THE PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS. REPORTS FROM OFFICERS ENGAGED IN

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, G-08

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1873. NEW ZEALAND.

THE PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS.

(KEPORTS FROM OFFICERS ENGAGED IN) Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency. No. 1. Mr. James Mackat, jun., to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. New Zealand Native Land Agency, Sir,— Auckland, 24th January, 1872. Referring to the conversation which took place between us on the subject of the purchase and acquisition by the Crown of Native lands in the Hauraki and Upper Waikato districts, I have the honor to submit to you the following report as to the blocks it may be deemed advisable to acquire ; also as to the plan which I would recommend to be pursued for the accomplishment of that object through my Agency. In order to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the present state of the lands proposed to be acquired, it will be advisable to place them under three heads, viz.:— Ist. Lands within the proclaimed Goldfields at Hauraki and Coromandel, which form the subject of agreements between the Natives and the Crown for gold mining purposes. 2nd. Lands within the Hauraki district, not included in the proclaimed Goldfields, and which do not form the subject of agreement between the Natives and the Crown for gold mining purposes. 3rd. Lands in the Upper Thames and Upper Waikato districts held by Hauhau and obstructive Natives, some portions of which have been leased to Europeans for the depasturage of stock. The lands under the first head are contained in the Cape Colville, Tokatea, Kennedy Bay, Tiki or Ngaurukehr, Waiau and Matawai, Manaia north, Manaia south, Waikawau, Whakatete, Tararu, Karaka, Otunui, Whakairi, Kirikiri, and Puriri blocks. 1. Cape Colville Block. This is of considerable extent, the area of unsold lands may be roughly estimated at 50,000 acres. After deducting the pieces required for Native reserves, the area available for settlement is but limited ; the greater proportion of the block being hilly, timbered country—unfit for cultivation. Gold has at various times been discovered in several places within its limits, but no mining claims are at present occupied there. Some pieces of land have been sold to Europeans, but they form but a small proportion to the whole. The kauri timber at Cabbage Bay, Tangiaro, Matainataharakeke, and the northern portion of Kennedy Bay has been sold to Europeans owning saw-mills. I have surveyors employed on the external boundaries of this block at the present time. The title is much disputed. 2. Tokatea Block. This is the most valuable portion of the Coromandel Goldfield at present worked. The probable extent is 15,000 acres. This land is leased by the Native owners to the Crown at the annual rental of £500. All the available kauri timber, excepting that situated near Paul's Creek, has been cut by saw mill proprietors. Mr. Gibbon's mill at Kikowhakarere, has been recently removed ; and that of Mr. Charles Ring, is principally employed to drive quartz crushing machinery. There is no available agricultural land on this block, other than what is in the hands of European settlers, or is required for Native reserves. This block would be difficult to acquire iv consequence of its known value. No accurate survey has been made of it. 3. Kennedy Bay Block. This block was formerly surveyed at Government expense, and contains about 9,500 acres. No further outlay for surveys will be required, excepting the repayment to me ofthe sum of £25 expended on some alterations, and a plan which was made by Mr. Gwynneth, Licensed Surveyor, in order to meet the requirements of " The Native Lands Act." This block contains sufficient available land for Native reserves ; and there is a flat in addition of about GOO acres, formerly leased to Messrs. Cruickshauk and Smart, but now abandoned by them, which is suitable for a town site and settlement. The remainder—say 8,000 acres—is mining country of considerable value, and should, if possible, be acquired at once, as delay will increase the difficulty of purchase. The kauri timber on a portion of this block has been sold to Messrs. Cruickshank and Smart, who own a saw mill there. G.—B.

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4. Kapanga Block. The largest part of this, which adjoins the Tokatea block, belongs to the Government. The remainder, about 775 acres was granted to the late Pita Taurua ; who is succeeded by a boy of about five years of age. The laud is of no value for agricultural purposes. The kauri timber on about 583 acres of it has been leased to Mr. Alfred Jerome Cadman, who has a saw mill on the Karaka stream. There are several quartz reefs within the block, which have not been tested. Gold has been found in small quantities, but there are no claims at present occupied. It would be advisable to purchase this block, as it adjoins Government land; the difficulty, however, appears to be the inability of a minor to dispose of it. The lands south of the Kapanga block, belong to Europeans, as far as the Tiki or Ngaurukehu block. 5. Tiki or Ngaurukehu Block. This consists of two pieces of land granted to Natives, and known as the Waiau No. 1, and Motutere ; the former contains 1,098 acres, and the latter 240 acres. These are separated by a piece about 600 acres, granted to the late Mr. W. B. Moore. There is no land on this block suitable for agricultural purposes ; there is some good kauri timber on it, and several gold-mining claims havo been and are now successfully worked within its limits. The owners are not inclined to sell their land, and from the known value of the Waiau No. 1 portion, a large price would in any case be demanded. G. Waiau and Matawai block. This adjoins the Motutere portion of the Tiki and Ngaurukehu blocks, and may be estimated to contain 1,500 acres of hilly land, all the available kauri timber on which has been cut by the owners of tho Waiau saw mill. Gold has been found in the Matawai stream, but not in any quantity in the block. The lands to the southward and to the westward of this piece are the property of the Crown, and it would be desirable to acquire it to consolidate the Government property in that neighbourhood. This block requires to be surveyed. 7. Manaia North Block. This block belongs to a section of the Ngatimaru tribe. The area of the land not occupied by Natives or required for reserves may be estimated at about 3,000 acres of hilly country. Gold has been found in small quantities within it, but no payable claim has hitherto been discovered. This piece is bounded on the south by the Manaia south, block. This block requires to be surveyed. 8. Manaia South Block., This block may be estimated to contain exclusive of the large reserves required by the Tawera tribe about six or seven thousand acres of hilly land. Gold has been discovered in small quantities in streams on this block, but no payable claims have been discovered. This piece is bounded on the south by the Waikawau block. This block requires to be surveyed. 9. Waikawau Block. This may be estimated to contain about 60,000 acres of land, the greater part of which is of broken description. There are a few patches of land available for cultivation on the banks of the numerous streams which intersect it; but these bear but a small proportion to the whole. The best pieces of land for settlement are at Te Puru and Wainui, but these have been either sold to Europeans or are required for Native reserves. Probably not more than 2,000 acres of this block have been granted under the Native Lands Act. The town of Hastings and the Tapu Creek diggings are within it. There is reason to believe that a very large proportion of the land is of an auriferous character. The available kauri timber in the neighbourhood of the Waikawau and Mata streams has been sold to Capt. Daldy, who owns a large and valuable saw-mill at Waikawau. The kauri timber at Otuturu has been sold to Mr. Hector McKenzie, and that at Waipukapuka to Mr. Thomas Kelly. The survey of this block is in a forward state, having been undertaken by Capt. Daldy and myself with a view to purchasing the whole block from the Natives, subject to the Government agreements with them respecting gold mining. We are, however, prepared to waive our claims on condition of Capt. Daldy receiving a title to the timber heretofore purchased by him, and a piece of 400 acres of land adjacent to the Waikawau saw-mill, and 50 acres at the booms on the Mata stream, and our being repaid the cost of survey and the deposits paid by us to the Natives on various pieces within the block, less the proportional cost of the 450 acres before mentioned. The pieces of 400 and 50 acres respectively required by Capt. Daldy to be excluded from the operation of " The Mining District Act, 1871." It is anticipated that no additional Native reserves will be required, as there are considerable holdings at Kereta and Matariki immediately north of this block, which with the pieces already mentioned at Te Puru and Waianui are sufficient for Native requirements in that neighbourhood. The survey at present in progress is merely of the external boundaries, and some sub-divisional lines will probably have to be cut in consequence of troublesome disputes between the hapus of Ngatitamatera as to internal boundaries. Immediately south of the Waikawau block is that known as Te Wharau or Wairuaterangi, which has been purchased by the Crown. 10. Whakotete Block. This is a triangular-shaped piece of small extent, probably 1,000 acres ; the only valuable portion of the frontage of which has been granted to the Native owners. The remainder is very rough, hilly land, and is not approved of by gold miners for its auriferous character. It might be desirable to purchase this land, if the Tararu district is acquired, so as to connect Te Wharau, or Wairuaterangi block with Tararu. As Te Wharau on the north, and Tararu on the south, have been surveyed, it may be assumed that the cost of survey of this portion will be small, as most of the lines are already defined on the ground.

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11. Tararu Block. This block consists of two pieces, known as Tararu north, and Tararu south, which have been surveyed by the Native owners, the total area of the two being about 3,500 acres. This land is of known auriferous character, and is likely to support a large mining population. The title is not disputed, but the Natives are not disposed to sell it. rso reserves are required, the land being of a class unfit for Native or other cultivation. The kauri timber from Tinker's gully to the source of the Tararu stream has been sold to the Moanataiari Water Supply Company. 12. Karaka Block. This contains all the most valuable claims on the Thames Goldfield, also the towns of Grahamstown and Shortland. The townships are chiefly private property, and it would not be advisable to interfere with existing arrangements. A large portion of the land, amounting to 1,600 acres, exclusive of townships, has been surveyed under my directions, and the unsurveyed remainder may be estimated at 1,000 acres. The difficulty of purchasing this block cannot be easily estimated, as the owners have been in the habit of receiving about £5,000 per annum for miners rights' fees alone. There is no unsold land within this block fit for any purpose other than mining. 13. Otunui Block. This is unsurveyed, but may be estimated to contain from 6,000 to 7,000 acres. The land is not suitable for agricultural purposes. Gold has been found on it in small quantities, but no claims are at present occupied, which may be attributed to the want of means of communication by a practicable road, and the absence of any machinery for extracting the gold from the quartz. The kauri timber on the banks of the Mangakirikiri and Mangarehu streams has been purchased by Europeans. 14. Whakairi Block. This block is under survey by my direction, and is estimated to contain 35,000 acres. There is but a very small proportion of it suitable for settlement. Probably some portion of it is auriferous, but at present the gold miners have but a poor opinion of it in that respect. The kauri timber has been purchased by a company at Auckland, who intend erecting a saw mill at Shortland, which will be a great boon to the Thames Goldfield. 15. Kirikiri Block. This block has not been surveyed, but probably contains about 5,000 acres. The land is not fit for agricultural purposes, and is not in favor with the gold miners. Small quantities of gold have been found in the Kirikiri river, but no claims are held within the block. The kauri timber has been sold to Mr. John Gibbons. The large reserve to the westward of the goldfield boundary contains more land than is required by the Native owners for cultivation and settlements. Any surplus would be suitable for European occupation for ordinary agricultural purposes, 16. Te Puriri Block. The same remarks as made in the previous case (Kirikiri block) apply to this block, with the exception that gold has been found at Te Puriri in payable quantities, and the kauri timber has not been sold. The land has not been surveyed. The probable area is 10,000 acres. The lands under the second head are contained in the Whangapoua, Mercury Bay, Tairua, Wharekawa, and Omahu blocks. 1. Whangapoua Block. This has nearly "all been granted to Natives, under the "Native Lands Act." Gold has been found in two or three places in the neighbourhood of the Waitekuri river, but the workings were abandoned in consequence of the obstructive policy pursued by the Native owners. There is a little land within this area which would be available for settlement, but the greater proportion is hilly, broken country. The kauri timber has been sold to Messrs. Craig and Harris, and has formed the subject of interminable lawsuits between those parties. It is questionable whether much of the Whangapoua block could be purchased, as it is probable the title to it is complicated by private arrangements between the Native owners and certain Europeans. 2. Mercury Bay Block. This district is of considerable area. There are probably 40,000 acres of unsold land in it. The extent of land available for settlement is small. Gold has been found in two places, but the workings arc now abandoned. Nearly the whole of the land has been granted to the Native owners, under the Native Lands Act, and the available kauri timber has been sold to either the Mercury Ray Saw Mill Company, or the Auckland Saw Mill Company, who have valid leases or agreements extending over terms of years. Ido not anticipate any great difficulty in procuring the freehold of this district. The Government have previously acquired some large blocks there, but which are of but little value for settlement. 3. Tairua Block. This block probably contains about 20,000 acres of unsold land, mostly of a hilly, broken character, unsuitable for settlement, but which is believed to be auriferous. Alluvial gold has been found in two or three places, and it is reported that a " rush" of miners from the Thames has taken place there during the last few days. The kauri .timber has been sold to Messrs. Seccombe and Son, who have a valuable saw mill on freehold land near the mouth of the river Tairua. I think this block can

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be purchased from the Natives. I have been requested to get it surveyed, and to apply to the Native Land Court to investigate the title. 4. Wharekawa and Omahu Blocks. These may be estimated at 40,000 acres of land of rough hilly character. lam not aware of any gold having been found there. I understand that Messrs. Hannaford, Logan, Brissenden, and O'Keefe have advanced moneys to the Natives for the purpose of defraying the expenses of surveying these lands, but the survey has not been undertaken owing to the opposition of some of the Natives. It is probable these blocks can be acquired, as I am informed that the liens registered in the Native Land Court by the above gentlemen can be purchased for a small amount from the holders, and this would give the Goverument a footing on the land. The lands under the third head are the Hikutaia, Ohinemuri, Aroha, Wairere, Matamata, and Patatere blocks. 1. Hikutaia Block. This has not been surveyed, but probably contains 25,000 acres. There are a few patches in this fit for settlement, irrespective of the requirements for Native reserves. The remainder of the land is of hilly character. I have reason to believe that some portion of it will be found auriferous. The title to this block is much disputed. I have instructions from the principal owners to survey it and get the title investigated by the Native Land Court, but have declined to do so until the telegraph line is completed through it for fear of a dispute arising and causing complications which might militate against the construction of the line. The survey will be commenced as soon as the telegraph line is finished. 2. Ohinemuri Block. This has not been surveyed; the probable area is 100,000 acres. Of this one-third is fit for settlement, irrespective of requirements for Native reserves. Gold has been found in three or four places within this territory, but I have reason to believe it will be more difficult of access than at the Thames and Coromandel fields. This block can only be acquired by degrees and by very carefully conducted negociations. 3. Te Aroha Block. This may be estimated to be of nearly the same extent as the Ohinemuri block, but contains a larger area of land fit for settlement. The title to this land was disputed between the Thames Natives and the Ngatihaua tribe of Waikato, and after a protracted investigation was awarded to the former by the Native Land Court. I believe some part of it can be acquired easier than the Ohinemuri country. The Government have some land on the Waitoa stream, adjoining the western boundary of Te Aroha block. Te Aroha is tho southern extremity of the lands owned by the Hauraki Natives. 4. Wairere Block. This is situated on the eastern bank ofthe River Thames, and extends from the southern extremity of Te Aroha block to Okauia, and inland to the western boundary of the Tauranga block. The land is unsurveyed, but the probable area is 35,000 acres, about one-third of which is fit for settlement irrespective of the requirements for Native purposes. The owners are the Ngatihinerangi tribe, who are connected with Ngatiraukawa of Patatere, and the Ngaiterangi of Tauranga. At the time of the sitting of the Native Land Court in Te Aroha case, the principal chiefs engaged me to act as their agent in any future disposition of their lands. I have not as yet entered on the question, but believe action might be taken aud negociations brought to a successful termination. 5. Matamata Block. The land forming this block is chiefly of a level character, some of it is of a swampy nature. The greater part was formerly leased to Josiah Firth, Esq., for the depasturage of stock. He has succeeded in obtaining the fee simple of some large pieces of it at the southern extremity of this block extending towards Patatere. W. T. Buckland, Esq., holds leases of an extensive tract of country. Nearly the whole of the Matamata block is of a quality suitable for settlement, though the land is in some places swampy and at others rather dry and exposed to cutting winds. 6. Patatere Block. This is an extensive tract of country on both sides of the River Waihou or Thames, extending to the Waikato River on tho west, and to the Tauranga and Rotorua watershed on the east. The laud is of fair average quality for settlement, and ought to sustain a large population. This district is owned by the Ngatiraukawa tribe, who have hitherto held aloof from any laud transactions with the Crown, I would suggest that if the Government make terms with Mr. Bucklaud that the land should be purchased in his name. It is the opinion of miners who have visited this district that the auriferous country which commences on the north at Cape Colville and forms the Coromandel and Hauraki Goldfields, terminates at Horahora at the southern extremity of the Patatere district. I assume that the area of the country above described is at least 500,000 acres, exclusive of the Tokatea, Kapanga, Tiki, or Ngaurukahu, Tararu, and Karaka blocks; and that the average cost per acre, including surveys would be from two shillings and sixpence to three shillings per acre, or a tota

