5

C.-3A

Henry Alley, for three shillings per acre, and Henry Alley consents to pay three shillings per acre to us for the acre (each acre) of Hungahunga. We consent to survey that land, and to cause the title to be investigated, so that a Crown grant may issue, and it may be conveyed to Henry Alley and his heirs, or those to whom he may assign it, for ever. We have received one hundred pounds, which is a portion of the payment for that land. The money received by — Te Eaihi, £10. Hori Neri. Hara, £10. Penetito. Hoani Tuhakarima. Maka. Kereama. Kere. Eotorua. Te Whauwhau. Whirihana. Hamiora te Apurou. Matenga. Eikihana. Witness—E. E. M. Campbell, Native Interpreter. Correct translation of original agreement. —James Mackay.—Bth June, 1876.

Enclosure 4 in No. 5. Mr. T. Eussell to Mr. J. Mackay. Dear Sic, — Wyndham Street, Auckland, 18th July, 1874. Eeferring to the arrangement made with you (acting for the Government) before I left New Zealand in 1873,1 now have to call your attention to the necessity for completing the purchase of the Waiharakeke Block, in order that I may get a title to my portion of it. I shall shortly proceed with the survey of the Hungahunga Swamp; but lam not content with the northern boundary you have apparently assigned to me, and wish it to run at a right angle from the river to the south-western boundary of Moon's survey. My understanding of the arrangement with you was that you were not to purchase any land whatever for the Government on the western bank of the river, and my agents were to assist you with our Natives in the purchase of the eastern bank. I am, however, willing to accept modification of that arrangement, and will abandon the land below the boundary I have named, and not interfere with it— and this is the most valuable part of the block—if you will agree to my present proposal about my northern boundary. I have, &c, James Mackay, Esq. Thomas Eussell.

Enclosure 5 in No. 5. Mr. J. Mackay to Mr. T. Eussell; * Sib,— Auckland, 18th July, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, referring to an arrangement which you made with me in 1873 about the Hungahunga and Waiharakeke Blocks, Upper Thames district. I infer from your letter that you suppose I have in some manner or other interfered with the boundaries of those blocks, so as to curtail the area of the same. I beg to state the only action I have taken in the matter, other than considering certain offers made by the Ngatihaua tribe, was the giving to your agent (Mr. Buddie) a memorandum that, if you did not interfere with my purchases on the eastern bank of the Eiver Thames or Waihou, I would not do anything against your acquirement of those on the western side: this being substantially the arrangement which I made with you in 1873, when I found you were negotiating for the purchase of the Waiharakeke and Hungahunga Blocks. As far as I am concerned, I do not see that the Government would derive any advantage from purchasing the Mangapouri Swamp, which is the outlet of a large part of the drainage of the Waiharakeke and Hungahunga Blocks, which you wish to acquire; and lam prepared to recommend the boundary mentioned by you, provided that you do not interfere with my land purchases, undertaken on behalf of the Crown, elsewhere. I have, Ac, James Mackay, Jun., T. Eussell, Esq. Land Purchase Agent.

Enclosure 6 in No. 5. Mr. T. Eussell to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Memo, for the Hon. Dr. Pollen. In 1872, or beginning of 1873, I arranged to purchase the Mangapouri Swamp, on the Waihou Eiver, adjoining Mr. Firth's run, and extending downwards by the bank of river; and, through Mr. Preece, negotiated with the owners, and then made considerable payments on account. It was found that the same owners held lands on both sides of the river; and as the Government were purchasing the eastern bank through Mr. Mackay, I arranged with him that I was not to interfere with his purchases on the eastern bank, and he was to act in a similar way towards me on tho western bank; and in our negotiations with the Natives this arrangement has been maintained. I was negotiating with the Natives for the Waiharakeke Block, which covers land on both sides of the river; but, as the largest portion was on the eastern side, I withdrew on Mr. Mackay giving me an undertaking to give me my portion at the same price- at which he acquired the remainder. This is settled ;