C—No. 1

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

14

Hr porting pay incut of first instalment for Hapuku's block.

The next, the " Ahuriri Block", is distant from the last about 20 miles, and contains also about 300,000 acres. It is bounded on the East partly by the VVaiwhinganga Stream, and partly by the coast, a low shingly spit dividing the harbour from the sea and runs from Petane on the Waiwhinganga to Motuwhahou at the entrance of Ahuriri harbour, a distance of about 7 miles. Embracing the harbour, the Southern boundary runs across to the Tutaikuri River and continues along it to Owhakou, where it leaves the river to run in nearly a straight line to Waiharakeke at the base of ahigh mountain range, Kaweka, the whole distance about 35 miles; on the West by Kavveka some 16 miles to Mangatutu on the Mohaka River; and on the North and North-East partly by the Mohaka River, partly by the Native road to Taupo, and partly by the aforesaid Waiwhinganga to Petane, a distance in all of about 32 miles. This block is very much broken by hills and streams and is principally covered with fern, but wherever the fern has been burned off, or along the footpaths, the grass springs up abundantly, and it only requires sheep and cattle to make it a rich pastoral country ; there is little or no wood towards the sea, but inland there are some fine groves of excellent timber. The most valuable part however of this block is the Harbour, consisting of a large sheet of water or lagoon, about five miles long by two wide, indented on the Western shore by beautiful little bays fit for residences, and should be parcelled off in 10 or 50 acre lots ; and on the coast, defended from the sea by a shingly spit; the depth of water nowhere exceeding 9 feet. At the mouth of the lagoon is the harbour proper, being several channels cut into the sea with a depth of from 2 to 2 J fathoms at low water; there is no bar, and it is perfectly safe and easy of access at present for vessels of from 40 to 100 tons; on the North Spit there is room for a small town where the present European houses are. But supposing a settlement should be formed here, the harbour might be made available for vessels of much larger tonnage. By reclaiming about 18 acres (see sketch), at the base of Moturoahou (or the island as it is called), the body of water would have a clean sweep out, deepening and widening the Channel, and on this reclaimed land might be built the lower town, on the Island the higher; forming a depot for the produce of the country for 100 miles round; great portions of the lagoon might also be reclaimed; as you are likely to purchase the whole of the laud from East Cape to Port Nicholson, I cannot imagine a finer site for a settlement than the district altogether would form. The unpurchased land lying between the two blocks and generally known as the Ahuriri plain, is as you are aware, covered with large swamps, but all of them drainable; the lower part being a dead flat, the drains might form (Channels) canals intersecting the plain in every direction, making an easy and cheap mode of transport, the distance from Wellington by the Wairarapa is somewhere about 150 miles, and the road from what I have seen of the country, would not be an expensive one to make, the greatest obstacle being a bush of about 40 miles long between the Ruataniwha and the Wairarapa. The Mohaka block is distant about 21 miles from the Ahuriri block, and contains from 80,000 to 90,000 acres. On the South-east it is bounded by the sea, the distance from Mohaka southwards to Waikari being above 7 miles, all cliff; the beach at the base is passable in the summer time, but is rather dangerous fram the cliffs constantly falling. The Southern boundary is formed by the Waikari river, along which it runs to its source about 16 miles to a place called Patuwahine on the Mangaruru range, from thence down to the Mohaka 2 miles further. On the West and North by the Mohaka river, following it until it joins the sea, the whole distance may be 30 miles. This is a fine river and navigable for canoes as far as the Ahuriri block, but much impeded with rapids and large blocks of stone; there is a whaling station at the mouth, the boats belonging to it passing in and out at almost all weathers. There is a regular traffic between Mohaka and Ahuriri carried on by the Natives when they have produce for sale. The soil is very good : there is sufficient timber for all purposes, and the land not too much broken, as in the Ahuriri block, and a little more grass, than on the Mohaka, some table plains above the river, and pleasant spots at the bends below. Altogether it is a very pretty little purchase, and would make three or four good runs, the great drawback being the badness of the road, which is, as it at present runs, execrable. It appeared to me, however, that one might be got further inland, and which accords with the Native opinion ; but I had not time to examine it. There is some good building stone inland : on the Mohaka and Waikari rivers, sand and limestone. The former would make excellent grindstones, the Natives using it for that purpose. I have only to add that the climate is magnificent, nothing can be finer. I have only lost th.ee days in as many months from wet weather, as it generally rains at night, or early in the morning ; the wind steady and bracing, and not too strong : in fact, quite a summer in the depth of winter. Accompanying 1 se;id two sketch maps, one of the district generally, and one of the entrance of the harbour, And have, &c, To Donald McLean, Esq , Robert Park, Land Commissioner. Surveyor.

No. 7. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, WELLINGTON. Ahuriri, 19th November, 1851. Sir,--I havo the honor to report to you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor-in-Cliief, that the first instalment of purchase money for te Hapuku's district was paid to the Natives at