District of Wairau.

With regard to the purchase of the Wairau District from the Natives, it appears unnecessary to make any lengthened observations. Colonel McCleverty will soon make himself master of more information on this subject than is possessed by any other person. It may be sufficient to say generally that a very great benefit will be conferred upon the colony by the prompt and immediate settlement of this question. It will be desirable, before entering into any negotiation upon the subject, to ascertain the exact number of Natives at present inhabiting the district, the extent of land they have under cultivation, and whether any portion of the Ngatitoa Tribe are likely to remove from Porirua to that district, and then take the necessary precautions for securing to the Native inhabitants blocks of land in continued localities of sufficient extent to provide for the wants of the probable Native population.

I think it proper to observe generally that the system of Native reserves as laid down by the New Zealand Company, although an admirable means of providing for the future wants of the aborigines, is in some respects insufficient for their present wants, and ill adapted for their existing notions.

It will be found necessary in all instances to secure to Natives, in addition to any reserves made for them by the New Zealand Company, their cultivations, as well as convenient blocks of land for the purpose of future cultivation, in such localities as they may select themselves. Many chiefs feel a great repugnance to go upon lands belonging to other persons, if their reserves may be selected in such situations. In other instances Natives belonging to a weaker tribe are afraid to venture upon lands belonging to others, if their reserves may be selected there; and they naturally generally feel under all circumstances the greatest repugnance to quit their villages and cultivated lands, many of which have been cleared at a large expense of time and labour. Indeed, I am satisfied that it will be in many instances impossible to induce them to do this except at a considerable sacrifice of life. I therefore earnestly recommend Colonel McCleverty in no single instance to sanction the purchase of any large district of country without seeing that the cultivated grounds, and portions of land in the vicinity of them for future cultivation, are reserved for the Natives. The judicious exercise of his discretion on this subject will do more towards preserving the future tranquillity of the country than any other precautionary measure with which I am acquainted.