Ohinemuri Octr. 6th /70 My dear Sir Not having anything worth communicating to you sooner I have not written. I have spoken to some of the native land owners about getting a large block of their auriferous lands surveyed, to this they consented but said theywould tell all the Hauhaus and Te Hira that they want to make a survey of all the lands, they asked me who would pay for the survey I told them that if they made the survey of their lands with the intention of after the survey handing their auriferous lands over to the Government - that the Governmt. would pay for the survey. At the next meeting (after this conversation) these natives told Te Hira that they proposed making a survey of all their lands and then at the meeting held at Rerepehi Piako about Te Moananui and others at which Te Hira and all the other hauhaus attended thease same natives told the meeting that they ment to survey the whole of the Ohinemuri lands and the mountains they would hand over to the Govt. but the flat lands they would retain for their own use. Some of the natives who attended the meeting say that Te Hira said their talk was correct, but the meeting asked thease land owners who would pay for the survey, they answered the Govt., the meeting then said it would be all right. I wish to call your attention to this matter because it will be the quickest way to come to a solution of the Ohinemuri difficulties I wish you to kindly fernish me with instructions in the first place that your Govt. will pay the cost the survey of a large block of the auriferous lands, some of the land owners wish the survey to commence from Hikutaia creek through to the east coast at Whangamata and then allong the coast to the northern boundary of the Katikati Block and allong that boundary to the Aroha top then from the top to the foot of the range and from thence allong the western foot of the range to Hikutaiha creek. I propose to commence the survey of the block after the land Court finished its sittings at Shortland and my Brother being well acquainted with all the district and the native owners I thought would be the best surveyor to conduct the survey and by employing a large number of men the work would soon be compleated and the lands handed over into your hands at a fixed yearly rental or part of the minors rights. Now is the time for your Govt. to move in the matter many of the land owners are quite tired of waiting and they are all getting short of food; in about one month's time they will be starving in this district and some of the hauhaus are quarrelling with Te Hira they say they will shortly cease to listen to him as he does not act consistently. From all I can hear Mr. Dipson who has contracted with your Govt. to erect Telegraph line through this district to Tauranga - will not have very much opposition, most of the land owners are quite willing to allow the line to pass over their lands. I hope you will soon be returning to Auckland. Would you kindly write soon and let me know what I had better do in the matter of the survey of this district and with regard to the yearly rental etc. for the auriferous lands. Trusting you are in the enjoyment of health etc. I am, dear Sir Faithfully yours John W. Thorp