C—No. 1

No. 71, THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETARY (ACTING FOR THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER) TO MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP. Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, March 7th, 1859. Sir, — In acknowledging receipt of your letter of the 18th ult., No. 46, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to request that you will be good enough to attend more particularly to the purchase of land in the immediate vicinity of the Bay first, as the purchases referred to in your letter of the above date can be concluded afterwards. In every instance, the surveys of external boundaries should precede the purchase of any Blocks of land that may be offered for sale by the Natives, in order to avoid dispute and misunderstanding relative thereto. Although the Blocks referred to in your letter are not required for immediate use or settlement, it is desirable that the negotiations for their acquisition should be undertaken as soon as possible after the purchase of the Kawa Kawa and adjacent Blocks has been completed. I have, &c, T. H. Smith, For the Chief Commissioner. H. T. Kemp, Esq., District Commissioner, Bay of Islands.

General. To purchase land, if possible, in the vicinity of former purchases,

No. 72. THE ASSISTANT NATIVE SECRETART (ACTING FOR THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER) TO MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP. # Chief Land Purchase Commissioner's Office, Auckland, March 4th, 1859. Sir, — With reference to your letter of the 26th January, reporting the completion of the survey of the Matawherohia Block, and that the price has been fixed at Two hundred and fifty pounds (£250), I have the honor to direct your attention to the great discrepancy between the area of this Block as ascertained by survey and ascertained by you in your Report of the 16th October, 1858— a discrepancy which has the effect of nearly trebling the price per acre, as compared with your original estimate. Under these circumstances, it will be desirable that the matter should stand over until the return of His Excellency from the South. Meanwhile, I have the honor to request that you will report for the information of the Governor whether the negotiation for this Block has proceeded so far as to commit the Government to the terms named by you, viz., Two hundred and fifty pounds for three thousand two hundred (3200) acres. I have, &c, T. H. Smith, For the Chief Commissioner. H. T. Kemp, Esq., District Commissioner, Bay of Islands.

Matawh*br«hia. V.Tetler No. 68.

No. 73. MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Is'ands, 21st April, 1859. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that the surveys of the Kawa Kawa Block, including the Native Reserves, have just been completed. The quantity, as at present ascertained, is as nearly as may be fifty thousand acres (50,000), inclusive of Native Reserves, (about 1500 acres). 2. That there may be no delay in making the payment, I have requested Mr. Kempthorne to furnish me with a rough copy of his plan, which I propose, for the present, to attach to the Deed of Sale. An arrangement has also been made with the Chiefs for a meeting, at which the money is to be paid. The Native Magistrate, Mr. Clendon, has undertaken to be present, so that I hope within a few days to have the pleasure of reporting to you the final completion of the

R, 59-212. Kawa Kawa. Reporting survey of the Kawa Kawa Block. V, Letter No, 66,

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RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.