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of £75,000. The Tokatea, Kapanga, Tiki, or Ngaurukahu, Tararu, and Karaka blocks may be estimated to contain 22,000 acres, and it would not be an excessive estimate to assume that these can not bo purchased at a lower average rate than one pound ten shillings per acre, or say a total of £33,000. Taking into consideration the fact that a large portion of this extensive territory would be purchased from Natives who are hostile to the sale of lands to the Crown, and that much of the land is of known auriferous character, I do not think it would be right to estimate the total cost at less than £108,000, exclusive of agent's commission. The question of reserves for Native residence, occupation, and cultivation will also require serious attention, and it will probably be found necessary in most instances to make this class of lands inalienable. After all questions as to boundaries, surveys, and reserves, have been arranged, the title to the lands should be investigated by the Native Land Court, and conveyances be procured from the parties found to be interested therein. In cases of very large purchases, it might be found desirable to make the payments by instalments running over a term of years. It would also be beneficial to induce the Natives to invest some of their money in Government annuities. It will be necessary that forms of deeds should be supplied to me, some of which should have provision inserted in them for payment by instalments. I object to the old form of Land Purchase Deed, as the space for description of boundaries, and the signature of the Natives, is too small. I think the deeds should be printed on parchment. In order to prevent confusion in surveys, and also to obviate the necessity for repeated references to the Inspector of Surveys for information as to previous surveys within the Coromandel and Eastern Hauraki districts, I would respectfully request that a map or tracing should be furnished to me, showing all Government lands, granted lands, and surveyed lands within the blocks hereinbefore described. The same to contain the area and boundaries, with bearings and distances, where possible, of such lands. No use to be made of such information, except for the Government purchases. As there are several pieces of land which have been granted to Natives, under " The Native Lands Act," which have not been sold to Europeans ; and it may in some cases be found advisable to secure these for the Crown, I would respectfully request that the Native Land Court officials should be instructed to furnish me with a return of all lands in the Coromandel and Eastern Hauraki districts for which certificates of title have been ordered by the Court, with the names of the grantees in each case. I could then, by referring to the Deeds Registration Office, ascertain the lands which had been disposed of, and those still in the hands of the Natives. Lauds within the townships of Kapanga, Hastings, Grahamstown, and Shortland, need not be included in this return. With reference to the vested interests and claims of Europeans to kauri timber, situated within the blocks of lands proposed to be purchased, some of which are held under valid leases made subsequent to the issue of certificates of title by the Native Land Court, and others by agreements made previous to the issue of certificates of title for the lands comprised in such agreements, I would beg to recommend that in all cases where the parties are in actual possession of the timber, and do not obstruct the Government in negotiating for the purchase of the lands, that all such agreements, leases, and private interests shall be respected, and the conveyances by the Natives to the Crown shall take notice of and confirm all such resonable and fair leases, agreements, and transactions. I would point out that the timber trade is of vital interest to the goldfields, and is one of great importance to the Province of Auckland, and very large capital is invested in it; and although the agreements for the acquisition of timber are not in tho majority of cases strictly legal or valid ; yet many of these so-called illegal agreements have been made by and with the assistance of officers of the Native Department. If the Government acquired the kauri timber, it would only be destroyed by miners and bush fires. At the present time, where the Kauri timber is not the property of mill owners, it is a fruitful source of discontent between the miners, Government officers, and the Native proprietors. I will, at the earliest opportunity, furnish the Government with a sketch map, showing approximately the position of the various blocks of land alluded to in this report, for purposes of reference when any question arises. I mast, however, state that I only give such information on the understanding that the Government employ no agent other than myself to conduct the negotiations for the purchase of the lands herein alluded to, as it would be manifestly unjust to me to supply other agents with information acquired by myself for my own business, and which they are not in a position to obtain, or to furnish to the Government. In conclusion, I beg to state that as the Government have confided this important and responsible business to me, no effort shall be spared on my part to bring the negotiations to a successful termination, and one which will be beneficial to the interests of the Colony, aud meet with the approval of the Government. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, James Mackat, Juxr. Wellington.

No. 2, The Under Secretary of Public Works to Mr. James Mackat, jun. Public Works Office, Sir,— Wellington, 4th March, 1872. 1 have the honor by direction of Mr. Ormond to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th January, in which you report your views in reference to the purchase from the Natives of various blocks of land in the Coromandel, Hauraki, and Upper Thames districts. 2 G—B.

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Tou have already been authorized by Mr. Ormond to initiate negotiations, and I am now directed to inform you fully on the several points raised in your letter, and to express the hope that in engaging your services, advantages of a most important character—as regards the settlement ofthe country —will result. Mr. Ormond has read with much interest the detailed description of the blocks comprised in the three classes into which you have divided them; but not being prepared at present to indicate to which of these blocks your attention should be more immediately directed, he will be obliged if you will report from time to time such of them as you see your way to acquire, giving particulars not only of the probable acreage and cost, but the value of the land as regards its relative position, mining capabilities, timber, or other resources, so that the question of price may be taken into consideration with a full knowledge of all the facts of the case, md the purchase assented to or declined. This consideration will have to be given block by block, because while it is the intention to purchase generally the blocks named in your letter, yet as the total estimate of their cost is stated by you at £108,000 it might not be convenient to purchase the whole within any particular period. With reference, however, to the blocks in the third class, Mr. Ormond will be glad to receive an estimate as soon as possible, as these lands- —being suitable for the location of immigrants, and otherwise advantageous for settlement—come more immediately within the scope of and the objects contemplated by the Immigration and Public Works Acts. In thus directing your attention specially to the acquisition of the blocks in the third class, I am directed to assure you that no unnecessary delay shall occur in considering and arriving at a determination on the reports and estimates you submit. The only remark necessary to make with regard to the order of the acquisition of blocks enumerated in classes 1 and 2, is that in directing your attention to purchases in the Coromandel and Hauraki districts, it would be advisable to give the preference to those blocks that are known to be auriferous. It will be necessary that the surveys shall be undertaken under the direction ofthe Inspector of Surveys, Mr. Heale, who will be instructed to have completed those which you indicate from time to time, and to consult your wishes with a view to employing, whenever practicable, those officers who have the tact of working well in Native districts. Dr. Pollen will be imprested with funds sufficient to meet the payments you will be called on to make, and Mr. Ormond will consult the Treasury with a view to prevent the delays you anticipate. There are, however, certain requirements of the Treasury which it will not be possible to relax, and you will have therefore to take care that you keep Dr. Pollen advised a reasonable time beforehand of what sums you will require, and that your accounts supported by vouchers for the expenditure of one advance be rendered before requiring a second. Mr. Ormond cordially endorses your suggestion as to the advantages of making Native reserves for the purposes of residence, occupation, and cultivation where necessary, and to the consent of the Natives being obtained to render them inalienable. It is desired that as opportunity offers the blocks should be submitted to the Native Land Court for investigation of title, but if, however, cases arise in which you decide to recommend a cession to the Crown as preferable, Mr. Ormond will be glad to receive for consideration a report of the special circumstances which induce you to make such recommendation. The present form of deed being deemed by you defective, you will be good enough to send an amended draft for approval. As regards the mode of payment in the case of large purchases, it may, Mr. Ormond thinks, be advisable to adopt your suggestion of making the payment by instalments over a term of years, and it certainly would be desirable wherever practicable to induce the investment of a portion ofthe purchase money in Colonial securities or in Life Annuities, &c, in the Government Annuities Office. Tho Inspector of Surveys will be instructed to afford you every information in his power as to previous surveys, and to furnish you with any maps or tracings, giving the details you desire. The (Thief Judge ofthe Native Land Court will also be communicated with, in order to your beiug supplied with particulars relative to the lands for which certificates have been ordered by the Court. Mr. Ormond is fully aware of the influence which the holders of timber rights and claims might exercise in opposition to the sale ofthe lands by the Natives and the policy of respecting those claims whether legal or equitable ; but it must at the same tiuie be borne in mind that many of the blocks on the Coromandel Peninsula have, apart from their mining value, no other value than that which their timber gives them, the right to which you state has in many cases been alienated and required to be conserved. In estimating the purchase money of all such blocks as have not acquired a value for mining purposes this should be taken into consideration, as the Government will have no option but to avoid interference with these old arrangements wherever it is practicable to do so. Tou are requested to furnish the sketch map in your possession showing the relative position of the blocks alluded to in your letter, and Mr. Ormond desires me to state that in entrusting to you the responsible task of effecting these large and important purchases, the Government will certainly not employ any agent whose duties will clash with the arrangements entered into by you for that object. I am directed in conclusion to express the hope that the successful execution of the duty devolving on you will enable the Government at no distant date to throw open to the enterprise and industry of the settlers a portion of country, the development of the resources of which cannot fail materially to promote the prosperity of the Colony. I have, &c, John Knowles. James Mackay, Esq. Under Secretary.

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His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hou. Colonial Secretart. Superintendent's Office, Sir, Auckland, 4th April, 1872. I have the honor to enclose copy of a letter addressed to me on 20th March last by Mr. James Mackay, jun., relative to his being provided with funds to enable him to complete on favourable terms the purchase of two large blocks in the Cape Colville Peninsula. Dr. Pollen being absent and being personally aware that a very large sum might be saved to the Colony and the Province on this purchase by dealing with the Natives at the tangi at Ohinemuri, I felt myself justified in advancing to Mr. Mackay the sum of two thousand pounds for that purpose. I proceeded with Mr. Mackay to Ohinemuri, and was present when he was negotiating with the Natives there assembled, and I feel convinced that a large saving, both in time and money, was effected by his being placed in funds promptly to conduct these negotiations. I trust that you will approve of my action in this matter, and that the amount advanced will be at once repaid. Permit me further to suggest that provision should be made in future for providing funds by which advantage can be taken promptly of such circumstances as the above, which occasionally arise. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 3. Mr. James Mackat, Junr., to the Superintendent of Auckland. New Zealand Native Land Agency, Sir,— Auckland, 20th March, 1872. Referring to your request that I would inform you as to the progress made by me in purchasing, and negotiating for the purchase of Native lands on the Coromandel Peninsula, I have the honour to inform you that no purchase has as yet been completed by me. The surveys and negotiations for the Waikawau and Cape Colville blocks are in a forward state, and I anticipate being able to acquire these at a price not exceeding 2s. per acre. I have made considerable advances on account of these purchases, having either paid for, or made myself privately responsible for goods and stores amounting to £1,367 Is. sd. I have made application to the Agentforthe General Government for an advance to enable me to recoup myself the sums actually paid from private funds, and to pay the other amounts for which I hs.ve become responsible, and have as yet received no reply to my communication which was made on the 4th instant. A sum of £5,000 would probably accomplish this now, and as the area of the Waikawau block is estimated by the Surveyor, Mr. 0. M. Creagh, to be about 100,000 acres ; and the Cape Colville block is estimated by Mr. Tole to be about 50,000 acres. This would be a very desirable purchase, being only Bd. per acre. I have made arrangements for the survey and purchase of the Whangamata and Hikutaia blocks, but have deferred entering further on these at present, until the completion ofthe telegraph line through that district, for fear of any complication arising to delay that important public work. Unless the General Government can make some alteration in financial matters, so as to make it as easy to purchase for the Crown as for private persons, the acquirement of these lands will be tedious and difficult. The great point in buying land from Natives is to be able to have money at command to take advantage of favourable opportunities like the present. Dr. Pollen being absent from Auckland, and not being likely to return for some time, and as it is impossible without funds to proceed further with those negotiations, I would beg to request that you will be as good as to advance the sum of £2,000 to enable me to conclude these purchases, which are a matter of great importance to the Province, and to make provision for further advances, if necessary, not exceeding the sum of £5,000 above mentioned, and which advances I think you are justified in making, pending the completion of the General Government arrangements for supplying the necessary funds. I have, &c„ His Honor the Superintendent, James Mackat, Junr., Auckland. Agent for Land Purchase, New Zealand Government.

No. 4. Mr. James Mackat, jun. to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd July, 1872. Referring to the question of the proposed purchase of the Harataunga or Kennedy Bay block, Coromandel Peninsula, I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with your request I have communicated with His Honor the Superintendent of Auckland on the subject and he is willing for the purchase to be made for any sum not exceeding five thousand pounds : provided that all the flat land, excepting the portion absolutely required for Native residence and cultivation, be purchased at the same time and included with the remainder of the block for that price. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, James Mackat, Jun. AVellington.

No. 3

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No. 5. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Wellington, 26th July, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt this day of your's of 24th inst., requesting the expression of my views on the enclosed copy of letter from Mr. Mackay as to land purchase at Harataunga. My views are correctly stated by Mr. Mackay in his letter. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superinteudent, Auckland.

No. 6. Mr. James Mackat, jud., to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sib,— Wellington, 28th September, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that negotiations have been entered into for the purchase of the Whakairi or Waiwhakaurunga block, near Shortland, which contains nearly fifteen thousand acres, the title to which has been investigated by the Native Land Court; and I believe it can be purchased for two shillings per acre. I have, therefore, the honor to request authority to complete the arrangements, and also that the Agent for the General Government at Auckland be authorized to advance to me the sum of one thousand five hundred pounds for that purpose. I have, &c, James Mackat, jun. Agent for Native Land Purchases, Immigration The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, and Public Works Act. Wellington.

No. 7. The Hon. the Native Minister to Mr. H. T. Kemp. Memorandum for Mr. Kemp. Tou are aware that in the Thames and on the Piako there have been standing over unsettled for several years the payments upon certain blocks of land, for which advances were made from time to time to the Natives. The Government, as well as tho Natives, are anxious that these outstanding claims should be met and settled on the most equitable terms, and as I find from Mr. Puckey, the Native agent at the Thames, who has been directed to enquire into the details connected with the several blocks alluded to, that they are now for the most part in a fit state to be dealt with, I have the honor to request that you will, without delay, place yourself in communication with Mr. Puckey, and endeavour, as soon as possible, with the assistance of the Native Chiefs and other claimants, finally to dispose of this question. Funds for tho extinguishment of the Native title to these blocks will be available as soon as you shall report that these claims have been adjusted, and the time and place appointed for the payment being made. Auckland, 28th June, 1872. Donald McLean.

No. 8. Mb. H. T. Kemp to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir, — Auckland, 7th August, 1872. Agreeably with your instructions careful enquiry has been made into the several outstanding claims on the Waitoa and Piako blocks. The result has been that in order to meet the different claims, to give general satisfaction and to make the awards fair and reasonable to the Government and to the Natives, the sum of one thousand pounds has been fixed to cover all claims connected therewith. Enclosed herewith is the schedule submitted for your approval, as well as a requisition for the amount required. I have, &c„ The Hon. the Native Minister. H. T. Kemp.

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Mr. E. W. Pucket to the Civil Commissioner, Auckland. Sir,— Native Office, Thames, 13th July, 1872. I have the honor to enclose herewith schedule of proposed payments to complete outstanding purchases —Piako and Waitoa blocks, a balance of £713, according to Mr. Mackay's arrangements (excepting recent advances to Ema Te Aouru of £50, and to H. Tipa of £20). W. 11. Taipairi and myself have gone fully into the claims not considered by Mr. Mackay, and we think a payment of £40 to Wata Hangata, Hiri Haua, Matini Potara, and Eakena Eaukuru, fair and reasonable to extinguish their interests. The Ngatimaru have a claim, and we propose to extinguish it by a payment of £'150 ; also to give the Ngatipaoa an additional payment of £97, thus bringing the entire amount to be paid, inclusive of advances above referred to, £1,000. The schedule will explain theso amounts more fully. I have, &c, The Civil Commissioner, Auckland. E. W. Puckey.

Enclosure 2 in No. 8. Schedule of Peoposed Payments, Piako and "Waitoa Blocks. Waitoa— £ H. Tipa ... ... ... ... ... ... 150 H. Patene ... ... ... ... ... ... 200 Eilu Paka and others ... ... ... ... ... 200 *Hoia Hana ... ... ... ... ... 10 *WataHangata „. ... ... ... ... ... 10 *Rakcna Kaukura ... ... ... ... ... 10 *Matini Potara ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Piako— Ngatimaiu claimants through Kopirimau and Kihia te Kauwae ... 150 T. Tukere ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Te Paea Otatu ... ... ... ... ... 70 Hemi Tahatika ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Wikitoria H. Taipari ... ... ... ... ... 10 Hanata Puao .. ... ... ... ... ... 13 MitaToEatu ... ... ... ... ... 30 Additional payment to Ngatipaoa ... ... ... ... 97 £1,000 * Claims not taken into consideration by Mr. Mackay.

No. 9. Mr. E. W. Puckey to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir, — Native Office, Thames, 15th December, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that on the 26th ultimo., I went to Taupo accompanied by W. 11. Taipari and Mr. E. H. Power, for the purpose of making the final payment to the Natives on account of the long outstanding land purchases at Piako and Waitoa. As there were a considerable number of claimants and interested parties it was necessary to make special terms with a vessel to convey us thither and bring us back. I accordingly engaged the p.s. " Enterprise, No. 2" —a steamer plying between this and Auckland —at a cost of six pounds. We reached Taupo in the evening, and our errand having been explained and preparations made for commencing business first thing iv the morning, we retired to a new house which Haora had built for the occasion. We then had a private meeting with the resident Natives and went fully into tho question of the claims, and everything having been satisfactorily adjusted, Haora in the early morning sent off a messenger to Whakatiwai to fetch Hoera to Whareponga, whose presence at the final extinction of their claims to these lands and especially the Waitoa block, both he and I considered advisable. About 9 o'clock in the morning we assembled in the Court-house, and the proceedings commenced by W. H. Taipari reading the list of claimants and the pieces of land claimed by them. This was the more requisite as Tarapipipi had raised au objection to the claims of Te Poea te Otatu and Horata Potene, on the ground that all either had a right to was an eel weir. Upon going into the question, however, in both cases the objection was withdrawn. There was no great difficulty experienced in dealing with any claim excepting as regards Motauhiahi—a piece of land contained within the AVaitoa block. "When the amount arranged to be paid for this land was named the claimants —Hone Te Koti, Wini Kerei, Eopata te Arahai, Hota Poka, and Eiki Poka —refused to sell unless they got £400. They offered to sell half of the land for £200, but —as I considered £200 already too high for a piece of land consisting of from one-third to one-half of deep swamp, and the total area of it being probably about 2,000 acres— after discussing the matter for nearly a day and a night, with Taipari's concurrence, I cut Motauhiahi out ofthe block. Tho only advance on this land was a sum of £15 paid to Weherua, a man since dead, and who did not appear to have any claim to the land whatsoever. The claim of Horata Potene was by her desire dealt with as though it was Tipa's, she claiming the land through him and having no special or separate claim. 3 G.—B.

Enclosure 1 in No. 8.

