G.—s

12

You will be good enough to convey to Mr. Hamlin my appreciation of the value of his services in successfully concluding these negotiations, and my thanks to Mr. Locke for the able and valuable assistance he has rendered in the matter, especially in the settlement of the differences between the tribes concerned. Instructions have been telegraphed to Wellington to imprest to your Honor the sum of £2,000, to enable Mr. Hamlin to complete the payments, and to repay the advance, amounting to £465 Is. 4d., for which temporary arrangements had to be made. I shall feel obliged by your forwarding the deeds, when completed, to the Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. I have, &c, His Honor J. D. Ormond, General Government Agent, Napier. Donald McLean.

No. 7. Mr. J. P. Hamlin, Napier, to the Assistant Under Secretart Native Department. Sir, — Napier, 6th December, 1875. I have the honor to state, for your information, that the following are the reserves in each of the blocks purchased by me in the Upper Wairoa: —Tukurangi, 3,800 acres ; Taramarama, 1,700 acres; Euakituri, 2,920 acres ; and a further reserve of 2,500 acres promised to the Ureweras and Ngatiruapani tribes; making a total of 10,920 acres of reserves. I have, &c, H. Halse, Esq., Wellington. J. P. Hamlin.

No. 8. Mr. James Booth to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— "Wellington, 30th June, 1876. I have the honor to report that during the past year the completion of the purchase of land in the Whanganui and Wellington Districts by me amounts to 58,458 acres, at the average cost of 2s. 9Jd. per acre, as paid to the Natives. This land is in eighteen blocks, sixteen of which are in the "Wellington District between Manawatu and Waikanae, and contain 34,625 acres; two are in the "Whanganui District; one in the Tuhua District, Upper Whanganui, containing 17,933 acres ; and the other on the Mangawhero Eiver, containing 5,900 acres. The acquisition of the block containing 17,933 acres, and known as Kirikau, is of importance, as it is in the heart of the country, and the owners not more than two or three year, ago were Kingites and Hauhaus, and, as such, opposed to the sale of lands. There are two blocks adjoining Kirikau, named Eetaruke and Kauautahi, the purchases of which will in all probability be completed in a few months. Moreover, the Upper Whanganui Natives, having now begun to sell their waste lands to Government, are most anxious to have roads made so that Europeans may be enabled to occupy the lands so ceded to the Crown. The purchases on the West Coast, comprise portions of what will eventually be a considerable estate. The land, as awarded by the Native Lands Court, is cut up into a large number of blocks and awarded to families or hapus, the number of claimants to each block ranging from 10 to 200 ; the acquisition of this block, therefore, is a work of considerable labour. There are still a few gaps in the block which is being acquired between Manawatu and Waikanae, but I am in hopes that the purchase of the whole block will be completed be/ore the end of next year. I will only add, in connection with these purchases, that the Natives are, and have been, allowed to have whatever reserves they have asked for; but as these reserves have always been chosen in the vicinity of the Native settlements, the land which is being acquired in this (West Coast) district, when the purchases are completed, will form one entire estate. I am pleased to be able to state that all moneys which have been advanced by various Land Purchase Officers during many years past, on land purchased during the past year, have been recovered, the amount so recovered during the twelve months being £2,747 ss. 3d., former advances. There have been several attempts made during the year by private speculators to obtain Native land, either by lease or purchase, but in every case in which the Native owners had commenced negotiations with the Government, they have resisted the temptation to deal privately. I herewith enclose Mr. John Buller's yearly report. I have, &c, James Booth, Land Purchase Officer. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 8. Mr. J. W. Bijller to Mr. Booth. Sic, — Wanganui, 17th June, 1876. I have the honor to report the following for your information: — I am glad to be able to report that during the last twelve months the Natives in the South Taupo and Tuhua Districts have, in a great measure, got over their objection to sell and lease lands to the Government. This will, I think, be sufficiently apparent, from reports which I have forwarded to you