WAIKATO COAL FIELD.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, C-04

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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

WAIKATO COAL FIELD.

(MEMORANDUM AND TELEGRAMS RELATIVE TO THE COAL FIELD AT PEPEPE, NEAR NGARUAWAHIA).

Laid on the Table ly Sir G. Grey, with leave of the Souse, 23rd June, 1876.

Goal Field Parish of Pepepe, near Ngaruawahia. Advertised for sale, for the first time, on the 13th July, 1872, at which time it was unsurveyed. Fact of its containing coal not mentioned in the notification. Mr. Sinclair states that it was afterwards withdrawn and not offered for sale. It is erased in the office copy of the Gazette in the Confiscated Land Department. A second time advertised for sale in the New Zealand Gazette, of the Ist November, 1872, and offered for sale on the 3rd December, 1872. It is then described as " containing coal." No buyer at the auction. . In both notifications the area of the lot is stated to be 10,000 acres, but on survey, which would appear to have been subsequently made and completed on the 26th November, 1872, it was ascertained to contain 9,850 acres. At the auction sale, of the 3rd December, 1872, it was offered as containing 10,000 acres, and at the upset price of £3,750, or at the rate of 7s. 6d. per acre. On the 2nd October, 1873, it was selected by Messrs. Whitaker, Eussell and others, as containing 9,850 acres, for the price of £3,693. In the schedule to the first notification it is found to be inserted among 128 rural allotments, the average area of which is about 31 acres, the average upset price being about 17s. 3d. per acre. In the second schedule it appears with 20 other rural allotments, averaging about 61 acres each; average upset price, lis. per acre. , . , . . , N OTE —Under "The Auckland Mineral Leases Act, 1871," (14th November,) the minimum and maximum areas allowed to be granted, by way of lease, are fixed at 100 acres and 640 acres for coal land respectively.

Sir G-eobge Geet to D. A. Tole, Esq. (Telegram.) "Wellington, 23rd June, 1876. I made the following statement in House: — Ooal Meld, Pepepe. " In both notifications the area of the lot is stated to be 10,000 acres, but on survey, which would appear to have been subsequently made, and completed on the 26th November, 1872, it was ascertained to contain 9,850 acres. At the auction sale of the 3rd December, 1872, it was offered as containing 10,000 acres, and at the upset price of £3,750, or at the rate of 7s. 6d. per acre. On the 2nd October, 1873, it was'selected by Messrs. Whitaker, Eussell, and others, as containing 9,850 acres, for the price of £3,693." Instantly ascertain if this statement is correct, and telegraph "quite accurate" or " wrong in such particulars." Major Atkinson says "it is untrue." D. A. Tole, Esq., Waste Lands Commissioner, Auckland. O. Gbet.

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D. A. Tole, Esq., to Sir Geoege Geet. (Telegram.) Auckland, 23rd June, 1876. Be Pepepe Coal Fields. On visiting Mr. Sinclair's office, to assure myself of the accuracy or otherwise of the statement referred to in your telegram, I was informed in effect by that gentleman that he had been instructed by Government to decline to give me any information verbally: that in future it would be necessary that I should submit in writing the subject matter of any further inquiries I might be called upon to make at that office, when, after reference of the matter to his " superior officer," a reply in due course would be given. Do you desire that I should adopt this course ? D. A. Tole, Sir Geo. Grey, X.C.8., Wellington. Commissioner Crown Lands.

FURTHER TELEGRAM LAID ON THE TABLE, 27th JUNE. D. A. Tole, Esq., to Sir Geoege Geey. (Telegram.) Auckland, 24th June, 1876. Me coal fields. Grantees' names, Frederick Whitaker, Thomas Eussell, James Williamson, James Tannock Mackelvie, and William Aitken. The consideration money is never now expressed in Crown grants, but the amount paid in the present instance was £3,693 15s. Area granted, 9,850 acres. Date of execution of grant, 23rd October, 1874. Date of sale, 2nd October, 1874. D. A. Tole, Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Price 3d.] By Authority : Geobge DidS-TOT, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB76.