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As it is possible some question may hereafter arise as to the claim of Irihia te Kauwae to Waitoa and the manner in which it was disposed of, I may state that I have all along steadfastly refused to recognise any unsupported claim, and made it a point from tho first to consult Haora Tipa with reference to claims brought forward to these lands. So with the claim of Eihia which has been all along ignored by Haora; it appears that this claim was derived from some remote Tapuna who formally owned or cultivated the land before it was taken by the Ngatipaoa and the occupants driven off as utu for the killing of To Apa ote Eongi. I brought up this claim repeatedly, but Haora as steadfastly refused to recognise it, and also at the Taupo meeting Eihia, who appeared conscientiously to believe in the fairness of his claim, brought it forward himself at my desire, but without being able to prove it to our satisfaction, indeed had we dealt with it separately it would have complicated matters, as we should have had Haora against us. A few days after our return, however, Haora Tipa came to. the Thames, and as I felt that the claim of Eihia might hereafter crop up at an inconvenient time I suggested to Haora that a small payment had better be made to Eihia through him as principal seller of this land. This he agreed to, and Eihia accepted £10 in extinction of his claim, promising that he would not hereafter make any claim whatever. All kinds of fictitious claims have since our return from Taupo been trumped up, but referring the pseudo claimants to Tipa has completely shut them up, and in order to test the validity of any claim which may hereafter be made it will be only necessary to refer such claimant to Tipa. I found it necessary to give Tarapipipi £25, he having some indirect claims on the Mohonui block not previously dealt with, but this payment should be regarded more in the light of a politic stroke than as the satisfaction of a claim ; also as he had some time ago made claim for a further payment on account ofthe Piako block, and as it was in his power to place —for a time at least —insuperable obstacles in the way of the settlement of these long-existing land claims, both on the Piako and Waitoa, I agreed to abandon the purchase of a block of land called Katihiha on the opposite side of the Piako to Mohonui, on which an advance of £80 had been made to him, he foregoing any claim he might still have to the other blocks purchased. Adjoining this land and included within the same survey is a piece called Whataiti. On this land an advance of £40 was made some years ago by Mr. Whitaker, then Superintendent of Auckland, to Haora Tipa. This purchase we also agreed to forego, lessening by so doing some considerable additional payments ior Waitoa, which Haora was expecting. I append to this report a schedule ofthe blocks of land purchased by the Government at Piako, which together with the sketch plan herewith will afford considerable facilities for understanding, what from the very meagre information in the possession of the Government has hitherto been a very complicated question. Before having brought this report to a close, I should have stated that last week I visited Ohinemuri and obtained Moananui's signature to the Waitoa deed, and that I also completed the purchase ofthe AWnemaro block, on which Hone te Kuti admitted an advance of £65 to have been made. I have also kept in hand a sum of £10 to be paid to Penetito for claims in the Piako. This closes all tho purchases. A claim by Eota te Whituti for £35 I have ignored, as he appropriated that amount in the purchase of a portion ofthe Waitoa block, which I had to abandon. This is shown on the plan. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. E. W. Puckey.

Enclosure in No. 9. Schedule of Blocks Purchased by the Government.—Piako axd Waitoa Kiyees. Piako block ... ... ... ... 1 19,500 acres Otamatai block... ... ... ... 2 950 „ Mohonui block ... ... ... ... 3 2,580 „ Te Hina block ... ... ... ... 4 500 „ TeHotu block ... ... ... ... 5 50 „ Aronga block ... ... ... ... 6 322 „ Waemaro block ... ... ... ... 7 600 ~ Te Nge block ... ... ... ... 8 1,070 „ Te Awaroa block ... ... ... ... 9 600 „ Mangakahika block ... ... ... 10 510 ~ Hangawera block ... ... ... ... H 3,680 „ "Waitoa block ... ... ... ... 12 8,000 „ 38,362 „

No. 10. James Mackay, Jun., to the Agext, General Government, Auckland. New Zealand Native Land Agency, Sir,— Auckland 24th March, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the sth instant, requesting me to furnish a return of Native lands purchased by me, or under negotiation for purchase under the 34th section of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870." I now beg to transmit the information required under the following heads, viz.:— Eeturn No. 1. " Blocks, the purchase of which has been completed." Eeturn No. 2. " Blocks for which negotiations are concluded, but deeds not executed." Eeturn No. 3. " Blocks under negotiation, but price not finally arranged."

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Owing to my absence from the Thames, at Whangamata and Tauranga, I did not receive your instructions until the 14th instant, and as it has taken all my time since to compile the returns, I have been unable as yet to make the sketch map of the various blocks as called for by the Hon. Mr. McLean, but hasten to transmit the returns at once, and will furnish a map in the course of a few days. I have, &c, Jaiies Mackay, Junr., The Agent, General Government, Agent for Native Land Purchases, Immigration Auckland. and Public Works Act.

Enclosure 1 in No. 10. EETUEN No. 1. Blocks, the purchase of which has been completed.

Name of Block. Area. Price. Remarks. Acres. £ s. d. 3tama East 3tama West Hihi and Pirinui Hotoritori faranoho re Koro, No. 1 „ No. 2 fairua 1,270 100 36,000 1,217 1,298 6,755 523 1,000 3,790 32 0 0 100 0 0 715 0 0 100 0 0 103 0 0 380 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 2,900 0 0 I Part of this purchase money charged against O'Keefe's J hen. Gives access from the sea to land owned by the S Crown, known as Ototoro. Land reported to be ' auriferous. This gives the Government access to the Tairua Block from Shortland. I Purchased as being within Waiwhakaurunga Block, and 1 being the means of buying the remainder (15,000 acres). S Valuable from proximity to Shortland, and being within ' proclaimed goldfield. Adjoins lands already purchased for the Crown at Mercury Bay. Is believed to be auriferous. f Adjoins Wlienuakito (Government land), and gives access to the sea to the eastward. Gold has been found in these blocks. Not yet included in Gold-mining District. Reason of delay in proclamation is the noncompletion of survey of the Wharekawa Block (purchase -} negotiated, vide Return No. 2). Wharekawa separates these blocks from the Whangamata Block. Some land available for cultivation on these blocks. A reserve of one thousand acres, to be selected in one or two blocks, is to be made at Tairua, and a grant issued for the same to the owners as arranged by the Native Land Court. f All these blocks have been included within the Hauraki Gold Mining District. It was an urgent necessity to complete the purchase of these as soon as possible, as a number of miners had taken possession of the country, asserting it to be highly auriferous, and there was every probability of a political difficulty arising by collision with the Ohinemuri Natives. Under these circumstances, the persons who had been declared to be the owners of the land by the Native Land Court believed it to be very valuable, and made most extortionate demands for their interest in it ; the amount asked being at the rate of 27s. Cd. per ncre, and consequently more had to bo paid than under ordinary circumstances. When, however, the area of these is added to that of the adjacent Tairua Te Koro and Wharekawa Blocks (for latter, vide Return No. 2) the average rate will be 2s. 6d. per acre. A reserve of one hundred and fifty acres is to be made in the Omahu Block, and one of one hundred acres in the Whangamata Block No. 1, and grants to be issued for the same to Ngakapa Whanaunga, and Hone Mahia respectively. Vhangamata, No. 1 ... No. 3 ... No. 5 ... [ikutaia, No. 2 No. 3 imnhu ... 8,280 8,210 5,889 2,376 5,445 7,056 1,200 0 0 2,465 0 0 1,402 0 0 763 0 0 1,302 0 0 600 0 0 Totals 89,215 12,187 0 0 Average ri ite, 2s. 8d. per acre. 24th March, 1873. James Mackay, jun.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 10. EETUKN No. 2. Blocks for which negotiations are concluded, but Deeds not executed.

Name of Block. Area. Advances charged to Government, as per Vouchers furnished. Advanced by James Mackay, jun, from private funds, repayable. Balances due, exclusive of advances made privately by J. Mackay, jun. Remarks. Waikowauand Moehau (or Capo Colville) Acres. 118,802 £ s. d. 13,174 11 0 £ s. d. 792 0 0 £ s. d. 1,675 14 0 Surveys completed. The only question delaying tho execution of deeds is the laying off three or four reserves. Preliminary agreement signed by a majority of the owners. It is proposed to complete deeds and submit to Native Land Court, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act. This purchase is intimately connected with tho Ohinemuri question, the land being owned by the same (ribe, and it is considered tho completion of it will be an effectual blow to the anti land-selling portion of tho Ngatitamatera tribe. ' Survey completed. Title investigated. Cause of delay in execution of deed being that a small reservo had to bo surveyed; this is done. Deed can now be executed. Survey in progress. Title investigated, and Interlocutory Order granted by the Native Land Court. Land chiefly hilly. Reported to be auriferous. Probable cost, 2s. per acre. Surveyed, litle investigated. Valuablo from being adjacent to goldfields, and some portion auriferous. Deed partly executed. Requiro to procure another signature of a Native residing at Mercury Bay. Surveyed. Title investigated. Valuable from being near to Shortland. Some portion auriferous. A few small farms could be laid off here. Deed can bo executed as coon as a reserve ia laid off. Surveyed. Valuable from its proximity to Shortland. Price arranged, 3s. 3d. per acre. Surveyed. Title investigated. Deid can be executed at once. Under Survey. Deed can be signed and submitted to Native Land Court, under provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act. Prico arranged, 2s. per acre, irrespective of area. TeWeiti ... 4,305 550 0 0 • Wharekawa 20,000 (estimated) 200 0 0 280 0 0 1,800 0 0 Rangahou ... 9,132 785 0 0 Waiwhakaurunga 14,186 100 0 0 L500 0 0 Owhao 311 30 0 0 20 0 0 Kapowai ... Kapowai, No. 2 8,663 8,000 (estimated) 30 0 0 10 0 0 700 0 0 800 0 0 Totals 183,399 14,739 11 0 l,2U 0 0 6,495 14 0 Advances as per Vouchers furnished to Treasury Balanco to complete purchases £ s. d. 14,739 11 0 6,495 14 0 Total Cost £21,235 5 0 24th March, 1873. Average Price, 2s. 3Jd. per acre. James Mackat, jun.

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Enclosure No. 3 in No. 10. RETURN No. 3. BLOCKS under negotiation, but price not finally arranged.

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Area. Advances charged to Government, as per Vouchers furnished. Advanced by James Mackay, jun., from private funds, repayable. Remarks. Name of Block. Manaia Manaia, No. 2 Kerita Kennedy's Bay Acres. 5,055 1,724 1,098 8,891 £ s. d. 77 0 0 74 0 0 121 0 0 £ s. d. 30 0 0 21 0 0 28 0 0 100 0 0 Surveyed. Title investigated. Known to be auriferous. j Surveyed. Title will be investigated by Native Land Court in April next, Land of good quality. Surveyed. Title to the largest portion settled by Native Land Couit. Authorized to be purchased at any price not exceeding five thousand pounds. 7 Surveyed. Ipuwhakatori Title settled by Native Land Court. Owhataroa not investigated. Valuable j from proximity to Shortland. Surveyed. Title investigated. Hold survey lien for £65. Probable cost, 2s. 6d. per acre. Fronts W hangamata Harbour. Reported to bo auriferous ; from personal inspection think this is correct. Will shortly be surveyed. Price not to exceed three shillings per acre. Land of excellent quality. The only method of completing this purchase is to buy from hapus and individuals as opportunity occurs. The purchase of the Waikawau and Cape Colville Blocks is intimately connected with this district, and has materially assisted in breaking up the anti land-selling unity of the tribe, Ngotitaurotera. Probable cost, two shillings per acre. Much land of good quality in this block, irrespective of auriferous and hilly country. Know some part to be auriferous. Surveyed. Some land of excellent quality on this block ; gold being at present worked on it. Surveyed. Near Shortland. / Surveyed. Title settled by Native Land Court. Land valuable on account of its proximity to Shortland. I Probable cost, three shillings per acre. Gold in tho blocks. Under Survey. Probable cost, two shillings per acre. Position good. Gold found in immediate neighbourhood. Surveyed. Title investigated by Court. Adjoins Kapowai, Tairua, Te Puia, and Karo Blocks. Purchased by Government. Surveyed. Title investigated by Court. Probable cost, two shillings per acre. Adjoins Te Weiti and Matokirau Blocks. Purchased by Crown. Surveyed. Part, near main road from Shortland to Hikutaia, of oxcellent qua'ity. Remainder hilly and auriferous. Joins the Omahau East Block, purchased by the Crown ; extending to the coast. The purchase of this will add to the Hikutaia Block, and give the Crown an unbroken piece of country from the Thames to the East Coast. This can now probably be more easily arranged from Napier with Tohau and his party. The reason this payment was made was to detach Tohau and his party from Te Hira ; their taking payment for land effected that object, and was the principal reason they left Ohinemuri for Taupo. As long as they remained at the Thames they assisted the anti-land-selling party to hold back Te Aroha and Ohinemuri. Not surveyed. A email claim which will give a coast frontage and access to the Awakauae Block, previously purchased by tho Crown. Survey arranged for. This block can only bo purchased in the same manner as Ohinemuri, from hapus and individuals. Probable cost, two shillings per acre. Some excellent land on tliis block. Am personally acquainted with the fact of some portion being auriferous. Survey in progress. Adjoins Tairua, Hihi, and Piraunui, already purehased by Government. Probable cost, two shillings per acre. Ipuwhakatere Awhataroa... Whitipirorua 1,015 707 1,245 175 0 0 175 0 0 5 0 0 5"'o 0 Matamata ... Ohinemuri 8,000 150,000 15 0 0 811 0 0 654' 0 0 Puriri ... "... Pukerangiora ... ... Mangakiiikiri, No. 1 No. 2 No 3 Moewai, No. 2, Mercury Bay... 3,252 700 1,683 386 1,673 3,500 45 0 0 70 0 0 48 0 0 45 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 15 0 0 35 0 0 30 0 0 Whenuakite, No. 2 „ 6,700 5 0 0 Kaimarama, ,, 8,300 56 0 0 Onialra West 8,000 i 100 10 0 i 53 0 0 Runanga (Taupo District) 5,000 80 0 0 65 0 0 Waiau (Coromandel) 400 20 0 0 To Aroha ... 100,000 285 0 0 Pukctui ... 5,000 85 0 0 Mangarehu Mangarehu East Mataora 1,825 463 6,000 31 0 0 20 0 0 15 0 0 > Surveyed. Title investigated. Valuable from proximity to Shortland. Not surveyed. Some of Ngatiporou anxious to sell in consequence of a quarrel with Ngatitamatera. ... Totals 330,622 1,818 10 0 1,606 0 0 24th March, 1873. James Mackat, jun.

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No. 11. E. W. Puckey to the Undeb-Seceetaey, Native Department. Sic,— Native Office, Thames, 21st April, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith a detailed statement of the purchase of the Thames foreshore, showing the progress of operations to the present time. This statement shows fully what has been done and what requires to be done. Had time permitted I intended to attach hereto a statement showing what moneys would be required to complete the purchase at the same rate as which the purchases have hitherto been made. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. E. W. Puckey.

Enclosure in No. 11. RETURN SHOWING THE PURCHASED AND UNPURCHASED INTERESTS OF NATIVES TO THE FORESHORE IN HAURAKI DISTEICT.

Name of Block. Name of Claimant. Amount Paid. Total. Kauaeranga, E. 14 B. 20 acres. Poihakene ... -.. t.. Te Mariri ... ... k .-. Hona Taiawa Wiremu Turipona ... Eruera te Ngahue ... Miriama Konehu ... Piniha Pumoko Hoani Toarauawhea • V £ 5 5 5 8 12 8 5 8 s. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. Kauaeranga, E. 8 B. 3 acres. 56 0 0 Eruera te Ngahue ... Miriama Konehu ... a 8 0 0 0 0 Kauaeranga, E. 9 B. 4 acres. Matiu Poono Karauna Koropango 6 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 Kauaeranga, E. 10 B. 12 acres. Haora Tipa ... Tamati Tangiteruru Harata Patene Eawiri Takurua 8 0 0 8 t; o o 0 0 Kauaeranga, E. 11 B. 28 acres. Kitahi te Taniwha ... Hori Kerei Tuokioki Eenata Kitahi Wata te Rura Te Warau Tini Maru ... Ma-tire te Arawhatiu 8 8 8 S 8 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 12 0 a Kauaeranga, E. 13 B. 59 acres. Eeweti te Bangikawhiria ... Miriama Konehu ... Wireinu Turipona ... Te Pukeroa ... Ramarihi Oehua Eruera te Ngahue ... Pare Watana Mere Watana 56 0 0 14 15 14 15 14 15 14 15 14 15 14 15 14 15 14 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kauaeranga, E. 12 B. 37 acres. Eeweti te Eangikawhiria ... Te Eeatu to Purekeoa Mohi Tautehere Mere Watana Hone Koura Horoiwi Eaiha Keweti Mereana Eeweti Aherata te Urumiha • ■ • • •• 118 0 0 9 i) 8 e 9 9 8 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 t) 0 0 0 0 0 0 74 0 0 Carried forward

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Eetuen showing the Puechased and TJnpubchased Inteeest op Natives— continued.

