New Plymouth, August 9th, 1847. Sir In accordance with your request I beg to furnish you with the following statement and general detail of the differen surveys, made by me at this settlement, in surveying the boundaries of the block of land for which you are in treaty with the Ngamotu tribe and in forming reserves for them - Having been instructed to lay out a block of land as a reserve for natives at Moturoa I found it necessary before I could do so, to recut several of the old lines formerly made there finding those in the fern ground to be completely grown over, and in the forest although easily seen quite impassable from the thick undergrowth which had sprung up since they had been cut (a period of 5 years) I had however, less difficulty in finding the original lines from having been previously employed in the survey of this part of the settlement by the New Zealand Company. After some difficulty owing to the Natives being desirous of having included in their reserve a Pah and large cultivation near the beach situated on some land claimed for the Estate of the late Mr. Richard Barrett as well as a section adjoining of Mr. Shaws, which you succeeded in arranging I was enabled to lay out a block of 200 acres abutting on the sea shore and another further inland of 250 acres. The first being chiefly fern land and the other forest, both a fair average of the land in that part, and with which I believe the natives especially those employed with me appear to be perfectly satisfied. I next commenced recutting an old line for the purpose of making a reserve for the natives of the Waiwakaiho but some difficulty occurring in the selection, you therefore instructed to be commence the survey of the large block intended to be purchased out of which those reserves were to have been made. I then commenced surveying the Waiwakaiho River at the point where the Companys survey had terminated and proceeded up that River to where the Mangore flows into it when I found the natives along with me assisting in the necessary cutting were unwilling to proceed further their right beyond that being disputed by the Puketapu tribe, on being induced to proceed - I soon found that the above mentioned tribe were determined to oppose the survey of the River in that direction. A party of them coming up and compelling us to return back as far as the Mangore, where they offered no opposition to our staying On returning and seeingyou on the subject, I was directed to survey the Mangore River as far as the right of the Ngamotu tribe was acknowledged and the land was found available On commencing this survey I found that the Puketapu's had encamped on their side of the River and kept cutting a line on that side, as far as I proceeded with the survey, a distance of nearly 6 miles. I found this River extremely troublesome owing to its extraordinary windings, the precipituous nature of its banks and the thick underwood so that I could not make more than half the progress I had previously been making on the Waiwakaiho where in some places we could go up the bed of the River itself Wet weather having set in and receiving a message from you to return, I did so, when you determined on taking the Waiwakaiho and the Mangore Rivers as the boundary on that side and the Sugar loaf line, which was evident must cut the Mangore as the other, and endeavor to conclude the purchase at once, in order that some land might be immediately available for the settlers, and leave the completion of the survey for more favorable weather. I found during my absence that Mr.Carrington had surveyed the Waiwakaiho reserve of 460 acres and also laid out a section of 50 acres distinct from the general reserve. Mapping, copying and reducing plans now occupied my time, till the weather set in more favorable, when I commenced the Sugar loaf line and cut as far as the Mangore River, surveying down the River towards the part where I had left off and a short distance up when it divides and becoming shallower might he surveyed up its bed easily - On mapping this work I found that a considerable bend must be made from its former direction so as to render it impossible without completing its survey to ascertain with anything like accuracy the number of acres included in the block, but at a rough calculation I should say there must be 10,000 acres - The land is in its general character excellent. The Forest contains timber trees of large size principally Red and White Pine, is well watered small streams running in all directions. It is however in some parts very undulating, much cut up by ravines and hollows - In proceeding along the Sugar loaf line it is of this character as far as the Company had surveyed, after which a remarkable improvement takes place the land becoming more level untill you arrive at the Mangore River - A good Road may be found into the interior in continuation of one from the Town, a native path which I discovered when cutting the Sugar loaf line and traced down to where it joins the above Road indicating the direction which it ought to take, untill it reaches the line, when it might be carried on as far as the Mangore - This path I have sketched on the map which accompanies this statement - I have mentioned the subject of Roads because as you are aware the Roads shewn on the Company's Map bounding the sections in this part at least are quite impracticable and in some instances unfit even for a footpath - In conclusion I beg to observe that the progress that has thus been made in the internal survey of the large block by having Native reserves laid out and lines opened in various directions must facilitate the subdivision of the land, whenever it is found necessary, and render the further surveying that may be required, less tedious and expensive - I remain Sir Your most obedt.st. Edwin Harris Surveyor