No. 12.
Extract from a letter from the Native Minister, to Mr. A. Mackay.

Sir,—

The object of your journey to the south at the present time is to visit the different Native Settlements, for the purpose of giving to the Natives the information and assistance which will enable them to bring to a conclusion any inchoate arrangement as to their reserves, and of explaining to them the recent Acts of the Legislature, as to the Native Lands, Native schools, and the Representation of the Natives in the General Assembly.

It will further be your duty to enquire into and report upon the general condition of the Natives in each Settlement, having in view the promises made to them at the time of the purchase of their lands by the Government, as to the establishment of schools and hospitals, and also upon any special question which may arise in any particular locality.

With regard to the Kaiapoi reserve, the papers placed in your hands will have informed you of the intentions of the Government as communicated to Mr. Brown, when he held the appointment of Civil Commissioner in the Middle Island, you will in dealing with the Kaiapoi Natives, adhere to the general tenor of these instructions, and on no account give way to any attempt on their part to ignore or set aside the claims of the Moeraki Natives.

In terms of a minute by Mr. Mantell:—"In making the Tuahiwi reserve so large, he considered he had allowed 1000 acres for the Moeraki Natives, described to him as 100 in number; but when he was afterwards compelled, by their refusal at that time to move, to give them a reserve at Moeraki of 500 acres, he regarded their claim on Tuahiwi as proportionately reduced."

The residents were not only aware of the right in 1843, but insisted upon it, and knew that nearly half of the reserve was for Moeraki at the time of the survey.

On this point I may refer you to the printed correspondence in the Appendix to the Journal of the House of Representatives of 1858, containing Mr. Mantell's report as to the purchase, and a tabular statement as to the reserves; to Mr. Bell's memorandum of 19th November, 1862, with minutes endorsed; and to Mr. Mantell's memorandum of 20th October, 1862; you have also perused the despatches in the Parliamentary Papers 1848-50, showing the position in which Mr. Kemp left the purchase of the Ngaitahu block.

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There can be no doubt that a considerable number of Natives have returned to Kaiapoi since the date of the purchase, for whom no adequate provision has been subsequently made, the Government is desirous of making reserves for any who may come under this heading, in such places as may meet their wishes.

The papers herewith relating to Te Aika's Section on the Puharakekenui, will shew you the intention of the Government as to any such reserve, you will explain to Te Aika that the land will only be held by him, and so many as may be associated with him on condition of occupation. They will not be allowed to lease or sell, and failing their occupation, the lands will be general Native reserves for the benefit of the Ngaitahu tribe.

You will take an opportunity of ascertaining whether there are other spots suitable for similar reserves, but, you will raise no hopes in the minds of the Natives themselves, without previous communication with the Government.