Name of Block. Name of Claimant. Amount Paid. Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. Tararu Brought forward Additional general payment to — Eruera te Ngahue 20 5 0 20 5 0 Opitomako 30 acres. Pukehinau, No. 1... S3 acres 1 rood 30 perches. Pukehinau, No. 2... 50 acres. Moanataiari, No. 1 A. ... 11 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Kapana, Maunganoa, and others ... Eapana Maunganoa Hohepa Paraone 150 0 0 Marie Purewha Watana Tuma Tereiti Tuma Turuhira Eapana Matiu Kaimate 14 2 14 2 0 0 150 0 0 14 "5 14 5 0 0 56 14 0 Kauaeranga, No. 28 A. ... 14 acres 0 roods 25 perches. Nikorima Poutotara Pineha Marutuahu... 57 0 31 10 0 0 88 10 0 Moanataiari, No. 2 A 6 acres 1 rood 36 perches. Aihe Pepene Hirawa te Moananui 19 19 0 0 0 0 38 0 0 Moanataiari, No. 3 A. ... 12 acres 2 roods 2 perches. Tanumeha te Moananui Wiremu Kingi Mihi Kete 25 25 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moanataiari, No. 4 A 2 acres 1 rood 24 perches. Pirika te Euipoto Parata te Mapu Pineha Marutuahu Waraki 75 0 0 3 15 3 15 3 15 3 15 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 Moanataiari, No. 4 B 17 acres 0 roods 8 perches. Moanataiari, No. 5 6 acres 2 roods 10 perches. Moanataiari, No. 6 3 acres 2 roods 6 perches. Moanataiari, No. 7 4 acres 2 roods 38 perches. Eapana Maunganoa Hera te Waunga Matiu Poono 21 0 0 Aperahama te Eeiroa Tanumeha te Moananui Pineha te Marutuahu 10 0 0 10 5 0 9 10 0 21 0 0 Moanataiari, No. 8 A. ... 2 acres 2 roods 12 perches. 29 15 0 Aihe Pepene ... Hirawa te Moananui 8 s 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 Moanataiari, No. 8 B. ... 11 acres 2 roods 10 perches. Eapana Maunganoa Turuhira Poha Pineaha Marutuahu 23 6 23 0 0 0 46 0 0 Moanataiari, No. 9 9 acres 2 roods 18 perches. Aperahama te Eeiroa Tanumeha te Moananui 28 10 28 10 0 0 57 0 0 Kauaeranga, S. 28 13 acres 1 rood. Hotereno Taipari ... Wirope Hoterene Taipari ... Eapana Maunganoa Whakaruaki 10 acres 0 roods 19 perches. Eangiriri, L. 2 acres 1 rood 38 perches. Hoterene Taipari ... Ngakapa Whanaunga and general claim 34 0 0 Wiremu te Aramoana Whanaunga 34 0 0 Eangiriri, H. ... 5 acres 3 roods. Eangiriri, G2 acres 3 roods 24 perches. Eangiriri, P 2 acres 3 roods 24 perches. Eipeka Anderson 11 10 5 15 0 0 11 10 5 15 0 0 Eenata te Kiore 5 15 0 5 15 0 Carried forward

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Eetuen showing the Puechased and TJnpubchased Inteeest of Natives— continued.

Name of Block. Name of Claimant. Amount paid. Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. {angiriri, A 6 acres 3 roods, iangiriri, D. 5 acres 3 roods, fokenoke, B. 13 acres 0 roods 25 perches, sokenoke, A 9 acres 3 roods 11 perches. Brought forward Kitahi te Taniwha 13 10 0 13 10 0 Te Kairaimaina ... 11 10 0 11 10 0 Nikorima Poutotara 26 5 0 Matiu Kaimate Eapana Maunganoa Wiriama Kiritahanga 26 5 0 Vhakaharatau, A. 7 acres 2 roods 13 perches. Eaika Whakarongotai ... "\ Hiria Eotorua ... ... ! Hera Tuhirae ... ... f Teretiu te Kupenga ... ) 15 5 0 15 5 0 Iaugaruru 7 acres 0 roods 20 perches, 'apuaeouenuku ... 7 acres 0 roods 34 perches. Vhakaupapa 14 acres 1 rood 19 perches. ?e Tapuae 3 acres 2 roods 11 perches, karaka 17 acres 3 roods. General Claim ... Eapana Maunganoa Eaika Whakarongotai ... ..T Wirope Hoterene Taipari ... 14 10 0 14 10 0 Hoani Hahe and Matene te Nga ... 7 5 0 7 5 0 Eaika Whakarongotai 53 5 0 53 5 0 Weremana Konui ... r, 0 0 5 0 0 kauaeranga, B. 10 14 acres 0 roods 10 porches. Parata te Mapu Waraki te Matapihi 28 28 2 2 0 56 5 0 Cauaeranga, B. 11 8 acres 0 roods 14 perches. Eupenete Whatuki self and Echara Ngawharawhara... 32 7 6 32 7 6 Cauaeranga, B. 12 4 acres 2 roods. Hone te Huiraukura Hohepa Paraone Maata Paraone AporoteKaka Hera te Waunga Erana Ketu... Te Kepa te Wharau Karapuha 2 10 2 10 0 0 15 0 0 Cauaeranga, 12 A. 10 acres 2 roods. 5 0 2 10 2 10 0 0 0 Hone te Huiraukura ... ) Hohepa Paraone ... ... j 42 0 0 42 0 0 kauaeranga, 13 A. 15 acres. Mango Ngapari Tanumeha te Moananui ... Aperahama te Eeiroa 15 "6 15 0 0 0 30 0 0 kauaeranga B. 13 8 acres. Tanumeha te Moananui ... Ngapari Mango Poro Koru ... Maata Paraone Wiriata Whaiapu ... Hirawa 5 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 20 0 0 Teneral claim for Moanataiari No. 4 - 5 "6 0 Te Kemara te Earuahuni ... Aihe Pepene 3 15 5 0 0 0 8 15 0 Total amount paid ... £1,351 1 6

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No. 12. The Hon. D. McLean to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Sic,— _ Wanganui, 30th November, 1871. With reference to the instructions conveyed to you, in conjunction with Mr. Booth, to make enquiries as to the possibility of purchase from Natives of certain lands for the purpose of settlement, I have the honor to direct your attention to a block between the Mangawera and Wangaehu rivers, estimated to contain somewhere about 20,000 acres. In purchases of this nature, it is of the utmost importance that careful enquiry should first bo made among the Native owners as to the prospects of completing the transaction without incurring the chance of any future trouble or disagreement. Tou will, therefore, have to pay special attention to this, as the Government do not desire to acquire any land from the Natives, however valuable it may be, if the acquisition is attended with any risk of disturbance or revival of feuds among themselves. Tou will proceed to examine this block, and report fully upon its capabilities, whether for grass, or corn lands, for timber, water, and any other points which it is desirable to bo fully aware of. Tou will also have the goodness to furnish the Under Secretary for Public Works with a rough sketch of it, as accurate as the circumstances will allow you to make, giving its proper boundaries ; and in enumerating the latter, you will be very careful to ascertain that no mistakes can in future occur between the proposed settlers and the Government, but that a clear definition is given of the area with its limits. Tou will also give me a clear idea as to what reserves it will be necessary to make for the Natives, in the case of these, discriminating most carefully their acreage. I have to request that you will lose no time in acquiring the information, and forwarding a report of it to the Government. Should anything in the transactions occur affecting the Natives, I have to request that you will forward to me a copy of the report you furnish to the Under Secretary for Public Works. I have, Ac, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Wanganui. Donald McLean.

No. 13. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the Undee Seceetaey for Public Woeks. Wanganui, 12th December, 1871. Sic — I have the honor to report that, accompanied by a Native, yesterday I rode out to have a look at the Pikopiko block of 3,600 acres. Erom what I saw, it appears to be a rough and thickly-wooded country, with only a few acres of flat land here and there. The available track to it is from tho left bank of the Wanganui river, and a good road could be made this way to it for a trifling sum. The timber on the block will be valuable for fire wood, as it is near town, and though the land is hilly, the soil is of fair quality. I find on enquiry, that the Natives have only a leasing title to this piece of country. Should the Government think of purchasing, and would wait for a few weeks, or perhaps days, 1 think some better land might bo purchased, to include this block. There are 1,652 acres, Waimatau; 310 acres, Moetanga; and 900 acres, Mangaone. These lands adjoin the Pikopiko, and are near the probable main road to Taupo, and have all passed through the Land Court, with the exception of the 900 acre block; but this, in all probability, will pass this sitting. The whole will comprise a block of 6,462 acres, more or less. The Natives ask 10s. an acre for the land at Pikopiko, but its value, I should say, would not be more than 2s. 6d. or 3s. an acre. The value of the other lands might be worth about 4s. an acre. I have &c, The Under Secretary, Public Works, Wellington. Thohas McDonnell.

No. 14. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the Geneeal Government Agent, Auckland. Sic,— Auckland, 10th July, 1872. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that in accordance with instructions I received from Mr. Clarke, the Civil Commissioner, I proceeded from Auckland to the Waimate, and from thence to Otawa, to make enquiries respecting the block of land named Waoku, offered for sale to the Government by Hora Puatata, Wiremu Pore, and other Chiefs. I arrived at Otawa on the 25th June, a settlement on the Tahike, a branch of the Hokianga river. I held a meeting with the Natives, and the following morning I left with five guides, who were to show me over the country. About two miles from the settlement we entered the bush, travelled all day in the rain, and camped at nightfall, wet, tired, and hungry. The weather was of the worst description, and had it not been that we were fortunate enough to meet with and kill a wild cow, the fat of which I made the Natives burn for a fire, as there was no wood near that we could get to kindle, 1 doubt if we could have moved the next day from cramp and the exposure, as we had neither blankets or other covering, excepting what we stood in. We passed a miserable night. In the morning the Natives had decided to return. It would have been useless to proceed, if even I had been able, so we returned to the village, which we reached late on the evening of the following day. I again conversed 5—G. 8.

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with the Chiefs, and offered to go out again in a few days, when the weather moderated, and if they could procure food. This they declined doing, as they were busily engaged in fitting up a large house intended for the reception of other Natives, who were to take part in a " hahunga,' or disinterment of bones. But they proposed that I should return in the summer months, when they would go over the block, and point out all the boundaries to me. Prom what I could see and judge of the country, I make the following remarks : — Ist. It is all forest land, comprising kauri, totara, rimu, matai, and other useful timber. 2nd. The nature of the country is rough and mountainous in some places, and undulating in others. 3rd. The soil is of excellent quality, being a rich chocolate-colored loam, that would grow any farm produce. 4th. As to the position and probable extent, the land is on the Mangakahia stream, which runs into the Wairoa river. I should judge the eastern boundary to be four or five miles to the westward of Maonganui (the mountains on the Coast). The southern boundary commences about seven miles in a straight line from Otawa, running inland over the wooded range. The acreage is, as far as I could judge, about 35,000 acres. sth. I am inclined to think there will be little or no dispute as to ownership, unless old Parore makes a claim. I spoke to the chief Mohi Tawhai, and with the Native member for the north Wiermu Katene, as to the ownership, and these chiefs seemed to think that those who have offered the land for sale have a good claim. Gth. As I have not been over the land, I can say nothing for certain as to the best line of road, or the most convenient seaport or outlet, as it is forest country, surrounded by forest on all sides. Before a reliable opinion can be given, it must be thoroughly explored in fine weather. 7th. Its fitness for immigration purposes. This will, in a great measure, depend on the approaches that can be got to it, but I think a road could be made from Otawa and the Taheke. Prom the latter place, water carriage is to be had to Hokianga. A road might also be had to it from the bay. I expect the natural outlet from it will be by the Wairoa. Should my surmises prove correct, the country might be suitable for Canadians or Nova Scotians, but not for immigrants fresh from the home country. The lowest price mentioned by the Natives was ss. an acre, but this was a mere matter of form. The utmost value I place upon it, and that only if available roads can be made to it, is at the outside 2s. an acre. I believe coal exists, as the Natives showed me some, said to have been found on the land, a specimen of which I enclose. I have, &c, The General Government Agent, Auckland. Thomas McDonnell.

No. 15. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the General Government Agent, Auckland. Sir, — Auckland, 24th December, 1872. I returned from the Kaipara yesterday evening, and have the honor to inform you, with respect to the block of land near Little Omaha, named Pakiri, that I have been instructed to purchase, that I have had personal communication with two of the three owners, Eahui, and Arama Karaka who is trustee for Wi Apo. Hori te More, tho third owner, I have not yet been able to communicate with. Kahui says that she is not willing to dispose of her right to the Government, but that she is willing that the owners' titles be individualised by the Native Land Court, after which each person can do as he or she may then please. Arama Karaka, trustee for Wi Apo, has given his consent to this arrangement, and has signed a requisition to the Native Land Court to this effect, and Eahui has signed also. Arama Karaka is agreeable to sell 6,000 acres out of what will be awarded to Wi Apo, reserving 4,000 ; or to dispose of the whole, if some provision be made for the lad's education, and he wishes the sum of £300 to be advanced at once on the land, and I enclose a letter from him, which I believe is to that effect. I have not spoken to Hori te More about the money he is said to be owing Mr. McLeod, but I understand that he is willing to settle old scores with that gentleman, should the Government purchase his interest in the land. I will, however, place myself in communication with him, and acquaint you with the result. And I presume nothing further can be done in this matter until it has been brought before the Native Land Court. I have, &c, The Hon. Dr. Pollen, Government Agent, Auckland. Thomas McDonnell.

No. 16. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the Genebal Government Agent, Auckland. Blß,— Auckland 11th February, 1873. I returned this morning from the Kaipara, and have the honor to inform you, for the information of the Government, that after I had seen Mr. Rogan respecting the Marunui land, I proceeded to Otamatea, and saw Arama Karaka. This chief sent one of his Natives, who pointed out he is willing to dispose of—a block of 2,200 acres ; also a piece of land, 500 acres in extent,

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which he says, " the Government have sold it to a Mr. Henry, for 10s. an acre, though he has never parted with his title to it." Arama Karaka has agreed to take half-a-crown an acre for the first block, and I have consented to this on behalf of the Government, as it is fair land. Bespecting the 500 acres occupied by Mr. Henry, Arama Karaka says that he expects to be paid the same amount of money that Mr. Henry purchased it for some years since, which, at 10s. an acre, would amount to £250. Ho spoke very strongly on this subject, urging a speedy settlement, saying that if it is arranged for soon, he will take what he offered it for, aud not charge any back interest. I promised to recommend that his claim be seen to as soon as it is possible, and I have the honor to call the attention of the Government to this case, with a view to its speedy settlement. I have also the honor to enclose a statement made by Mr. Eogan to me about the Marunui block, which I took down at the time in writing. I have agreed to meet Arama Karaka on the 21st instant, at Helensville, at which time the Native Land Court sits, and as Mr. John Sheehan has said that he will be present, an arrangement can then be made about that portion of the Pakiri block, for which Arama Karaka is trustee on behalf of Wi Apo. Hori te More has promised to meet me at Helensville on the 21st instant, and states that he is willing to dispose of that portion of the Pakiri block owned by him. He is also willing to come to a settlement about some moneys owing to a Mr. John McLeod, which I think will be satisfactory to all concerned. I have, therefore, agreed to meet this chief on the day named by him. Arama Karaka is anxious to obtain a small sum of money on account, as he is in want of cash, and I have promised to send him what I could procure from the Government to the extent of £40. I have, therefore, the honor to request that a sum of money be placed at my disposal (not more than that named) for this purpose. I have, &c, Thomas McDonnell, The Hon. Dr. Pollen, General Government Agent. Land Purchase Commissioner.

No. 17. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the General Government Agent, Auckland. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 11th February, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that on a recent visit (unofficial) to Mangakahia, I was offered several blocks of excellent settlement land for sale by the Native owners. Their desire seemed to me to be to encourage European settlement in the district, and I promised them that a Government officer would be sent up to negotiate with them, as I did not feel at liberty to personally take advantage of their offers. The land I would recommend to be acquired by the Government, at a price not exceeding 2s. per acre, covering all charges. I shall be glad to have a reply as soon as possible as to whether the General Government will undertake to purchase, as otherwise I shall be prepared to do so at once on private account. One special block which I inspected lies between the Karaka block, Baker's land claim, and the Mangakahia river, and is well suited for settlement. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The General Government Agent, Auckland. Superintendent. No. 18. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the General Government Agent, Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 26th February, 1873. I have the honor to report my return from Helensvillo, and to state for the information of the Government that Hori te More has signed an agreement consenting to dispose of all the interests that he is and will be entitled to in the Pakiri block of 32,000 acres, —that is 10,666£ acres, or onethird of the whole block—to tho Government for the sum of £1,000, after deducting the sum of £270 owing to Mr. John McLeod, M.H.8., including law expenses and costs amounting to £21 135., also a sum of £55 owing by Hori te More to Mr. John Sheehan, M.H.K., and a sum of £10 advanced to Adam Clark by me on behalf of the Government, amounting altogether to £343 75., leaving £643 7s. to be paid to Hori te More on completion of title, but any expense connected with surveys are to be defrayed by the Government. The application that was heard at the Court now sitting was to have the land divided so that each claimant could deal separately with his or her interest, but as it is necessary that Hori te More should have power to deal with the land an application for succession of title has been sent in to the Native Land Court signed by Hori te More, to be heard at the next sittings of the Court. It has also been agreed to by Adam Clark and Mr. John Sheehan, who are trustees for Wi Apo in the Pakiri land, that on their being authorized by law to negotiate his interest that they will accept the sum of £1,000 on his behalf, and I have advanced to Adam Clark £10 on this understanding. Mr. Sheehan assures me that there will be no difficulty in obtaining the necessary legal authority for the fulfilment of the agreement that has been signed, and which I have the honor to attach to this report.

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With regard to the Marunui block of 2,160 acres, Adam Clark has agreed to take 2s. 6d. an acre for the block, and I have given him an advance of £20 on account, which leaves a balance of £250 that he is to receive when he comes to Auckland and signs the deed of conveyance. Respecting the 500 acres of land claimed by Adam Clark, but which has been sold to Mr. Thomas Henry, of Wangarei, Adam Clark says that he simply wishes to be repaid what the Government sold the land for, namely —10s. an acre. I have, &c, Thomas McDonnell, The Hon. Dr. Pollen, General Government Agent. Land Purchase Commissioner.

