;foibßMATibN' * connected with the early I •settlement of the''colony of New, Zealand, 'arid: the era of transition of this country (from a ilaorr fi^hting-grd uhd to a peacable British possession, is of peculiar interest to , colonists at this time, and will become .more arid more valuable -as; time goes on. There ia yet a mine of historical wealth for 'some future colonist in the many documents and blue books relating to the early history ;6f New Zealand,- which are still virtually unknown to the great : bulk of the com munity, which, if reproduced, would be of widespread'interest. ' - In the Auckland Free Public Liprary, chiefly through the munificence of Sir George Grey, there are a very large num ber of valuable documents and Govern ment publications concerning the early settlement of this country, which will well 'repay inspection. '■> For, instance, some years- ago the records were gathered by the Government authorities of all the im portant early purchases of native lands in '' thtf colony* and put rinto book form. Only a very few copies-of these Maori deed re cords were issued, when the Government suddenly withdrew them from circulation, | and for some reason endeavoured to regain j possession Of all- those that had; gone'- j out. However, a number of copies | of these are now in the Grey! collection in the Free Library in this city, and they form some very interesting read ing. The peculiar consideration given in the early days to the Maoris for the land,,; and the parties connected with the trans- j actions, impart a high degree of interest to | these records at the present day. We give here a number of the more im- j portant of the records of native land pur chases in the Auckland province during the period between, the years 1837 and 1860. A largeportion Of the preßeht site of the j 'city of Auckland and suburbs, covering, 3,000 acres, extending from Mataharehare j (St. George's Bay), to Mount Eden j (MaurigawhaoVand bounded by the Waite-1 mata and by the creek known as Opau, was j purchased by the British Government in \ October, 1840, from the Ngatiwhatua tribe.,, I The chiefs sighing the deed of sale [ were Te Kawau (uncle of the late Paul! Tuhaere), Te Tinana, Reweti Tamaki and I Pbrb; The European signatures were T. 