Extract from Letter of Mr. W. H. Cutten, Chief Commissioner.

Besides the above reserves, which may be said to be the whole coming strictly within that description, a reserve was made at Port Chalmers of nearly an acre in extent—it consists of sections 403 and 404, and a portion of unsurveyed land; it is not shown on the record plan.

This reserve was recommended by Mr. Mantell, and was sanctioned by the Governorin 1854-55. A quarter of an acre adjoining section 401 was purchased by Mr. Mantell from Mr. R. Williams, with the sanction of the Governor. The reserve was made under pretence of its being required for the use of the Natives landing at Port Chalmers, but for that purpose it is entirely useless, as it has a steep frontage to the beach of considerable elevation. It has never been used by the Natives.

A reserve for a similar object was made at Dunedin. Its exact extent is not defined, but comprises all the land between the shore of the harbour and the east side of Princes Street, and abuts upon the land upon which the Manse has been built. This reserve was made upon the authority of the Governor, but it appears to me that His Excellency the Governor exceeded the powers vested in him in this latter case, the land in question having been already set apart as a Public Reserve under the Otago Terms of Purchase.

It will however be the especial duty of the Commissioners under "The Native Reserves Act" to ascertain the correct legal position of both these latter reserves, if reserves at all; they are lands over which the Native title has been extinguished. As reserves for the object contemplated, they are utterly useless.