No. 19. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the General Government Agent, Auckland. S IE) — Auckland, 7th March, 1873. With reference to the Otaua block or the land offered to Mr. White of Mongonui, I have the honor to state that the chief Te Whata, the principal owner, a man who compelled the other natives to obey what he ordered, was the person who offered this land for sale ; but he is dead now, and there is some dispute as to ownership ; I do not think it is of much importance, and think it will soon be over. I spoke to the principal owner, a son of Te Whata's, and he promise,! to write to me shortly on the matter. This land lies between Otaua village and the Taheke settlement, and is a very fine piece of volcanic country, level, about equal proportions of fern, scrub, and bush (small trees). It lies between two streams of good width, and is several thousand acres in extent. Should the Natives decide to sell it, as lam in hopes they will, there would be no hindrance in placing settlers upon it at once. Drays can be taken on the land without difficulty. Five shillings was the price the Natives talked of asking, seeking to get my opinion, but I conclude they will take less. I have, &c, Thomas McDonnell, The General Government Agent, Auckland. Land Purchase Commissioner.

No. 20. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the General Government Agent, Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 7th April, 1873. I have the honor to enclose you a letter from the Mangakahia Natives, written by Wharepapa, with a translation of the same. I have also the honor to enclose you the agreement for the purchase of the Waoku block, situate in the Mangakahia district, and which contains a receipt for the £150 paid by me to them as an advance on the purchase money, and duly signed by the principal owners of the land. The report of my last visit to the North I will have in readiness for you to-morrow. I have, &c, Thomas McDonnell, The Hon. Dr. Pollen, Land Purchase Commissioner. General Government Agent.

No. 21. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the General Govenhment Agent, Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 7th April, 1873. I have the honor to report that, on my return to the Taheke and Ohaiowae from Hokianga, that I proceeded to Mangakahia, in accordance with your instructions. On my way there, I met a number of Natives on their road to Kaikohe, many of them principal owners of the country sought to be obtained by His Honor the Superintendent. Hare Potai, Eru Teke, and Piripi Hahu, who were with these people, on hearing my errand, protested strongly against the sale of these lands by Matiu to Mr. White, and gave me directions where to find other chiefs at Mangakahia, who would tell me more. On my arrival at Mr. Frazer's, at Mangakahia, I sent messages to the various settlements, and the following morning Mari te Wharepapa, Paora Kewi, Te Hatiwira, and others, called to see me, and a long conversation ensued, the result of which is that the Natives are still willing to dispose of their land to His Honor Mr. Gillies, for the purpose of locating Europeans thereon; but they one and all, Matiu and Hamu excepted, are annoyed and angry at Mr. White dealing'with only two of their number, and not meeting the whole of the owners on the land itself. They also refuse to agree to sell at the price arranged between Mr. White and Matiu at Helensville ; that is, at Is. 6d. an acre for the good land, and Is. 3d. for the hills and forest. The best part of this, or the most part of the land, they (the Natives) tell me Mr. White has never looked at. They wish to have a letter from the Government, and to hear from me as soon as possible after arriving in Auckland, and they do not

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wish the land to be surveyed by private individuals, but to be undertaken by the Government, free of cost to them, after the price per acre has been properly agreed upon. With reference to the Eev. Charles Baker's claim, I led the Natives carefully round to the subject, and we had a long discussion, the result of which is, that they have promised me that if surveyors are sent by the Government to survey tho land, that they will go over the ground and survey the portion agreed upon before, at the time the surveyors were stopped, and that no dispute will now arise. At the same time, I would suggest that if the Government assent to this, a Government officer should be on the spot during the survey, and I think that this very troublesome question would then be amicably settled. Any further action taken by me than ascertaining what I did during this visit might have proved injurious, so I left the following Monday, promising to write soon after arriving in Auckland. The Natives mentioned by me expressed a strong wish to hear from yourself, and His Honor Mr. Gillies, after which they would send for me. I promised them as far as I could that their wishes should be attended to. They expressed themselves satisfied, and the meeting broke up. On Sunday morning, Wharepapa called to see me, giving me a letter for you, which I have already forwarded, and he told me that the Natives wished Baker's claim to be settled, and surveyed off; but he hinted that a further reduction of acreage would be asked for, though he said at the same time that he did not think that the extra claim would be at all insisted on, and I fancy he is right. I have, Ac, The General Government Agent, Thomas McDonnell. Auckland.

No. 22. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to tho General Government Agent, Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 7th April, 1873. On my arrival at the Taheke, on the 22nd ultimo, I proceeded with Hone Mohi and others to Hokianga to see the block of land called Omahuta, situate at the head of the Mangamuka river. We were joined at Herd's Point by other owners of the land, who had been warned to meet us there, and the next day we went up tho river, camped out, and the next morniug we went over the block. I can only give a rough idea of the acreage, and should say it was from 10,000 to 12,000 acres, more or less. There is some very good rich land in the block, and some very indifferent—about equal proportions. There is a largo quantity of kauri timber, of first-class quality. I may say that a more magnificent kauri forest I havo seldom seen, and much of it is available in the ordinary method of getting it to market. Kauri gum is to be had in large quantities. The surface of the ground is in many places covered with it. I can recommend this block to the Government, if only for the very excellent timber and quantity of gum obtainable. I estimate the timber at many millions of feet. The price for which the Natives say they will sell is 12s. an acre, but from 2s. 6d. to 3s. will, I think, be taken. Private individuals might be inclined to give more. If I may be allowed to make a suggestion, presuming this land is purchased by the Government, I would place settlers on this country that have been used to work at timber, such as Canadians or Nova Scotians. They could collect gum and timber a few days after they were located on their land, and so commence work that would not only provide them with the necessaries of life, but provide them also with a handsome surplus to improve their respective lots. The boundaries of tho block offered for sale are as under, commencing at the stream of Tahekeiti, and on to Te Tupapa, Karakarere, Te Wai o Pukekohe, Tuara Whakapai, To Hutu, Paia, Katutu Te Tur6, Te Papa, Te Piha Tanginoa, Rata Kamaru, Puke tawa, Ohawho, To Rakauhere, Rahui Kokoromiko, To Kiripaka, Turangakou, Te Waiaira, joining again to To Tahekeiti. I have, &c, The General Government Agent, Thomas McDonnell. Auckland.

No. 23. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to tho General Government Agent, Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 7th April, 1873. I have the honor to report my return from the North, and to state that, on arriving at Otaua to pay the Natives the advance of £150 for the Waoku block, I found that Mr. John White had offered Te Haurangi and other Natives a penny an acre more than I had been authorized to offer. After a whole night had been taken up in tiresome altercation, the Natives proposed that Te Haurangi's and Puataata's portion in the block should bo left out, and that the money I had brought with me should be paid as an advance for what remained. This I refused to do, unless I obtained the whole block according to our arrangement; but I offered that, if they were willing to make up the difference by selling another piece of land, so as to bring the boundaries nearer to the Otaua settlement, as an equivalent for that portion of the Waoku claimed by Te Haurangi and Puataata, that I then might be induced to pay a deposit. I then left, promising to return after I had visited Hokianga, and told them to think over what I had proposed. 6 G—B.

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I returned to Otaua on the 27th March, and the Natives were prepared to accept what I had proposed, and I have paid them £150 on account of the block. I am happy to be able to state that, although the interference alluded to caused me much extra trouble and delay, the Government are in every way gainers by the present arrangement, as some of the roughest and least available land is cut out of the block, being included in that set apart by Te Haurangi as Mr. White's purchase of Is. 6d. an acre, and the land added to what remained to mako up the block to its original area is of better quality, and more accessable from the Otaua valley, and will, I hope, lead to the purchase of a fine block situated there. I had, therefore, no hesitation in concluding the arrangement of the block as reported, and trust the Government may approve of the action taken. I have, &c, The Hon. Dr. Pollen, Auckland. Thomas McDonnell.

No. 24. Maihi P. Kawiti, to the Hon. the Native Minister. [Translation.] Friend, — Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, 10th February, 1873. Salutations. lam wishful that a mill should be erected for me, that is to say, for my tribes ; a mill which will grind wheat and and also prepare flax, the two to be in one building. I think the Government should consider us, and advance £800 toward the erection of same, We will give our land as security for the amount. If the Government are not agreeable, then do you send us a reply on receipt of this letter. Friend, this is my great wish that we should have a mill erected at Kawakawa, which will raise us up and make us more prosperous. This letter I will hand over to our European friend. I have told him to forward it to you, together with an English one from himself, in order that you may understand the subject of this letter. I have, Ac, The Hon. D. McLean. Maihi P. Kawiti.

No. 25. Mr. H. T. Kemp to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— Native Office, Auckland, 15th May, 1873. Referring to the application recently made to the General Government by the chief Marsh Brown Kawiti for the sum of £800 to assist him in erecting a flax and flour mill combined on the banks of the Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, I have the honor to report that under instructions from the Hon. the Native Minister, I proceeded to the spot to ascertain as far as possible the nature of the title to the land offered in consideration, its position, extent, and general capabilities for settlement under the Public Works Act. Herewith I enclose a sketch of the block offered for sale from a tracing made by Kawiti himself and which I found on a personal inspection to correspond with the boundaries and lines laid down by him on the ground. First, as to title; with some previous knowledge of the Native claimants to the lands in this district, I think I am able to say that in this case Marsh Brown is the principal and only claimant. Secondly, as to position, extent, and general capabilities ; I have to state that this block—known as the Touwai —joins the Ruapekapeka block of 19,000 acres, formerly purchased for the Government by myself, including the coal mine. It is distant from the settlement of Waionui about three miles, and from the deep water landing at the coal mines, about five miles. It is at present about 7,000 acres in extent. It is far from being level, but nevertheless available in may parts for location; is well wooded with some good kauri and totara and other useful fencing timber. It also comprises a kauri gum field, from the royalty of which Marsh Brown and the other principal claimant derive a small annual income paid by the Native and European diggers, the latter of whom number now about forty persons, who dig all the year round. A settler and merchant residing at Kawakawa expressed to me his willingness to rent the whole field from the Government whenever the Native title was extinguished, thus paying good interest for the purchase money at once. Enclosed herewith is Marsh Brown's letter to Hon. D. McLean, by which it will be seen that after some discussion it was determined that the sum of one shilling and sixpence per acre should be paid subject to approval, the Government to pay the cost of survey, which I may here state would be comparatively small. The lines on the Ruapekapeka and Hemi Tautari's block having already been laid off little remains to be done but the traverse of the. western line, which after some discussion and at my request, is fixed on the present foot and horse track, leaving only the back or south-west boundary —which is forest —to be cut if so required. Finally, the cost of erecting the mill, which is to be worked by steam power, is estimated at twelve or fourteen hundred pounds. If completed it will doubtless be a great boon to the whole district, and will be the means of encouraging more largely the growth of wheat as well as of flax, for which much of the land is well adapted, as well as great facilities of water carriage to the site chosen for the mill. I propose, therefore, respectfully to recommend for the approval ofthe Hon. the Native Minister that the sum of £800 be advanced at once to Marsh Brown Kawiti on the following terms. Ist. That in the event of the area of the block as at present offered not being sufficient at the rate of one shilling and sixpence per acre to cover the sum of £800 thus asked for, that then the boundaries should

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be so extended as to cover that amount, and that in the meantime the site chosen for the mill together with the machinery and buildings shall be held under mortgage by the Government as security, which under the above-named conditions Marsh Brown Kawiti would be" very willing to give. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. H. T. Kemp.

Enclosure in No. 25. Maihi P. Kawiti to the Hon. the Native Minister. [Translation.] Friend, — Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, 9th April 1873. Salutations. Mr. Kemp has arrived for the purpose of ascertaining and enquiring into the facts in reference to the application I made to you for assistance to erect a flour and flax mill which shall be for the benefit and support of my own people, and also that of my European friends. Now then, listen, this matter has been carefully turned over by myself and Mr. Kemp, and the result has been that a block of land has been set aside for this object. The land so offered is near to the Kawakawa river, and, in fact, joins the block of land I sold to the Government some years ago, known as Ruapekapeka. The sum I asked of Mr. Kemp was 2s. per acre, and the cost of survey to be borne by the Government and the Crown grant. Mr. Kemp replied that Is. 6d. be given, and the Government to bear the cost of survey and the Crown grant. As it is for you to decide the price you may consider fair and reasonable, my request to you is this, be considerate, let no delay take place, so that we may commence the work of putting up the mill while the fine weather lasts, so that the finish of this work may bo successfully carried out as a saving help for the whole people. I have. &c, The Hon. D. McLean. Maihi P. Kawiti.

No. 26. The Under-Secretary, Public Works, to Mr. H. T. Kemp. (Telegram). Wellington, sth June, 1873. Re your letter 15th May. Purchase Kawiti's block. Approved as you suggest. Boundaries to be extended to cover £800 advanced if no obstacle in the way rather than mortgage of mill. Telegraph when purchase is complete, that money may be sent. John Knowles, Under Secretary Public Works.

No. 27. Mr. H. T. Kemp to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— Native Office, Auckland, 24th June, 1873. In continuation of my former report ofthe 15th May and agreeably with instructions conveyed to me through the Under Secretary, Public Works Department, by telegram No. 1,263, of sth June, I proceeded to the Bay of Islands to explain to the chief Marsh Brown Kawiti the wishes of the Government, as far as an extension ofthe boundaries of the block he proposes to sell. I have the pleasure to report that after entering fully into the details of this question, he has not only agreed to extend the boundaries so as to cover the amount of £800 originally asked for by him as an advance towards the erection of a flour and flax mill, but has promised to use his influence to extend the block so as to connect it with other large blocks over which the Native title has already been extinguished at the same rate, viz., one shilling and sixpence per acre. Negotiations have so far advanced that I have already employed a surveyor (Mr. R. Fairburn), who knows the district, and thoroughly understands the language, at contract prices, to complete as much ofthe outline survey as cannot be obtained from former surveys made by the Government in this district. As one effect arising out of these negotiations, I am also glad to be able to report that the long standing dispute as to the use of the tramway line by the Kawakawa Coal Company has been at length amicably settled and the lines of the water terminus fixed during my visit, reserving the remainder for the site ofthe mill. I now beg leave to recommend that the sum of £SOO be placed to the credit of Marsh Brown Kawiti at the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, for which I shall take his receipt in due course. I have, &c, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. H. T. Kemp.

No. 28. His Honor the Superintendent of Auckland, to the Hon. Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd July, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 14th inst., covering copies of reports relative to the acquisition of the Touwai block for which I thank you. I have, <fee, The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Thomas B. Gillies.

G.—B.

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No. 29. Mr. R. Paebis, Civil Commissioner, to the Hon. the Native Ministeb. Sib,— New Plymouth, 3rd July, 1872. With reference to the proposal of the Ngatimarus to sell a block of land to the Government, I have now the honor to inform you that five Natives of that tribe came in on the 28th ultimo with a request for mo to go to the district, reporting that since they returned from the meeting held at Oropuriri, tho opposition have modified their opinions, and manifest a willingness for the land to be ceded to the Government, and will meet me on the ground to talk tho matter over amicably. Hapurona has been here with them the whole time, and is also favourable to the negotiations being brought to a close, and recommends me to go to the district for that purpose. Tahana, Porikapa, Ropata, and Hone Pihama, were here on Saturday, and interrogated the Ngatimarus, after which they also advised me to go. I have, therefore, arranged to start on Priday next, weather permitting, and Hone Pihama and Ruakere, from Parihaka, have promised to accompany me. In the event ofthe negotiations terminating satisfactorily, which seems probable, the Natives will most likely return with me to complete the sale, and in the meantime I shall be glad to be informed whether any particular form of deed of cession of land to the Government is now used for that purpose under the " Immigration and Public Works Act," and if so, to be furnished with the proper form of deed. I presume there will bo sufficient time after my return for the money for the purchase of tho land to be sent by telegram to my credit at the bank, as the amount will depend on the size of the block of land, which can only be arrived at after the boundaries have been settled. I have, &c, The Hon, the Native Minister, Wellington. R. Paebis.

No. 30. Mr. R. Paebis, Civil Commissioner, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Woeks. Sib, New Plymouth, 6th August, 1872. In further reference to the negotiations for the land offered by the Ngatimaru Natives, I have now tho honor to report for the information of the Government that on the Bth July I left this to go to the district, and in consequence of the Waitara and Manganui rivers being flooded, I went by a track on the north side of Waitara through the Tikorangi settlement to Puk aikuri. The first night we slept in the bush at a place called Rewauhakapa and after we had made a fire for the night and taken food, two Natives who had followed us from Waitara (Rewiri and Hotene) to accompany us to Ngatimaru stood up and called upon us to listen to the latest news from Ngatimaru, brought therefrom by a Native, Rota, and received at Waitara just as they were leaving that place to follow us, to the effect that tho opposition had decided to kill the two principal sellers (Rangihekeiho and Mango) and myself on arriving at Ngatimaru. This information led to a serious discussion with the three Ngatimaru Natives who were with me and the Waitara Natives as to the precaution necessary on getting near the kainga of the opposition (Kauwau) on the following day, and they proposed that two should go on ahead to ascertain the truth or otherwise ofthe report. I requested them to manifest no uneasiness about myself, stating that I would not consent that any ono should go on ahead, but that I would go straight to the Kauwau myself. The next day wo struck the Waitara River about five miles below the Kauwau and walked along its bank for about three miles, where we found a canoe which I got into with three Natives and went up the river, and just before we got to the Kauwau some women who were washing potatoes ran away to the village and announced our approach. I landed and walked through a clearing to the village when they all turned out and gave me a very cheerful reception, and bade me welcome to their district. The Kauwau, where the few who had been in opposition live, is on the south bank of the Waitara River, and the Kopua where the sellers were to assemble, is on the north bank, a little further up. I cautioned the sellers not to take any notice of any ebullition of feeling which might be manifested by the opposition in discussing the question of the sale of the land. The discussion lasted about two hours, and amongst other matters tho hostile position and threatening language of Te Amo and Rangawhenua at tho large meeting at the Oropuriri in May last, were referred to. Te Amo explained that then he was not aware that all the claimants were for selling, but that on discovering afterwards that such was the case he decided not to offer any further opposition so long as his own claims were not interfered with. Te Ngohi, one of tho opposition, made a fiery speech, accompanied with flourishes of a mere pounamu which he had in his hand, which was too much for one of my party Tukirikau, who entered the ring for a combat, but I interfered at once aud requested Tukirikau to sit down and do as I had requested him not to take any notice of anything others might say in letting off steam; and just at this time a party of women emerged from the cooking houses with food which they brought for my party. This ended the discussion. I decided to remain at the Kauwau myself for the night thinking that by so doing I might dispel or improve the feeling, which it was obvious had grown out of the proposal to sell land in a district which was so recently a refuge for the disaffected, whom the sellers themselves have succoured and assisted for the last twelve years. On naming my intention to stop at the Kauwau for tho night to those of the sellers with me, they urged me to go across the river with them to the Kopua, and reluctantly went without me.

