must be in one block and cannot be subdivided.

2.

As His Honor very much desires that an approximation may be made of the amount of land lately acquired, I am instructed to request that you will, as far as your time will permit, make such a traverse of the district as to attain that object. I have also to request that, whilst executing such traverse survey, you will cut a line up the Pakawau, of sufficient length to reach the coal seams which exist in that river, and as much farther as your time will permit; and you will report upon the facilities that may exist for land and water carriage, and at the same time ascertain, if your stay will be sufficiently long at Pakawau, the different depths of the river at full and half tides during the spring and neap tides.