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C—4a,

aside for school purposes a portion of the money received from us for their lands. There is one matter to which we would call attention, namoly, the transference of the proposed school buildings to Tokanu, it being a much more central position, and being near the settlement of the parents and guardians, and would be more likely to receive support, and in consequence insure success. We have not had an opportunity of conferring with Mr. Commissioner Locke on the subject, but as he intends to visit Taupo shortly, we shall .then be enabled to place before him our views. It may be observed, likewise, that the Hauhau element, being strong in the neighbourhood of Tokanu, the benefits arising from the education of the young would be acknowledged, and the Hauhaus would be stimulated to send their children also. By this mail we transmit some of the completed deeds. We have, &c, C. 0. Davis, Under-Secretary Native Department, Henry Mitchell. Land Purchase Branch.

No. 3. Mr. Monro to Mr. March ant. Sir, — _ Wanganui, July 7th, 1875. I have the honor, in accordance with your instructions, of forwarding the following1 report and accompanying- tracing of Te Ruamii block. A considerable loss of time, as you are already aware, occurred owing to the abandonment for the present of the proposed survey of a block of land lying between the Murimotu plains and the Moawhango River, on account of disputes amongst its Native claimants, and the substitution of Te Ruanui survey, necessitating a meeting of the Native claimants to the block being held before the survey could be proceeded with. On the 10th of May, the date on which you left Murimotu for Ranana, I shifted camp with Mr. Busck9 to Raketapauma, by Mr. J Buller's request, for the purpose of meeting the owners of Te Ruanui block. As. the Native claimants, however, did not all assemble to discuss the boundaries etc. before the 12th instant, I was only able to move on to the ground on the 13th May, Mr. Buller returning towards Wanganui on the same day. On commencing work on the 14th of May at Okapea, I found that the survey of 'he block was opposed by members of ahapu, represented by a Native named Pehimana, having an admitted interest in a considerable portion of the block. I determined however, to go on with the boundary survey, and commenced with Mr. liuscke running 1 the northern boundary line of the block at Okapea. On the 15th of May, Te Winiata, and Teoti Pohe, came to an arrangement with Pehimana, at Aratataramoa, by which the latter withdrew present opposition, Te Winiata and Teoti Pohe on their part agreeing to reserve the north eastern portion of the block from lease or sale. Ard I made a memorandum of this at Pehimana's request, at the same time informing him that I had been sent to survey the block, and that I had no authority from the Government to deal with the question of reserves. I have approximately shewn the boundaries of the reserve pointed out to me at the time. Mr. Annabell returned from Ranana, with Simon Ryan, on the lCth May, and on the 17th, he commenced running the boundary traverse eastward and southward, whilst Mr. Buscke undertook the boundary survey running westward to the Turakina, and thence down that river. I would here mention, that at the commencement of the survey, I proposed to the Natives that only the angles of the northern boundary should be marked on the ground with direction lines and pegs; but I found them as usual, suspicious of this mode of doing the work, as they have been accustomed to see all boundary lines cut and chained, and of course do not understand their computation. Having started both traverse parties, I commenced the selection of sufficient trig points to connect the traverses of various portions of the block and check the boundary chainage. As the block is for the most part composed of hummocky hills covered with fern with here and there a patch of bush on the south side, I found the selection of points easy and comparatively inexpensive, and I marked each point, when determined upon, with a totara peg, at least 0 inches x (j inches, sunk 2 ft. 6 inches below, and shewing G inches above the ground, placed in each case on tho south side of the station pole. After considerable search, I selected a base on an elevated plateou, known as Waitoka, which I had cleared and divided into vertical sections as recommended by Mr. Heale. The gross chainag-e of the base was about 4JJ24 links; reduced to the horizontal it measured 4tflf> links; upon which I founded my field computations for checking the traverses on the ground. I chained the base three times with an ordinary chain, previously standarded in Waiiganui, at a strain of 171b5., comparing my chain with, a standard first laid down on the base itself between each chainage, and I of course will test the chain used on the standard here, upon the return of Messrs. Annabell and Buscke. Before making computations for map of block, I intend to reduce for temperature, approximate height above sea level and stretch during each chainage, and I believe that the error in measuring base will prove under one link on the whole length, whenever, by the extension of the major trig, of the district, we are enabled to test the accuracy of minor triangulations founded upon its measurement. 2-C4A.