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I stopped in the same house with Te Amo and his people for the night, and passed the greater part of it in a friendly talk, after I had explained to them the boundaries of the land I proposed to survey. The next morning a canoe was sent for me from the Kopua, when I crossed over, and after breakfast 1 called tho people together to make arrangements for commencing the survey, when I was informed of a proposal to sell more land. I told them I could not consent to any alteration without first hearing what Te Amo and his party had to say about it. I sent a message to Amo requesting him to come across and bring to Rangawhenua and Te Ngohi with him (those three comprise the opposition). They soon came over, and were the first to offer the hand of friendship, and a peaceful influence of a rub of noses to those from whom they had evidently been estranged since the proposal to sell land was first made. The result of this day's meeting was a decision of Te Amo's —that the extension of the boundaries as proposed by Rangihekeiho was right and should not be opposed. The next day the survey was commenced up the Waitara River, aud in the meantime I found out that there was a movement going on in favour of the sale of land, and that it was intended to offer a large quantity for sale as soon as this—the first block—was settled for. I, therefore, determined at once to keep to the natural river boundaries of the block as first offered, and leave Rangihekeiho's proposal to come in with the new offer, which as I at present understand it, has also considerable natural boundaries. The weather was very unfavourable for surveying, but we finished the work on the 22ud July, and the following day left to return home. We came down tho Waitara River in two canoes for about twenty miles as the river runs, and landed at a place called Ohaura on the north bank where the canoes were hauled up, and from thence we walked across the country to Tikorangi, where we had left our horses, which enabled us to return home that evening. We left Kopua 7 o'clock a.m., and arrived home 6 o'clock p.m. I consider the amicable termination of the survey and purchase of this small block of land in that district to be of far greater importance in a political point of view than the value of the land itself,' inasmuch as it is the best proof we can have of the determination of the Natives of this district to withdraw from the old land league, and the combination of the disaffected tribes who have so long been hostile to the Government of the country, to which they now wish to be allied. The deed of cession of the land to the Government was signed on the Ist inst., and the purchase money, £230, paid to them. I cannot conclude this report without bringing under the notice of the Government the valuable assistance rendered by Hone Pihama, who accompanied me. It is on occasions of this sort that the respect for a chief of his rank is manifested. The Ngatimarus were originally a branch of the Ngatiruanui tribe, and the relationship has been kept up by inter-marriage with that tribe more than any other. I have been told that the Ngatimarus were a section of the Ngatiawa tribe, but this assertion was disproved by information which I obtained during my late visit. The Ngatimaru tribes living in the Ngatimaru country, in the Upper Whanganui, and at the Thames, are descendants of a branch of the Ngatiruanui tribe, who originally lived at a place called Rata-Maru, near Otapawa in the Ngatiruanui district. The elders of this section of the tribe were Maru-haranui, Maru-kopiri, and their sister Mihirawhiti; Maru-haranui, the eldest brother, settled on the Waitara, the origin of the district and the people being called Ngatimaru ; Maru-Kopiri settled at Mangauui-a-te-ao (Upper Whanganui); Maru-Tuahu, son of Mirirawhiti, settled at the Thames ; consequently the Ngatimarus at the Thames are the younger branch, but the most numerous at the present day. With reference to the offer of another block of land, I beg to explain for tho information of the Government that the Ngatimaru Natives are now being joined by Natives of the Ngatitu hapu, a section of the Ngatimutunga tribe, in this offer of a largo block. I enclose herewith a sketch plan which is a true copy ofthe original as drawn by the Natives ofthe district, which will give you some idea of the locality, but as it is only a Maori sketch with no scale the area and distances represented cannot be relied on. I am informed that the land on both sides of the Teremouku River is very fine, and should the block on the south side now offered be acquired as easily as the one purchased, it is highly probable that a block on the north side will be offered, as the Ngatimarus are joint claimants with other Natives, I was also informed whilst at Ngatimaru that there is a very fine district of country between the Waitara River and the Whanganui Eiver, further east, owned by the Ngatimaru and Upper Whanganui tribes conjointly, and tho former declare they will not rest till all is handed over to the Government. It is called Tangarakau, situated between the Ngatimaru district and the Tuhua district. There is also a very fine district, so I was informed, between the Waitara River, so far up as Te Autawa, and the surveyed portion of the district between Manawapou and Waingongoro, owned conjointly by Ngatimaru and Ngatiruanui. At Ngatimaru I found a few old men of the Tangahoe tribe still there, and during my stay they had a consultation with Hone Pihama and the elders ofthe Ngatimaru people about taking steps to cede the last-mentioned district to the Government, and one day two of the old men took me up the river to Te Autawa to show me their boundary. Prom information which I obtained from the Natives I am inclined to think there would be no engineering difficulties in making a road or railway through that part of the country between the West Coast and Tuhua on to Waikato. I deem it my duty to furnish the Government with this latter information for future consideration and to show how much improved is the feeling of Natives in reference to such questions. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. R. Pabeis. 7 G.—B.

G.—B

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No. 31. Mr. R. Paebis to the Hon. the Native Ministeb. Sic,— New Plymouth, 4th April, 1873. In further reference to my telegram of the 27th ultimo, on the subject of more land being offered for sale to the Government by the Ngatimaru Natives, I have now the honor to report that after their arrival on the 24th ultimo, I ascertained from them what land they proposed to cede to the Government, which is as follows : —Three blocks, one on the south side of Waitara river, said to be a large area; a small block at Pukemahoe, on the north bank of the Waitara river, adjoining the last purchase, about 3,000 acres ; and a block north-west of the Taramouku river, the boundary of the last purchase, between it and the Onaero-Urenui settlement. This last will be an important acquisition, being an addition adjoining to the last purchase, and near for settlement. Having ascertained these particulars, I sent for Hone Pihama, as the land offered south of Waitara abuts tho Ngatiruanui claims. I also sent for some of the Ngatimutungas, as their claims abut the land offered north-west of Terernouku. After Hone Pihama came in, six other Ngatiruanui Natives also came in, who, together with about fifteen Ngatimutungas, have been here several days discussing the question, the result of which is, I have been advised by Hone Pihama and Porikapa, who have rendered me very great assistance, to make a payment in advance on account of the three blocks, which they consider the Ngatimarus have a right to sell. I, therefore, yesterday paid an advance of £100 on the block offered south of Waitara, £50 on the block north-west of Teramouku, and £20 on the Pukemahoe block, which I trust will meet the approval of the Government. I paid these advances out of private funds, and send a requisition to-day to tho Public Works Office for an imprest advance of £170 to reimburse the outlay. The block south of Waitara, the greater part, if not the whole, is beyond the confiscated territory, and will have, I presume, to be taken through the Native Land Court, the necessity of which the Native owners are very much dissatisfied at. The two chiefs, Te Amo and his brother Hangimaru-kore, who previously have not joined in the sale of land by the tribe, are now supporting this new offer, and. the latter is here with the sellers. He (Hangimaru-kore) has asked me to order a new cart for him, and wants a pair of bullocksjbesides, which he offers to take as part payment for the land ; but as he and his brother Te Amo behaved so well in the matter ofthe former sales of land in their district, which they at first opposed, I beg to recommend that they should have a cart and pair of bullocks made a present to them. The action of the Ngatimaru tribe in boldly coming forward to sell land, is having an excellent effect, and is likely to lead to most favourable results, and the credit of this movement is due to Te Rangihckeiho, Mango, and Tumounga, the first movers in the matter of ceding land to the Government, who aro entitled to some favourable recognition from the Government. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 32. The Undee Seceetaet, Native Depaetment, to R. Paebis, Esq. Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 12th April, 1873. I am directed by Mr. McLean to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, No. 30, in which you report negotiations with the Ngatimaru Natives for the purchase of three blocks of land, and that you had made advances on account of the purchase out of your private funds. In reply, I am instructed to convey to you the thanks of the Government for the valuable service you have rendered to the Colony in this matter. The purchase initiated by you is most important, not only in a political, but also in a commercial sense, and it is to be hoped that nothing will occur to prevent its completion. The necessity of taking the land through the Native Land Court is to be regretted, but as it was a parliamentary promise it must be carried out; but the expense of taking the land through the Native Land Court will be borne by the Government. The carts, &c, supplied by you will be presented as a free gift to the Natives, and some further recognition will be made to the chiefs at some future time, as recommended in the last paragraph of your letter. I have, &c, G. S. Coopeb, R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, New Plymouth. Under Secretary.

No. 33. Mr. R. Pabbis, Civil Commissioner, to the Undee Seceetaet for Public Wobks. Sic,— New Plymouth, 15th May, 1873. I have the honor to report for the information of the Government, that during the past fortnight a party of Natives have been here offering to cede to the Government the block of land between the Onaero and Urenui rivers, connecting it with the recent purchases at Ngatimaru and Teramouku inland, and with the Onaero-Urenui military settlers' settlement seaward, making one continuous clock

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from the coast to the Waitara river in the interior. I have had the assistance and advice of two assessors, Tahana and Hoera Tiwa, and on their recommendation have paid an advance of £150, as a first instalment for the said land, and beg to forward herewith a requisition for that amount, which I have advanced from my own private account. I presume the Government would wish the survey of this new offer of land to be commenced as soon as practicable, being necessary before the negotiations can be concluded. The acquisition of such a district for settlement is of great importance to this Province. I have, Ac., The Under Secretary, Public Works Department, Robeet Paebis. Wellington.

No. 34. The Hon. the Natite Ministeb to Mr. James Booth. Sib, — Native Office, Wellington, 7th September, 1871. Tou will have received from the Public Works Department a communication intimating that it is the intention of tho Government to acquire from the Natives, if practicable, certain blocks of land between Whanganui and Taupo, for the purpose of colonization and settlement. It is yet uncertain whether the Native owners are generally disposed to cede any large extent of territory in that direction; and you will, therefore, have the goodness, in conjunction with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, to place yourself in communication with the chiefs of the district lately explored by yourself for road works. Tou will ascertain if they are inclined to alienate any tract of land available for settlement, and if so, to what extent; and you will report the result of your observations. Tou will, however, understand that it is not the wish of the Government to press these transactions on the Natives, should they appear reluctant to enter upon them, and that they are to be carried out only if a disposition is evinced favourable to the introduction of European settlers in the district. I have, &c, James Booth, Esq., Wanganui. Donald McLean.

No. 35. Mr. James Booth to the TJndeb Seceetaet for Public Woeks. Sib,— Wanganui, 12th July, 1872. In addition to the accompanying report, I have the honor to state lstly—that Major Kemp and myself are at this present time negotiating with the Native owners of the different blocks for the purchase of a very extensive block of land at Murimotu. 2ndly. Of all the country between Mangawhero and the Turakina rivers, and extending from the boundary of the Wanganui purchased block to the Murimotu Plains. 3rdly. Of a large block of land between the Wanganui and the Kai Iwi rivers. 4thly. Of a large block of land between the Upper Wanganui river and Mokau, called Koiro, and not far from Tuhua. With regard to block No. 2 in this list, the Native owners are now assembling at Putiki from different parts of the country for the purpose of discussing the subject. And with regard to No. 4 on the list, Major Kemp and myself have promised to attend a large meeting at Tuhua next month, and to take up surveyors to survey the block offered for sale. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Public Works, Wellington. James Booth.

G.—B.

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Enclosure in No. 35. REPORT showing AMOUNT of LAND PURCHASED for the GENERAL GOVERNMENT, during the past SIX MONTHS; also, showing Land, sale of which is now being negotiated by JAMES BOOTH, &c., &c.

Name of Block. Where Situated. Extent in Acres. Boundaries. Price per Acre. Names of Owners. Remarks. Paraekaretu Between Bangitikei and Turakina Rivers. 45,075 ... As shown in map attached to Purchase Deed ... 4s. ... Aperahama, Tipao, and others. Purchased on tho 16th March, 1872. Aorangi Between Oroua and Manawatu Rivers. About 7,000 Beginning at Hungarea ; thence in an Easterly direction to Taupaki; thence North-east to stream called Aorangi; thence to Pairau, Kahikatea, and Kaaka; thence to Pukunui, Paiaka-a-kawhaki, and Kawau, a surveyed line, thence by a line dividing Block from land owned by Ngatikawhata ; thence in Westerly direction, and following Oroua River in Southerly direction to starting point, at Hungarea. 4s. for Bush; 6d. for Swamp. Hamuera Te Raikokiritia, Kerei Te Panau, and other Natives of the Rangitane and Muaupoko tribes. Deposit of two hundred pounds has been paid on this Block; owners have signed agreement to complete purchase when Crown title is obtained. Taonni Between Oroua and Manawatu Rivers, South of Aorangi. Not yet ascertained. Commencing at Survey Post, at Hungarea ; thence in Southerly direction, following course of Oroua Stream toTarata; thence in Easterly directiontoTorumetewha; thence to Taupaki, thcro joining boundary line of Aorangi, which it follows to Hungarea, the other starting point. 4s. for Bush j 6d. for Swamp. Tutere Tiwcta, Kararaina, and other Natives of the Rangitane and Muaupoko tribes. Deposit of two hundred pounds has been paid on this Block; owners have signed agreement to complete purchase when Crown title is obtained. Tuwhakattipu* Left bank of the Manawatu River. Not yet ascertained. Commencing at Survey Station at Tuwhakatupua ; thenco following course of Manawatu River in a Southerly direction to Survey Station at Hingatiraha ; thence in Easterly direction to Mangawharawhava; thence in North-westerly direction to starting point, at Tuwhakatupua. 4s. for Bush ; 6d, for Swamp. Peeti te Aweawe, Kawana Hunia, Kerei te Panau, and other Natives of Muaupoko, Rangitane, and Ngatiraukawa tribes. Deposit of two hundred pounds has been paid on this Block; owners have signed agreement to complete purchase when Crown title is obtained. Kakarikitahi In Seventy-MileBush, East of Tararua Range. 50,000 ... Not yet agreed as to price. Negotiations for purchaso of this block of land are standing over for a time owing to opposition on part of two or three NativeB. Between Mangohau and Makakahi; thence to Tiraumca Kawana Hunia, Rewiri, Huru te Hiaro, Peeti te Aweawe, and others.

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P GO Name of Block. Where Situated. Extent in Acres. Boundaries. Price per Acre. Names of Owners. Remarks. Tapui Portion reserved out of Paraekaretu Block. 1,150 As shown in map of Paraekaretu Block Have offered 4s., not yet accepted Pehira Turei, Wirihana, Puna, Hamiora, Utiku, and others. Acquisition of this Reserve will complete Paraekaretu Block. Tararua Between Manawatu and Paikakariki. Not ascertained. Commencing at Kapakapanui, Wareroa : thence to Korokipo and Pukehou ; thence to Tararea : thence to Tara o Hinekawau ; thence to Koputeroa, Hingatiraha, Ngapukaru ; thence to Mangawharawhara, where joined by boundary of land sold to Government by Peeti te Aweawe, viz., at Makatoto Government line ; thence in Southerly direction to Mangamanga to Kareti, Te-ahitunumanawa-a-whiro ; thence in Westerly direction to Kaihapuku. No price as yet offered ; quality not ascertained Hoani, Meihana, Peeti te Aweawe, Re wirite Whirimairangi, Kerei te Panau, and all tho Muaupoko and Rangitane- Natives. Title to this extensive Block of land to be obtained through Native Land Court; owners desirous, before bringing it into Court to hold a large meeting at Horowhenua, to which chiefs of outside tribes are invited. Tararua, S. & E. Tararua, between Paikakariki and Kimutaka. Quality of land not yet ascertained. Matiaha Tutepakihirangi, and other Wairarapa Natives. Not known Commencing at Waingawa boundary of purchased block, named Te Rohia Tangata ; thenco to Tararua Mountain, Te Rangitupuanuku ; thonce to Mangatarea, Pukcatua ; thence to Te Ahitunumanawa-a-whiro, Pupuhi Keroru, Hapu Korari; thence to the source of tho River Ohau, where it is joined by boundary of land offered for sale by Peeti te Aweawe and others ; to the South Tauherenikau River, surveyed line ; thence to Ngapewha, Te Tau-o- Whakau-te-rere-a-Mahanga ; thence to Pukahu, on sea-coast, opposite Kapiti, A previous offer of this land for sale to the Government has been made ; Crown title not yet obtained. Pikopiko ... Eleven miles from Wanganui, near Mangawhero River. Aperahama, Tahumiiarangi, Hoani Maka, aud other Ngatiapa Natives. This is rough bush country, but contains 300 acres of flat land. 4,900 As appears on map attached to Crown Grant ,,, 2s. 6d. offered; not yet accepted Mangahouhi Left bank Turakina River, adjoining Paraekaretu Block. About300... As shown in map, together with Surveyor's Report, lately forwarded to Public Works Office, by Mr. Munro, of Wanganui, Licensed. Surveyor. 10s. ... Mita Karaka, and others... Crown title will be obtained for this block at next silting of the Native Land Court at Wanganui. The Under Secretary for Public Works, Wellington. James Booth, Wanganui, 12th July, 1872.

