LAND PURCHASES IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1736, 27 July 1874, Page 2

LAND PURCHASES IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

The Wellington .■ correspondent of the Southern Cross gives the following oxtracts from the return presented to the House of Representatives in accordance with Mr. Gillies' motion :— The return moved for by Mr. Gillies shows the qnantity of lands purchased in the North Island by the Government. The price paid for the land and the names and emoluments of the agents employed. The transactions in the Auckland province were 736,061 acres purchased, and j 170,142 acres leased from the natives, the' price being £32,711. The lands pin>chased in Hawke's Bay were . 183,430 acres, costing £20,854; in Wellington 324.330 acres costing £34,564 ; in Taranaki, 113,870 acres for £13,520; total purchase, 857,691 acres; leased, 170,142 —in all 1,027,833 acres. The amount ! paid was £101,651. The rames of the persons employed are ; Wellington, Hon. W. FHzherbert, Lands Purchase Commissioner, and James Booth, at a salary of £350, travelling expenses £1 per day; Major Kemp/ £300,; and like travelling i allowance ; Richard Booth, £250, and 12s 6d per day travelling allowance ; Samuel Locke, no extra allowance. For Taranaki: Robert Parris, ditto. For Auckland : Henry T. Kemp, ditto; E. W. Puckey, ditto; James Mackay, jun., 4d per acre to cover all expenses; Thomas McDonnell, salary, £300; forage £54 15s, and travelling expenses, 10s 6d per day ; Henry Mitchell, £2 2s ptr day; Charles O. B. Davis, £2 2s per day; John A. Wilson, £2 2s per day ; J. 0. Young, £1 10s per day ; E. P. Brissenden, £2 2s per day, and travelling expenses of £1 Is per day, and employment of interpreter when necessary, at £1 Is per day. Mr. James Maclray's purchases during the year were 118,162 acres, at a cost of £14,072, and £2,208 incidental expenses, in all £17,180, and Mr. Mackay's fees at 4d per acre, amounted to £1,986.