No. 2.
Mr. Thos. Brunner to the
Commissioner of Crown Lands.
Sir,—
I have the honor to furnish you with a report of my trip to lay out the reserves for the Natives in the purchase lately made.
The first places I went to, namely, the Croixelles, Pelorus, and the Kaituna, the Natives admitted they had sold all their land, and after finding out their numbers, I proceeded to lay off reserves for them, according to the scale furnished, by cutting lines and otherwise distinctly marking the boundaries. I then went to the Wairau, walking through the Kaituna Valley, having sent the boat round to the Waitohi, when, after collecting all the Natives together, I found, from information given me by Mr. Jenkins, they denied the sale of the reserve in the Wairau, or of Robin Hood's Bay, Port Underwood, stating that Rawiri, when on a visit there last April, had told them not to part with them, and they would not allow me to make any survey in the district. I then walked through the Waitohi Pass to the Sound, and Mr. Jenkins again found the Natives denied the sale of many places, particularly in Tory Channel; and they also said they would have no survey made until they met in Nelson, and had received the money into their own hands. The Natives had heard that money to the amount of £2,000 had been paid by Mr. McLean to the Natives at Porirua, and they object to this, saying they had an equal right to the land with those who have received all the money, but of this Mr. Jenkins can inform you, from his knowledge of the Native language.
Still it would appear to me there will be a great difficulty in settling with the Natives unless they are all brought together, as the Natives who are now occupying the land refuse to give it up unless they have a voice in the disposal of their claims, and also receive some money payment. The Natives in the Sound expressed a wish that when the purchase is completed, and the survey made, they might have reserves laid out for them, mixed with the sections of the European settlers, and not to have one large reserve to themselves; and I think they would gladly give up a part of the Waikawa for some of the unsold land in the Waitohi, and I would advise the Government to do this at once. At Port Gore I laid out reserves for the Natives, as this claim was bought by Mr. McLean when last in Nelson. I have taken an account of all the claims of the European settlers, which list I will furnish you, and also the plans of the reserves I made, when they are completed.
Having been over the whole of the lands between Nelson and the Wairau, I find but little available for cultivation, the only places being some few patches on the banks of the Pelorus, the flat at Mahakipawa, an arm of the Pelorus called the Kenepuru, and some few small bays in the Sound. The principal growth on the land being tawa and koekoe, both useless timber for the sawyer, I fear it will be some time before many people will be tempted to try clearing woodland for cultivation. I have pleasure in strongly recommending to your notice Mr. Elmsley and his mate, as being two most useful and civil men, and, from their knowledge of the coast, most valuable to the Government, should the use of a boat at any time be required: and I shall feel obliged, if you have an opportunity, if you will express to them your satisfaction of the manner they have behaved on this trip.
I have, &c.,
Thomas Brunner,
Government Surveyor.
The Hon. the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson.