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In obedience to this instruction, I published in the local newspapers a notification that certain specified lots had been withdrawn from sale. On the 6th of August, with my letter No. 801,1 forwarded to the Secretary for Crown Lands a schedule of allotments of confiscated lands which I proposed to offer for sale by auction on the 24th September instant. On the 30th August, I received from Mr. Cooper a telegram, copy enclosed (see No. 10), saying that the Waikato lands had been taken out of the schedule last above mentioned, and in Gazette No. 42, of date 31st August, a portion of that schedule was published, but as the notification is irregular, being less than a month, these lands also must be withdrawn from sale. Enclosed is schedule for approval, containing all the allotments before mentioned as having been withdrawn, and for publication, if approved, in the New Zealand Gazette. I propose Friday, the Ist November proximo, as the day of sale, and that the place of sale shall be the Waikato Lands Office, in Auckland. I am not in possession of the circumstances under which the Hon. the Native Minister was induced to direct that the future sales of Waikato land should be held at Ngaruawahia, but I beg leave most respectfully to observe that the public interest will not be served by so doing. Considerable expense will necessarily be involved in holding a land sale at Ngaruawahia, and, as the bulk of purchasers are resident in or about Auckland, there will be in such case an absence of competition at the sale, which will seriously affect the proceeds. I never before heard of any complaints on the part of intending purchasers resident at Opotiki, Tauranga, or Waikato, about the holding of land sales in Auckland ; and if inconvenience has been experienced, it has been so small and by so few persons, that in my opinion a sacrifice of the general interest is not required to obviate it. I have, &c, D. Pollen, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Commissioner of Confiscated Lands.

Enclosure in No. 11. Notification. The Government have ordered the allotments in the undermentioned localities, advertised for sale at the Waikato Lands Office, Auckland, on the 29th of August instant, to be withdrawn from sale, viz., — Town of Ngaruawahia. Parish of Ngaroto. „ Hamilton West. „ Tuhikaramea. Parish of Pepepe. „ Mangapiko. „ Kirikiriroa. „ Te Eapa. „ Komokorau. „ Puniu. „ Hautapu. „ Pukekura. „ Pirongia. D. Pollen, Auckland, 26th August, 1872. Commissioner.

No. 12. The sale should be postponed to the Ist of December next, and notified in General Government Gazette for that date; it should also be held at Ngaruawahia, to meet the convenience of resident settlers, who should not be put to the expense of going to Auckland. 26th October, 1872. D. McLean.

No. 13. Mr. Mastebs to Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis, — A sale of confiscated lands is to take place at Ngaruawahia. Can you inform Mr. Haughton what building in that place would be suitable to hold the sale in ? Wellington, 26th October, 1872. H. J. Masters.

No. 14... Mr. Lewis to Mr. Mastebs. Mr. Mastebs, — There is a building formerly used as a military hospital, which, I think, would answer the purpose ; but I cannot be certain. Mr. Sinclair would know. Wellington, 26th October, 1872. T. W. Lewis.

No. 15. The Commissioned of Confiscated Lands, Auckland, to the Undee Secbetaby for Ceown Lands. (Telegram.) Auckland, 28th October, 1872. Re land sale, Hospital Buildings, Ngaruawahia, place of sale : Will it not be better to divide schedule and make two sales ? There are allotments at Tauranga, and others in the immigrant settlements near Auckland, included in the list. It will be hard to oblige all intending purchasers to go to Ngaruawahia. C. E. Haughton, Esq., Wellington. D. Pollen.