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D.—B

No. 10. The Hon. Mr. Retd to Mr. Broomhall. Sir,— General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 27th January, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 24th instant, referring to tho terms and conditions on which the Auckland Waste Lauds Board have agreed (subject to the extinguishment of the Native title, and to the reservation of such lands as may bo deemed necessary for Native purposes, as defined in the resolution of the Board) to sell to you 50,000 acres of land within what is known as Te Aroha purchase, and requesting me to submit the resolutions to His Excellency the Governor. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that, as the Native claims have not yet been settled, I cannot at present submit the matter for the approval of the Governor. As soon, however, as the Native claims have been settled, the land will be proclaimed under the 17th section of " The Waste Lands Administration Act, 1876;" His Excellency will then be a.dvised, in terms of the 29th section of the above Act, to approve of the " price, terms, and conditions " agreed to by the Auckland Waste Lands Board. In regard to the concluding paragraph of your letter, I have to state that, before the assent of tho Governor is given to tho sale or lease of any Native reserve which may be made within the block, due care will be taken that such sale or other disposal will not interfere with the improvement and occupation of the other land within the block. I have, Sec, D. Reid, John Bromhall, Esq., Wellington. Secretary for Crown Lands.

No. 11. Mr. Broomhall to the Hon. Mr. Reid. Sir— The Club, Wellington, 27th January, 1877. I beg to acknowledge your letter No. 153, of this day's date, wherein you inform me that His Excellency the Governor will be advised, in terms of the 29th section of " The Waste Lands Administration Act, 1876," to approve of the price, terms, and conditions agreed to by the Auckland Waste Lands Board, as soon as theTe Aroha Block has been proclaimed, for which I am obliged. I take this opportunity to express my acknowledgments for the assurance that due care shall be taken that any future sale or lease shall not interfere with the improvement and occupaiion of other land in the block. I intend to leave Wellington for London, via Christchurch and Dunedin, on Tuesday, the 30th instant, and any communication you may require to make to me in the matter please address to Joseph Newman, