Copy of a letter from the Superintendent, of Nelson, to the Hon. Colonial Secretary.

Sir,—

Agreeably to the request of the Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company, which has received the sanction of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, that a reduction of the number of the Native reserves, proportionate to that proposed in respect of the whole settlement, should be made, I have the honour to acquaint you, for His Excellency's information, that I have withdrawn the requisite number of town allotments (47), as noted in the list appended, retaining those with the frontages, or that are in localities where they are now, or likely to become, most valuable.

Connected with this subject, it may be necessary to notify that I was instructed by His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief to exchange a Native reserve (203), adjacent to the school-house, for a section belonging to Mr. Campbell (733), to enable the Nelson School Committee to enlarge their premises, provided there was no very great difference in value between them.

After inspecting the two allotments, I have sanctioned the exchange, and the alteration is page 275accordingly made in the plan attached to the Crown grant; the number of Native reserves that have been withdrawn are likewise omitted in the plan.

List of sections surrendered on behalf of the Native Trust:—20, 21, 46, 47, 191, 194, 253, 256, 303, 382, 387, 529, 551, 561, 575, 608, 625, 626, 650, 706, 718, 722, 768, 777, 778, 784, 797, 798, 828, 831, 855, 858, 860, 897, 926, 939, 941, 943, 945, 951, 953, 954, 956, 1051, 1084, 1088, 1091.