No. 4.
Correspondence Relative to the Settlement of certain Claims on Banks' Peninsula, and to the North of Kaiapoi.
The Chief Commissioner to J. G. Johnson, Esq.

Sir,—

I have to request that you will proceed by the "Zingari" on Monday next to Port Cooper, and place yourself in communication with the Crown Commissioner at that place. Mr. Brittain, in reference to the carrying out of an award made with the natives of Kaiapoi and Akaroa by which, on the payment of a certain consideration, they were to relinquish certain lands which it appears they still continue to occupy.

The extent and nature of Mr. Mantell's award will be furnished to you by Mr. Brittain, who, together with Mr. Watson, the Resident Magistrate, knows the particulars of the case, and the former gentleman has kindly offered to furnish all the information he possesses respecting the claim.

It will be necessary for you to use the utmost firmness with the Natives in carrying out this award, which they should understand is final; at the same time it will be requisite to use every caution to prevent them from feeling that any advantage is taken of the weakness of their position as compared with the Europeans at that place, and that there is no desire on the part of the Government to act otherwise than with the strictest justice towards them.

They should therefore be informed, that in the reserves set apart for their use by Mr. Mantell, they will not be disturbed; that the amount of that officer's award will be paid to them; but that you are instructed to cause them to abandon the lands ceded to the Crown, as such lands are neither required for their use or subsistence, nor is it reasonably just or equitable that they should persist in retaining possession of them.

I herewith enclose several letters from the Natives on this subject.