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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

Reporting State of Native Reserves in the District, with Tabular Returns. Native Reserves Office, Wellington, 21st May, 1866

Reporting State of Native Reserves in the District, with Tabular Returns. Native Reserves Office, Wellington, 21st May, 1866.

Sir,—

In compliance with the instructions conveyed in your minute on the letter of Mr. Mackay's, 65/25/13, I have the honour to furnish the following report on the state of the Native reserves in this district, with tabular returns of each class. I have preferred adopting those forms, as they were furnished to the various Commissioners by the Government in or about 1859, and convey all the information required in a more concise manner than a mere official letter could do.

Previous to the passing of "The Native Reserves Act, 1856," the reserves, (which consisted only of those made by the New Zealand Company) were under the management of Colonel McCleverty, D. Wakefield, Attorney-General, and Mr. St. Hill, R.M. On the 16th March, 1858, a Commission was issued by Governor Browne to Messrs. St. Hill, Carkeek, Hutton, Strang, Tamehana te Rauparaha, Matene te Whiwhi, and Rawiri Puaha, in accordance with clause 1 of the Act. Mr. Wardell's name was subsequently added to the list.

The active management of the reserves was usually undertaken by Messrs. St. Hill, Strang, and Carkeek. For some time previous to the session of 1862 these gentlemen had frequently impressed upon Government the necessity of other arrangements being made, and tendered their resignations; page 54as, holding most important official appointments, they considered that their duties as Commissioners could not be carried out effectually. For this reason mainly, I believe, the Native Reserves Amendment Act of 1862 was prepared by the Government, and passed by the Assembly.

At the close of the session my services as Surveyor of Native Reserves and Lands in the province were accepted by the Government, who at the same time intimated to me that such office would be accompanied with that of Commissioner under the Act of 1862. At the same time the Government accepted the resignation of the Commissioners appointed under Act of 1856.