■EPOET sl owing i Amount oi lAND ] Purchased : for th be General Government during the past Six Months; al negotiated by James Booth, &c, &c. — continued. lso, sh flowing Land, sale of which is now being

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No. 36. Mr. James Booth and Major Kemp to the Undeb Seceetaet for Public Woeks. Sib,— AVanganui, 16th July, 1872. We have the honor to report that we have to-day made arrangements with Aperahama Tahunuiarangi and other Ngatiapa and Wanganui Natives, for the purchase of a block of land situated between the Mangawhero and Wangaehu rivers, known as Heao, and containing, according to an estimate by Mr. Monro, surveyor, 00,000 acres. We have made no offer as yet as to price per acre. Before doing so, we will, one or both of us, go over the block. Aperahama, on the part of himself and the other owners who were present, asks for a deposit of £500 to pay survey aud other expenses, and on telling him that Government had determined not to advance money deposits on land, excepting those held under Crown grants, he (Aperahama) offered as a security for the £500 a block of land for which he holds a Crown grant, containing 700 acres, all under grass. On further consideration, however, we think it best to advise the Government to advance a sum of £300 under the regulations of clause No. 33, "Native Land Act, 1867," for the purposes required. The Natives are the more anxious to pay for the survey of their own land inasmuch as by an arrangement with the surveyor they supply their own labour, and so get the work done at about one half what it would cost if the surveyor hired labour. We were in hopes to have secured the whole country between Mangawhero and Turakina, which would have given about three times the present acreage ; but, as there are a few of the owners who are at present opposed to selling between the Wangaehu and the Turakina, Hakaraia Korako, the principal owner, and the chief who ma.de the original offer, advises that we first complete the purchases of the block above offered, and he has no doubt but that the other portion will then be offered. I have, &c, James Booth, The Under Secretary, Public Works Office, Wellington. Meiha Keepa.

No. 37. Mr. James Booth to the Undee Seceetaet for Public Woeks. Sib,— Wanganui, 30th December, 1872. I have the honor to report that the sum of =£300, unexpended balance of account, has been lodged by Major Kemp and myself to the credit of the public account in the Bank of New Zealand at Wanganui. The above amount, you will remember, was obtained by Major Kemp and myself on imprest account, for the purpose of paying for the survey of a block of land called Heao, the purchase of which we were negotiating. In consequence of disputes amongst several of the owners of the above block, we thought it advisable to withold the money for survey until the title had been obtained. The land has now been surveyed at the expense of the Native owners, with the understanding that it is to be sold to the Government. The block, or rather blocks, for it is in two separate portions, between the Mangawhero and the Wangaehu rivers, contains —in part towards Mangawhero, 5,100 acres, known as Ngapukewhakapu; and in the part towards Wangaehu 10,000, acres known as Heao. These blocks are separate and distinct, but the owners have determined to sell them as one block. I have gone carefully over the land in question with the object of ascertaining its value, availability for purposes of settlement, means of access thereto, &c, &c. With regard to the portion on the Mangawhero river, I have the honor to report — Ist. That the country as a whole is very rough, being covered with high scrub and bush, the latter being of a light character. There are not many large timber trees. 2nd. I consider that about half the land in this block will be available for agriculture. The rest, which is very broken and hilly, will be almost valueless for many years after the flat land has been brought under cultivation. 3rd. Means of access —the line of road as laid off, but not made, by Mr. Pield, between Wanganui and Taupo goes through a portion of this block. The making of a road, which is a matter of necessity, will be an expensive undertaking, but it is questionable whether it is advisable to buy so small a block as 5,000 acres requiring the additional expense of an entirely separate road. Between the utmost boundary of land sold to settlers (Mason's block) and the nearest boundary of the block in question offered for sale, there intervenes a block of 2,000 acres, more or less, owned by Aperahama Tahunuiarangi.. Quality of land, same as that above described. This land has never been occupied by Natives, and I have already suggested that there will not be much chance of the Government buying the 5,000 acres on the Mangawhero, unless this block of Aperahama's is also included, thereby making the European settlements on that river continuous, and so lessening the expense of making roads. With regard to the portion, 10,000 acres, called Heao, on the Wangaehu river, the land is very much of the same character as that already described, but it has this advantage, that the road which is now being laid off by Mr. Hales between here and Taupo, will be available for a great portion of the block; there being only the Wangaehu river between the said line of road and the land in question. There are several good sized flats on this latter block, for which settlers are willing to give twenty shillings an acre, but the owners decline to sell unless the whole block is taken.

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Taking into consideration the excellent quality of a portion of this land, its short distance from the town of Wanganui (twenty-five to thirty miles), and that it will be available for purposes of settlement, I think 4s. an acre a fair price to offer for it. The Native owners are, of course, asking much more, 15s. or 165., but they will, I have little doubt, accept the price offered. I cannot conscientiously recommend Government to pay more than 45., for the reasons already stated, viz., the broken character of a portion of the block and evpenses of road up Mangawhero. I attended a meeting on Saturday, 28th, aud told the Natives what Kemp and self, with the sanction of Government, were prepared to give. They, in reply, said that the very lowest price they would take was 7s. 6d. By the time the land has passed through the Court, they will take the 4s. I may state, in conclusion, that this is only the first portion of a very large block of land lying betwoen here and Murimotu, which will shortly be in the market. But the Natives will be guided as to the sale of the larger portion by the price they obtain for the block now under negotiation. Please inform me by telegram whether Government approve of the price proposed. I have, &c, The Under Seceretary, Public Works Office, James Booth. Wellington.

No. 38. Mr. James Booth to the Undee Seceetaet for Public Woeks. Sib, — Wanganui, 9th January, 1873. I have the honor to report that Major Kemp and myself have this day negotiated the purchase of a block of land containing 3,600 acres, known as Pikopiko, and situated about twelve miles from the town of Wanganui; also of an adjoining block of 310 acres called Moetahanga. Subject to the approval of the Government, we have agreed to give £800 for the two blocks, which is at the rate of Bs. an acre for Moetahanga, and a fraction over 3s. 9d. an acre for Pikopiko; 3s. 9d. for the latter, and Bs. for the former, como to £799. Tbe owners were offered 12s. an acre for Moetahanga yesterday, and they have, they say, been offered ss. an acre for Pikopiko, but they prefer selling to Government, as they will have the advantage of a ready money payment. I have been to see the land, and find there is a road laid off up a valley called Makirikiri, and now being made by the local Eoad Board which taps it. There are also other roads running into it from Upokongaro. This land will be useful for purposes of settlement. The large block is generally covered with bush and manuka scrub, the latter excellent for firewood, and not more than five or six miles by road to Kennedy's, at which place is a firewood depot, a small steamer carrying it thence into town. The two blocks in question have passed through the Native Land Court, and the Crown grants are now lying in Wellington. There is an adjoining block of about 1,000 acres (also passed through Court), which I think we can secure for 4s. an acre. I will endeavor to send tracings, together with names of owners contained in Crown grant, by next mail. I have, &c-, The Under Secretary, Public Works Department, James Booth. Wellington.

No. 39. Telegram from Mr. James Booth to the Undee Seceetabt for Public Woeks. Wanganui, January 13, 1873. Hon. Mr. Mc'Lean has approved of price offered for Heao and Ngapuke Whakapu, as also for Pikopiko and Moetahanga, reported January 9th. James Booth. The Under Secretary, Public Works, Wellington.

No. 40. His Honor the Supeeintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Native Ministeb. Sib,— 29th January, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, covering copies of letters received from Mr. Booth with respect to offers of sale of land, and requesting to be informed, in accordance with the 34th clause of the Public Works and Immigration Act, whether I would desire to acquire the lands referred to for the Province. In reply, I desire to state that I consider the acquisition of the lands referred to by Mr. Booth would be most desirable for the interest of the Province. I have, &c, William Pitzheebebt, The Hon. D. McLean, Superintendent. Wanganui.

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No. 41. Mr. J. Geindell to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Woeks. Sic — Wellington, 31st May, 1872. In pursuance of your directions, I have the honor to forward you the following general report on land purchasing operations in the Province of Wellington, in which I have been engaged up to this date, 31st May. In the first place, I have to state that at a sitting of the Native Land Court held at Masterton in September last, a block of land in the Seventy Mile Bush known as the Manawatu-Wairarapa block, No. 3, or Mangatainoka block, was awarded to the Eangitane people as a tribal right and by them withheld from sale. The soil of this block is most excellent; the land is perfectly level, heavily timbered, and never flooded; its area is estimated at 62,000 acres. The line of the proposed railway to Buataniwha in the Ahuriri district runs through this block, and its acquisition by the Government is of the utmost importance. I interviewed the Eangitane at Manawatu in January last on the subject of tho sale of this land, and again in March following. I found the majority of the tribe in favour of selling it to the Government, excepting a certain portiou for their own occupation. The chiefs, however, strongly objected to parting with any portion whatever of it. The views of Hoani Meihana (the leading man of the tribe) on this subject have recently undergone a change, and he now believes that the enhanced value given to their reserves by roads and a European population in the vicinity would more than counterbalance the loss of the land sold. He said it was the last block of land of any extent which they had left; —their dead were buried there ; it was endeared to the people by old associations, and it would require time to remove their prejudices against parting with it. The feeling amongst the people in favour of selling is increasing, and I have no doubt that ere long the Government will have acquired possession of it. I have paid the tribe an advance of £100 on account of it. The next block I have to notice is Kaihinu West, adjoining the Ahu-o-Turanga block, and extending from Manawatu to the western boundary on the Tararua Eange of the Seventy Mile Bush purchase. This block is estimated to contain 50,000 or 60,000 acres. It is heavily timbered, but there is an extensive swamp between the Manawatu and the hills. It is claimed conjointly by the Ngatiwhakatere hapu of Ngatiraukawa and by the early tribes —Eangitane and others, who inhabited the country before its invasion by Te Bauparaha and his allies, Te Ngatiraukawa and others. Applications have been sent in to the Native Land Court for investigation of title of claimants. After this has been done the Natives will be prepared to enter into negotiations with the Government for its sale. Some small advances have been made on account of this block. I havo subsequently attended meetings of the Natives at all the settlements along the Coast from Manawatu to Waikanae, and have received from each hapu written applications to the Land Court to havo their claims investigated in respect of the whole of the land on the West Coast, extending from Manawatu Eiver and the Ahu-o-Turanga block on the north to the Crown land south of Waikanae, known as the Wainui and Waikanae block, and the Seventy Mile Bush on the east— comprising an area of 250,000 or 300,000 acres. Each hapu will then be in a position to sell to tho Government without fear of the interference of others, and I have no doubt some valuable blocks will be acquired. It is quite apparent that they are generally desirous of selling their waste lands at the present time, but an immense amount of jealousy and suspicion exists amongst the various claimants and tribes in reference to each other's claims and boundaries. It has been with much difficulty that they have been induced to agree to let all disputes stand over to be decided by the Land Court and to allow the surveyors in the meantime to proceed quietly with the work of preparing a map for the use of the Court. I accompanied the surveyor (Mr. Thompson), sent by His Honor the Superintendent, and introduced him to all the hapus interested, and explained to him and them the nature of the work to be performed. It is not proposed to make an exact survey of the district, merely a good topographical map with all prominent points and names clearly marked will be sufficient. On a map of this nature the various claims can be marked off in Court with the help of the surveyor. When I was last up the Coast I obtained a promise from Muaupoko that they would send me their applications for investigation of title and that they would allow the surveyor to proceed with his work without interuption. I have now received a letter from them purporting to be from the whole tribe with several signatures attached in the same handwriting, threatening to break the chain of the surveyor if he persists in surveying the land in dispute between them and the Ngatiraukawa. Another letter came by the same mail, containing the application promised with the names of the principal men of the tribe attached, so that there appears to be a division amongst them. As I am just about to start for the Coast to set to work two other surveyors who are being sent by His Honor the Superintendent for the purpose of expediting the survey, I shall have an opportunity of seeing these people and of endeavouring to arrange matters with them. In previous reports I have suggested that a sitting ofthe Land Court be held at Otaki when the surveys are completed, and another at Manawatu so as not to give the Natives any occasion to imagine that favour is shown to any party in particular. The whole ofthe mountains are offered by the Natives for sale, also some portion ofthe flats. I have no doubt that a strip along the flats at the base of the hills can be acquired at once, stretching from point to point of the spurs and taking in many valuable valleys and gullies suitable for purposes of settlement. The slopes of the lower hills and many of the hills themselves are available fop cultivation. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. James Geindell.

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No. 42. Mr. J. Geindell to the Hon. the Ministeb for Pfblic Woeks. Sib,— Wellington, 2nd July, 1872. In pursuance of instructions received from His Honor the Superintendent, I left Wellington on the 4th of June last, and arrived at Otaki on the sth. I remained iv the neighbourhood of Otaki for some days, and had several interviews with the Natives. I also visited Tamihana Te Eauparaha, at Te Horo, about eight miles from Otaki, and remained two nights with him. I found tho Natives generally opposed to any subdivisional boundaries being surveyed between the claims of the various hapus, the idea being to unite as a whole against the Ngatiapas and other tribes opposed to them, with a view of getting their right as a tribe to the entire coast district first investigated by the Land Court, before entering into any disputes relative to minor internal claims amongst themselves. Mr. Thompson was, therefore, stopped in his survey iuland of the Otaki river by a section of the Ngatihuia, residing at Otaki, and told to continue the survey along the coast. I assumed a decided attitude in the matter, and told them that the Court would certainly not sit until we had prepared a proper map for its guidance, and that if this were not done, the whole question would still remain open and unsettled as before, in which case the Government could not buy any land which they might wish to sell. I insisted that the survey should be so made as to enable us to cut up the country into blocks if so required at the sittings of the Court. I said there could be no objection to their taking up the question as a tribal right, but that we must have the map so prepared that each section of the tribe could go in for its own claim at the same sitting of the Court, so as to save expense of second survey, aud loss of time. Eventually (on Wednesday, the 12th), it was determined that the survey should be permitted to be carried on without any further interruption. On Thursday, the 13th, Mr. Dennan, surveyor, arrived per coach, and on the 14th, I arranged for him to carry on the work south of Otaki, upon which Mr. Thompson had been engaged. The latter gentleman I instructed to traverse the beach north of the Otaki river, whilst I proceeded to Horowhenua with Mr. Alzdorf, to ascertain the feeling of Te Muaupoko in reference to the survey of the internal boundaries in that locality, in dispute between them and the Ngatiraukawa. It was my intention to set both these gentlemen to work at once at Horowhenua, if I found the Muaupoko willing for the survey to proceed. I arrived at Mr. Hector McDonald's house, at Horowhenua, on the night of Saturday, the 15th, and on Monday morning, accompanied by that gentleman and Mr. Alzdorf, I proceeded to the Muaupoko settlement. I may here mention that Mr. McDonald, who possesses considerable influence with the Natives in that district from his long residence amongst them, has used every endeavour to bring the Muaupoko to reason, and to induce them to allow the surveys to proceed. I spent the whole oi that day reasoning with these people. Kawana Hunia, of Ngatiapa, had been there, but had left the day before (Sunday). Some of his people however, were present, also Ngatuere, of Wairarapa, and some of the Ngatikahungunu people. They claimed the whole coast from north to south, and said the Ngatiraukawa had no right to any part of it. They positively refused to allow the country in their locality to be surveyed, aud protested strongly against the surveys of other parts of the coast at Otaki and elsewhere, declaring that the whole must be discontinued until they had given their consent. Eventually, however, Te Eangirurupuni (properly their chief, and certainly tho most reasonable amongst them) said he saw no objections to Watene, of Ngatiraukawa, surveying the boundary claimed by him, and advised that the surveys should be permitted to proceed. This occasioned a division, and a hot dispute amongst themselves. At length, seeing that the survey could not be peaceably made, I determined to abandon it for the present. I, therefore, told them I would not proceed with the survey of the boundaries of Horowhenua until the return of Major Kemp from Auckland, and that in the meantime I would employ the surveyors in laying out the boundaries of Ngatiraukawa north and south of their district. To this, the majority agreed, but some still grumbled, and insisted that the surveys should cease altogether We then left them, and returned to Mr. McDonald's house. In the morning, Te Eangirurupuni came to see me, and told me that if I thought proper to go on with Te Watene's boundary I could do so; that a party would come and protest against it; but that he did not think they would forcibly interfere. I to] d him it was not the wish of the Government to force the surveys in opposition to any tribe, or sec! ion of a tribe, but to do it with the full and free consent of all parties concerned, and that, therefore, I should adhere to my promise of waiting till Kemp's return. On Tuesday, the 18th, I called at Poroutawhao, on my way to Poxton, and informed the Ngatihuias of that place of the arrangement I had made respecting the survey of Horowhenua. I told them Mr. Alzdorf would work from Manawatu southwards, and they said when the work reached their district they would be prepared to traverse their boundaries with him. I then went on to Poxton, and on the 20th, accompanied by Mr. Alzdorf, I visited the Ngatiwhakatere section of Ngatiraukawa, at Hikaretu, a settlement some ten miles up the river from Poxton. These are the people to whom an advance of about £200 worth of provision has been made on account of Kaihinu West block. I had no difficulty whatever with them. They were anxious for the survey to be commenced at once, and ready to point out their boundaries when required. I arranged with them that Mr. Alzdorf should at once commence the survey of this block (which adjoins the Ahu-o-Turanga block acquired by the Government), and work southwards towards Horowhenua. On Saturday, the 22nd, I went to Oroua, a settlement of the Eangitane tribe, allies and relations of the Muaupoko of Horowhenua. A number of the people being absent at other settlements up the river, I docided to return to Poxton, and revisit them on the Monday following. In the meantime, Hoani Meihana sent a messenger to those who were absent, requiring them to meet me at Oroua on that day ; and also to the Ngatiraukawa, at Papakiri, a settlement lower down the river. ' 9—G. 8.

