Enclosure 1 in No. 15.

Sir,—

With respect to the future sitting of the Native Land Court in Southland, I would beg to point out the advisability of having the claims to Native reserves on Stewart's Island heard at the same time; but prior to the Court sitting, and before the usual forms of application are sent in, it will be necessary to have these reserves surveyed. It would appear, however, that some of these reserves are subject to old land claims, the position of which have not as yet been defined that I am aware of, although it is possible that something may have been arranged about them, as Mr. Pearson, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, told me, when in Southland last, that he purposed visiting the Island during the early part of March, for the purpose of deciding the various old land claims there; but whether or no he carried out his intention I am not in a position to say.

With regard to the survey of the reserves on Stewart's Island by the Provincial Government, I think it is probable, if the work is left in their hands, that it will not be undertaken for some time to come. The Government, I believe, contemplate making a trigonometrical survey of the Island in the first place, but as the bulk of the land there is of such a character as will not induce immediate settlement, it therefore may reasonably be supposed, in the present position of the Province, that the Government will not readily acquiesce in making an expenditure of so unproductive a character as a work of the kind would entail. It will be obvious, therefore, that unless the General Government will agree to incur the expense of surveying these reserves, they must necessarily remain undefined for an indefinite period.

It would be as well, also, if the claims of the half-castes to have land apportioned for them at or near "The Neck" (Stewart's Island), could be dealt with at the same time, according to a list annexed to Mr. Clarke's report. On the purchase of Stewart's Island, there were 28 half-castes residing on "The Neck" at the time the purchase was executed, but in a note at the foot of the list, Mr. Clarke states as his opinion that there are others residing at Ruapuke and the Bluff who may fairly claim with the rest, and suggests that the gentleman who is charged with the supervision of the Natives in the Middle Island, be requested to make out a correct list. This suggestion was carried out by me when in Southland last year, and a list forwarded to the Government I found, on enquiry, that there were 81 half-castes who had been born at or near "The Neck," and 13 others born in other places—in all, 94 souls who are totally unprovided with land, so far as I could learn, the most of whom are grown up, and have families.

To provide them with land in the ratio proposed by Mr. Clarke, viz., 10 acres for each male and 8 acres for each female, it would require over 800 acres. As it is possible that there may be others not included in my list who may be entitled to have provision made for them, I would beg to recommend that land to the extent of 1000 acres should be selected to make future provision for these people, and would beg to suggest that, instead of selecting it on "The Neck," as originally proposed, that it should be chosen on the main land, in the neighborhood of the Native reserve at Oraka, where there is some very good land well adapted for Native occupation.

A large majority of the half-castes are living on the main land, and would prefer to acquire land there rather than on Stewart's Island.

Should the General Government decide upon having the reserves on Stewart's Island surveyed, so as to permit the claims of the several Natives entitled to these lands being heard at the sitting of the Native Land Court, proposed to be held in Southland, I would beg to recommend, provided that page 65no officer of the Survey Department of Southland can be spared to undertake the work, that Mr. M'Leod (who holds an appointment under the Native Land Court), who is how engaged in surveying the Native reserves in the Province of Otago, should be authorized to carry out the work, under the supervision of the Survey Department of Southland.