G.—B

2

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.