Expenses of Native Reserves Office.

In 1862 my services as Surveyor of Native Lands and Reserves were accepted by the General Government, as already stated, with the addition of the office of Commissioner of Native Reserves. The one pay for these two offices is, I imagine, a charge against the fund for Native purposes. A secretary, interpreter, and receiver of rents (the same person) was appointed by the first Board, that of 1848, and has been confirmed by their respective successors, I has been held by the following page 55gentlemen: Messrs. Smith, De Vœux, Cheeseman, Buller, and E. Baker. On my succeeding to the Commissionership the Government of 1862 sanctioned the continuance of this office, then held, by Mr. Baker, at the same rate of pay—viz., £25 per annum—and this is the only direct charge against the proceeds of the reserves in the Wellingon District.

In short, the present annual account stands as follows: To rent received, £299 6s.; expenses, £25: total, £274 6s. Mr. Baker's services as secretary are not often available (owing to his duties in the Supreme Court), excepting in translating Native letters; but very frequently disputes arise as to the division of rents received by Natives under Class 2, when Mr. Baker or myself is usually called upon to act as arbitrator, and the money is "impounded" until the dispute is fairly settled.

But to return to Class No. 4, i.e., reserves made by or for on the purchase of a block. In the first case such reserves will usually be found to be on the best sites for cultivation (present or future), eel-weirs, or some other natural advantage; in the second case the Commissioner purchasing is supposed to make advantageous reserves for perhaps the most meritorious of the sellers for the common good of all, or for some good and sufficient reason. In Wairarapa the reserves made for Natives have been principally granted (though grants not issued see return of grants); but the generality of what are called reserves made by them are not such, but are exceptions from sale, consequently Native land. Tracing on a map the boundaries as set forth in a deed or sale explains it at once. The few reserves in the Wainui Block, West Coast, are principally by, with one or two exceptions, which have been brought under the Act. The Manawatu, Rangitikei, &c., reserves are of course under Mr. Buller's jurisdiction.