Gishorne June 1/75 Sir Donald McLean - I enclose a tracing of our Topographical Sketch map, showing the Boundary between the Provinces of Hawke's Bay and Wellington, and the natural features of the Akitio Run - The small tracing on paper is a copy of a reduction of the tracing I took from your plan, by placing the small tracing on the large one, and making the points named Taumata-o-te-ahua, Otuarehua, and Rakaupuhipuhi to correspond, you will at once see, that your plan shows the Boundary of the Provinces, after leaving the Waimata, as starting from Taumata-o-te-ahua; on my first plan I showed this hill as being on the Boundary, but subsequently I learnt from ''Hoera'' a native of Akitio, that Pelicher's survey did not go to Taumata-o-te-ahua, but that after leaving the Waimata, he struck a hill on the clear land called Whakaroro, I have shown the Boundary as going from the said Whakaroro to Otuarehua - By applying the tracings you will find a difference in the course of the Waimata, and a slight difference in the Akitio river. I account for these discrepancies in this manner; our plan is a sketch map, showing the Topographical features of the country; the Waimata runs for its whole course through bush, now it is very difficult, almost impossible, to sketch in the true course of a stream that winds about in the forest, I would therefore give the small plan the preference, as showing the proper course of the Waimata; but as regards the fixed points such as Taumata-o-te-Atua, Whakaroro, and Rakaupuhipuhi, these points are determined from the Triangulation, and are certainly correct. The total area of the Akitio Run is a fair estimate, as the differences in the Rivers, will conpensate each other. The house built by Mr. Esdale, is in the Province of Wellington, but I think that part of the Block shown on the small tracing, Esdale 300 plus 15 Acres, is in Hawkes Bay. Since I was carrying forward the Triangulation from Hawke's Bay to Castlepoint, one of the Wellington Provincial Government Surveyors, Mr. Wilson, has been laying off lands in the neighbourhood of Akitio, so that a plan giving fuller particulars of the sold and unsold lands, could be obtained from Mr. Jackson's office at Wellington, we do not claim for our Topographical plans, the same correctness of detail as shown on plans reduced from chain surveys. You have probably received from Doctor Hector, particulars of the mud spring, from which gass is escaping, situated at the source of a branch of the Mangahewa, I noticed when on the ground, that by applying a match to the gas, it would burn for a few seconds. The sheep fence between the Provinces, is erected on the Hawke's Bay Side of the Waimata. I shall be glad to furnish you with any further information, that it is in my power to give. As regards the surveys in this District, I may state they are fairly progressing. I remain, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Horace Baker