H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M., Poverty Bay, to the Native Secretary.

I have the honour to hand you herewith copies of letters addressed by me to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, dated respectively the 29th June, 1858 (No. 55), and the 21st August, 1858 (No. 73), reporting an expressed intention on the part of the Natives to retake possession of land which had been sold by them to individual Europeans. In consequence of a communication from the Commissioner of Land Claims to that effect, I represented to the Natives that he might be expected to hold a Court in this neighbourhood during the summer now just passed, and induced them to leave the cases, to which my annexed letters refer, for his decision. His not yet having visited this page 22district has therefore been a cause of disappointment to them. At a meeting of Natives held yesterday the intention I have reported was again expressed,-but, on my urging them, to abide the decision of the Commissioner, whose arrival might be immediately expected, they consented.

Under these circumstances, I have the honour to submit for the consideration of His Excellency that it is desirable a Court of Land Claims should be held in this neighbourhood at as early a date as convenient, in the hope that it may be the means of ending an agitation which is calculated to produce a bad feeling between the European residents and Natives.

Enclosures.
(No. 1.)
H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M., to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer.

The Europeans in this neighbourhood are residing on land purchased at various times by private individuals from the aboriginal owners. For those lands no Crown titles have been issued, but I am informed the claims have been submitted for the decision of the Land Claims Commissioner Recently Kahutia and other Natives have expressed their intention to repay the cattle and goods received for the sale of these lands, and require a rental for the occupation of them. The cattle - received in payment for lands, claimed by Thomas Uren and Robert Espie are now-being collected and will shortly be returned. This will, I think, prove the commencement of a general movement. I not apprehend any force will be used to remove the Europeans, but I think it probable that they will be subjected to such a series of annoyances and depredations as may eventually compel them to leave.

Under these circumstances I have the honour to beg to be informed if, in the opinion of His Excellency's Government, I can pursue any other course than that I have adopted, namely, to represent to the Natives that as they were consenting parties to the sale of the land in question, the simple fact of their returning the payment of the purchasers, without their consenting to receive it, will not destroy their claim to the land.

(No. 2.)
H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M., to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer.

Referring to my letter of the 29th June, No. 55, I have the honour to inform you that the payment received for the land purchased by Thomas Uren and Robert Espie has been returned by the Natives: that is to say, the cattle which formed the payment have been driven on the land and left there, although the Europeans interested have not consented to receive them. The Natives are satisfied for the present with having, as they say, returned the payment. I am glad to say that the movement hitherto has been confined to Kahutia and his party, and there appears no immediate prospect of its being followed by other Natives.