In taking this step, I have no doubt that they considered their title a good one, and from what I have seen of the manuer in which the natives in the South oi New Zealand dis pose of their land, and of the characters of some of the natives in that particular district, I must frankly confess that I should doubt the sincerity and fair dealing of the majority of the Ngatitoa tribe in any question of the kind. But her Majesty's Government sent out from England a Commissioner to inquire into these titles to land. The natives of the Po lirua district, who were almost entirely unac quainted with our customs, submitted to the Queeu's authority, by appearing before her Commissioner, to support their claim to the district, and this Commissioner made two de cisions in this case :—: — lstly. To the following effect, — "And therefore I, William Spain, her Majesty's Commissioner for investigating and determining titles and claims to land in New Zealand, do hereby determine and avtard that the New Zealand Compauy is not entitled to a Crown grant of any land in the district of Porirua," 2ndly. The Commissioner determined that the country on the North Island, from Wai Nui to Porirua, inclusive of both places, was in the real and bond fide possession of the Ngatitoa tribe. These decisions had both been communi cated to my predecessor, who appears to have acquiesced in them, and the natives have, up to the present time, remained in undisturbed possession of the land. It is, therefore, I think, clear that the Crown will, by ray act, put the Company's purchasers in possession of lands, and not take lands out of their possession as stated by the Company's Agent. Under the circumstances above stated, I felt that I could not, as Governor, either le gally or properly interfere with the decision of a properly qualified Court, which decisions had been communicated to the authorities, and were recognized long previously to my arrival in the country. 