1.	On the purchase of the Otago Block (in 1845 or 1846, I think), no reserves were made for the Natives in the town of Dunedin, or that of Port Chalmers.
2.	The Natives visiting the towns had to encamp on the exposed beaches of the harbour.
3.	They complained frequently to me, as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the representative to them of the Government, of this wretched state of things; and at their request I applied to the Government, through the Civil Secretary of New Munster, for some place to be set apart for them in each town.
4.	At the time (1853) a large proportion of each town, besides public reserves, was unpurchased, even at the low rate of £50 per acre.
5.	I was instructed by the Governor to select a site in each town and report.
6.	At Dunedin the Natives whom I consulted much desired some section near the present site of the Resident Magistrate's Court, whose value is now at least £2,000 per annum, and which even at that time were regarded as almost not worth purchasing at £12 10s. per section. But there was a narrow steep between Princes Street and the mud flats of the harbour which was regarded as of less value, and as at that time almost out of the town. The only apparently valuable part of it had been appropriated (illegally) as a site for a manse. It was out of the way too. So I recommended that as the reserve at Dunedin.
7.	At Port Chalmers all the water frontage had been selected, but I found I could purchase one of the outermost sections, which adjoined vacant back sections, and on reporting to the Governor was ordered to purchase this to complete the reserve (of some four or five back sections). I paid £21 for this section, and it was conveyed to the Crown for this purpose.
8.	The value of the Dunedin Reserve at the time did not probably exceed £100. That of the Port Chalmers Reserve— £ s. d. Frontage section 21 0 0 Say four back sections at £8 each (unsaleable at £12 10s.) 32 0 0 £53 0 0
9.	The documents relating to these reserves are, like many referring to transactions in New Munster, imperfect. The Governor (Sir G. Grey) however approved of these reserves as Native Reserves made out of Crown lands, and His Excellency's approval is sufficiently shown by his direction of the purchase at Port Chalmers.
10.	But after Sir G. Grey's departure in 1854, the Provincial authorities seem to have questioned the power of the Governor to make these reserves; and in 1861, when I spoke with the Superintendent of Otago and Commissioner of Crown Lands on the subject, it was urged that they were too valuable for the Natives.

There is now no reason why the title to these reserves for Native purposes should not be distinctly recorded. How can that be done?

The enclosed papers refer to recent "intromissions" in this matter.