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On Monday morning, a deputation from these Natives waited on me at Poxton to enquire whether it was my wish that they should attend the Eangitane meeting, at Oroua, as required by Hoani Meihana; or whether it was merely an idea of Eangitane, in which latter case they said they would not attend. I told them I wanted to see them altogether, and accordingly we proceeded in company to Oroua. The result of this meeting was that each party was to be allowed to point out to the surveyor their boundaries as claimed by them without interruption from the other, leaving the final decision to the Land Court. Whilst I was at Foxton, I had an interview with Peeti Te Awe Awe and Huru Te Hiaro, two important chiefs of Eangitane. They strongly condemned the course adopted by Muaupoko, and declared their intention of reasoning with Kawana Hunia on the subject. Hoani Meihana said that Bince my last visit he had spent some days at Horowhenua discussing the question with them ; that they had then authorized him to forward an application to the Court for the investigation of their title, which he did through me. Leaving Poxton on the 26th, I commenced my return to Wellington, calling on my way at the inland pas of Ohau aud Waikawa, and interviewing the Natives in each. Matters were arranged here for the surveys to proceed as satisfactorily as at the other settlements of Ngatiraukawa. On the 28th, I met the Natives at Otaki. Matene Te Whiwhi and other influential men were present. I answered all their questions, and explained many matters about which they seemed to have some doubt, relating to surveys of disputed boundaries, procedure of Court, reserves, road making, advantages of European population located near them, and so forth. They promised not to obstruct the surveyors in the prosecution of their work. The Muhunoa Natives (Hoera Hukiki and others) asked what course they should pursue in the event of Muaupoko interfering with the survey of their district which is adjacent to Horowhenua. I told them in such a case to tell the Muaupokos that they were desirous of preserving peace, and would, therefore, communicate with the Government before taking any further steps. This they agreed to do. There are now three gentlemen engaged in the survey of the district, and it is expected the work will be completed by next September. 'there being no further urgent reason for my presence on the coast, I left Otaki on the 29th and arrived in Wellington on Sunday, the 30th of June. I have, &c, James Geindell, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Native Department.

No. 43. Mr. J. Gbindell to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Woeks. Sib,— Wellington, 29th July, 1872. In pursuance of instructions from the Hon. the Native Minister, I left Wellington on the 18th instant with the view of meeting Major Kemp at Horowhenua, who had telegraphed his intention of coming to that place to endeavour to induce the Muaupoko and Ngatiapa to withdraw their opposition to the surveys now being made on the West Coast generally, and at Horowhenua in particular, preparatory to the titles of claimants being investigated in the Native Land Court. I was disappointed, however, in my expectation of seeing him, as he did not put in an appearance at all during my stay there. I have since heard he was prevented from attending by illness. Hoani Meihana, Te Peeti, Huru, Kerei Te Panau, and a number of others of Eangitane, Ngatiapa, and Ngatikahungunu were there, and had been waiting for Major Kemp aud Kawana Hunia some days. On Monday, the 22nd, Te Peeti and Huru, tired of waiting, returned to Manawatu, and on the evening of the same day Kawana Hunia arrived. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in discussing the question with him, and I found him much more reasonable than I expected he would be. He asked me a number of questions in the presence of the people assembled respecting the surveys, the intentions of the Government, &c, and my answers, which embodied the arguments I had used at previous meetings, he said were satisfactory. It was then finally settled that all opposition to the survey by Ngatiraukawa of their claims at Horowhenua, or elsewhere on the coast, should be at once withdrawn on the condition that Te Muaupoko also should be permitted to point out their boundaries to the surveyors wherever they chose, even on lands occupied by the Ngatiraukawa, and that the same should be shown on the map, together with those of Ngatiraukawa. I said the Ngatiraukawa had no objection to such an arrangement, and I offered to conduct a party of them, with Mr. Thompson, surveyor, to erect posts at the points claimed by them, as boundaries along the beach to the Government land, south of Waikanae. I told them the beach had been already chained northwards as far as Ohau, but from thgt point they could accompany the surveyor in chaining to Manawatu. This was agreed to, and a party of five or six were chosen by Kawana Hunia to accompany me southwards as far as Wainui and Waikanae block (that being the Government boundary), to erect posts on the beach. Accordingly, on Thursday, I returned to Otaki, and on the following morning they joined me at that place. Here I explained to Matene Te Whiwhi and others what arrangements I had made with Te Muaupoko, and afterwards introduced to them the party of Muaupoko and Ngatiapa, who had accompanied me from Horowhenua. They (Muaupoko and friends) appeared somewhat shy and reserved, but they were cordially welcomed by Te Ngatiraukawa, who shook hands with them all round, and rubbed noses in the usual Maori manner. Matene Te Whiwhi assured them that the Ngatiraukawa did not object to their surveying where they chose, that they intended to leave the whole question of their right and title to be decided by English law, and that they were very glad indeed that Kawana Hunia and his people had at last adopted their view of the case; and so the-

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matter was amicably arranged. Hunia himself had remained behind at Horowhenua. On Saturday, the 27th, they accompanied me as far as the Government boundary south of Waikanae, erecting posts along the beach at certain points, the position of which were taken by Mr. Thompson to be shown on the map. That night I and Mr. Thompson slept at Paikakariki, and the Natives returned to Otaki. On Sunday morning I arrived in town. I beg to suggest that measures be taken to have a sitting of the Land Court advertised at once for November next, at Otaki, from which place, I presume, it could be adjourned to Poxton, when necessary. If the publication of Te Kahiti, containing the advertisement of the sittings, be delayed till the completion of the surveys, very much time will be lost unnecessarily. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Public Works James Geindell. Wellington.

No. 44. His Honoe the Supeeintendent of Wellington to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 22nd November, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, in which yon state that Kawana Hunia and his tribe offer to dispose of a block of land containing about 46,975 acres, and desire to be informed whether it is my wish that the land should be acquired under the 34th clause of the "Immigration and Public Works Act, 1871." In reply, I beg to state that I consider it very desirable that the purchase should be effected. I have, <fee, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Minister for Public Works, William Pitzheebeet, Wellington. Superintendent

No. 45. The Hon. the Native Ministee to Major Kemp. Sib, — Wanganui, 4th December, 1871. I have the honor to inform you that you have been appointed a Commissioner for the purchase of a block of land called Parae Karetu, containing about 45,500 acres, and situated between the Eangitikei and Turakina rivers. Tou will be good enough to take care that all the particulars of boundaries, reserves, &c., are clearly understood, so that no future misunderstanding may arise with reference to them ; and also report fully the nature of the land, the extent and locality of the reserves, and any other information respecting it. During the time you are employed in connection with these purchases away from home you will receive payment at the rate of one pound a-day. Mr. E. Woon will assist you in any way that he can in connection with your negotiations. I have, &c, Major Kemp, Wanganui. __^^^___^^^^__ Donald McLean.

No. 46. Mr. E. Woon to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib, — Whanganui, 30th December, 1871. Eeferring to your letter of the 18th instant, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Monro will forward a report to the Native Office relative to the capabilities of Te Parae Karetu block. Major Kepa started yesterday to look over the Turakina side of said block. He went unaccompanied by any European, according to instructions received by wire. The writer of this expected to have hecn allowed to go with him. In the tracing forwarded by Mr. Monro, I beg to call your attention to the south-west boundary. You will perceive the Turakina river is not the boundary the whole way —two bends in said river have been purposely excluded. As the road from the town of Whanganui must go that way, 1 take it no time should be lost in negotiating for the purchase of that particular portion so as to make the Turakina river the western boundary. We have not said anything yet as to what will be given for the whole block. I consider a lump sum of ten to eleven thousand pounds sterling ample for it. I consider, to a speculator, it is worth that, and had I not been asked by you to assist in the purchase for the Government, I have little hesitation in saying that ore this I should have obtained a purchaser at the sum named. I have, &c, Edwin Woon. The Hon. D. McLean, Wellington. Licensed Interpreter.

No. 47. Major Kemp to the Hon. the Native Ministee. [Teanslation.] Putiki, 4th January, 1872. On the 29th December I started for Whangaehu, where I slept. The people who own that laud— Parae Karetu—were present. Te Eei Pirere stood up and addressed me about the unfair manner in which the money for their land had been divided by Aperahama Tipae. They are very angry about it

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They all said that I ought to pay them the money —to each separate hapu its share : that is to say, to each hapu of the tribe which owns that land. That I and my European companion should have the payment of the money. We thought when we allowed this money to be paid to Aperahama that he was a person who would act justly, the same as Hori Kingi, but now you write to Mr. McLean and ask him to portion the money for each hapu. This was the strain of their talk. I replied to them, telling them that I was going to Parae Karetu to see what kind of land it was in accordance with instructions that I had received from Mr. McLean ; it will be for him to consider what you have now stated to me, requesting me to bring it before the Government, so that they may rectify it to the satisfaction of you all, and of our elder relation. But come some of you to conduct me to this land. On the morrow we reached Turakina, the place from where you returned at the time you purchased the land beyond Turakina. The persons who came to conduct me numbered twelve. We went straight to Wareroa, the land which Paora Turangapito and Hori te Eangi Ao spoke about. Tou know what these old people said. I saw the boundary of the land for sale, viz., Tiriraukawa. We slept here; in the morning we reached the eel lakes. There are two lakes; Ngaruru is one, and Namunamu another. They persisted in asking for 1,500 acres as a reserve for themselves. I said it was too much, and that they should ask for a smaller quantity. They wanted their reserve boundary-to take in both the lakes, so that no trouble might arise when this land became the property of other owners and lest it might be taken away like other lakes had been by the Europeans. I told them that the persons who used the pen, who knew of these things, would inform them; that is, would make both themselves and the Europeans acquainted with the facts, and it would be through this medium that the boundaries and the acreage would be made known ; let the land you wish to reserve be between these two lakes : it will be for the Government to consent to the size of this reserve, after which I will tell you the acreage, and send a surveyor to lay it off. Here this talk concluded. This land is bad —it is hilly—a portion of it is cliffs, but that on the Turakina Eiver is good—it is all bush—there is no clear land on the Turakina side. The timber is kahikatea, rimu, rata, there is only a small quantity of totara, and some manuka. These are all the kinds of timber on this land; I do not mention the small scrub. I should say that this block is seven or eight miles in width; Ido not know about the length of it. I here returned in the direction of Pourewa. There is another reserve here belonging to Pehira Karatau and Utiku te Angi. This has been surveyed, but not investigated by the Court. It is within the land we are purchasing. The portion which has been surveyed is 1,500 acres. Utiku says that a portion of their land is not yet surveyed. My word to you is—that Ibe allowed to send a European to survey our laud in order that the acreage may be ascertained ; I mean the amount that will be left after the reserves have been made. Perhaps it would be as well to leave the survey until the purchase is concluded. Pourewa—that is the land towards Eangitikei—is bad and hilly, some portions are good ; there is no clear land. The timber is similar to that on the Turakina side, which has already been described by me in this letter. There is only one clear place, and that is Parae Karetu—the whole of the land is hilly. I should say that this clearing is about eighty acres. That is all on this subject. I have, &c., The Hon. the Native Minister. Kepa te Bangthiwinui.

No. 48. Mr. Edwin Woon to the Undee Seceetaet, Native Office. Sib,— Whanganui, 30th January, 1872. I am directed by tho Hon. the Native Minister to forward to you herewith the accompanying plan and description of boundaries of the Parae Karetu block purchased by Major Kemp, assisted by myself, to ask you to get a conveyance prepared for said block of land. It passed through the Native Land Court at the sitting held here last December. Should you require further particulars Mr. Smith possibly will give them to you. In accordance with the order of Court there will be required a Deed of Trust prepared which must be dated and signed prior to conveyance of the land sold to the Crown. A special meeting of all persons interested is called for the 20th Pebruary, when the balance of the purchase money is promised to be paid. To prevent disappointment may I trouble you to give the necessary instructions so that the deeds may be prepared at once. When finished forward them to me to get executed as it is required by the Act they should be interpreted by a licensed interpreter. I have, &c, H. Halse, Esq., Native Office, Wellington. Edwin Woon

No. 49. Mr. S. Locke to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. Sic,— Napier, 20th June, 1872. I have the honor in continuation of the several reports of land purchases as printed iv Parliamentary Papers A., No. 18, 1870, and D. No. 7, 1871, to forward the following report upon lands purchased during the past twelve mouths in the East Coast and Taupo districts. The final cession of the 250,000 acres, less 19,870 acres for Native Eeserves, to the Government of the Hawke's Bay end of the Seventy Mile Bush (Tamaki) was made by deed dated lGth August, 1871, for

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the nomiual price of £16,000. After the conclusion ofthe purchase of the Hawke's Bay end of the Bush, there were still left 200,000 acres at the Wairarapa end, the acquisition of which would enable public works and settlement to be carried on, and so connect the open land at Euataniwha Plains, Hawke's Bay, with the settled country in Wairarapa Valley—a distance of seventy miles —and thus remove au obstacle that virtually put a stop to communication by dray traffic between the East Coast settlements, and would also place iv the hands of the Government some half million acres of excellent land for settlement. In pursuance with instructions I accordingly proceeded in September last to Wellington, and from thence to Masterton, where a Land Court was being held by Judge Eogan, when the whole block of 1114,000 acres—excepting a piece of 7,000 acres —passed the Court in ten divisions. This was done to allow of a fair representation of the owners to appear in the grants. The grantees then proceeded to Wellington, where the sale to the Government of 125,000 acres —less 4,369 acres for Native Eeserves —was concluded for the nominal price of £10,000, leaving a block of 62,000 acres which has passed the Land Court (and on which instalments have been paid) and a block of 7,000 acres which has not passed the Court, but has been applied for hearing at the next sitting ofthe Native Land Court in Hawke's Bay. The other land purchases consist of a block of 534 acres in Tapuaeharuru, Taupo, the outlet ofthe Taupo Lake into the Waikato Eiver, for the sum of £400. This block is in a most central and commanding position for an inland town, being the point on which all the roads to the interior converge, and from the facility offered by the Lake, communication can be held with all the most important settlements in the interior. A telegraph station, redoubt for the Armed Constabulary, and a Court House havo already been erected ; also an hotel, stores, and other buildings. I should here state •that if the Government contemplate laying off a township in this locality very little difficulty would be experienced in extending this purchase. Next in rotation comes the purchase of a block of 382 acres and one rood, for the sum of £100, at Opepe, ten miles from Tapuaeharuru, the present head-quarters of the Armed Constabulary stationed at Taupo ; besides which negotiations have been entered into and an advance made on a block of 188 acres at Eunanga, also a Constabulary station. There is also a small block of fifty-one acres at Oruanui, Taupo, over which the Government have a claim, it having been acquired many years back as a residence for the Government officer stationed at Taupo. I forward herewith a tracing showing the position of the lands referred to. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks, Wellington. S. Lockb.

Enclosure in No. 49. Schedule of Contents of Seventy Mile Bush. Purchased by Government ... ... ... 350,761 acres. Passed Land Court in hands of Natives, alienable ... ... 173,268 „ „ „ „ inalienable ... 41,000 „ Not passed Land Court ... ... ... ... 95,900 Eeserves in purchased blocks ... ... ... 11,239 „ Total ... ... ... 672,168 acre*.

No. 50. The Undeb Secbetaby for Public Woeks to Mr. H. Mitchell. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th August, 1872. I am directed by Mr. Ormond to inform you that your services will be temporarily engaged under this department, and you will be good enough to proceed to Napier by the " Luna" to-morrow. It is intended that you should be chiefly employed in marking out the claims ofthe non-sellers in the Seventy Mile Bush, and on your arrival in Napier you will at once put yourself in communication with Mr. Locke, or in his absence with Mr. Hamlin, who will give you all the assistance in their power, and who have been instructed to send notice to each of the non-selling Natives of the work you are about to undertake. Tou will be the bearer of letters from Karaitiana to Natives of the selling party, requesting their assistance in pointing out the claims ofthe non-sellers, and you will take care to explain to the Natives that the object of marking out the non-sellers' claims is to havo the same investigated by the Native Land Court. As it is desirable that these claims should be marked out as soon as possible, you will be good enough to use the utmost promptitude in concluding your work, aud report to Mr. Ormond your progress from time to time. Mr. Eoss, who is laying out the settlements and road works in the Seventy Mile Bush, has been informed that when not engaged in the survey of the Native claims he is to avail himself of your services on such work as he may find requisite, and you will be careful to noto the time you are engaged in Native and Immigration duties respectively. Tour salary has been fixed at £400 a year, including all travelling allowances, and will commence from this date. I have, &c, H. Mitchell, Esq., Wellington. John Ksowles. 10 G.—B.

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No. 51. The Undee Seceetaet for Public Wobks to Mr. S. Locke. Sic,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th August, 1872. It being considered of great importance that no interruption should take place in the settlement in the Seventy Mile Bush—of the immigrants expected shortly to arrive—Mr. Ormond has despatched Mr. Mitchell to mark out the claims of the non-sellers. Mr. Mitchell has beeu supplied with letters from Karaitiana to the selling party to assist in pointing out the claims of tho non-sellers, aud Mr. Ormond requests that you will write letters to each of the non-sellers notifying that Mr. Mitchell is going to mark off their claims for investigation by the Native Land Court, and inviting them to assist him in doing so. In the event of your not being in town, Mr. Hamliu is directed to write these letters, and to give Mr. Mitchell all the assistance in his power in your stead. I have, &c., John Knowles, S. Locke, Esq., Napier. Under Secretary for Public Works.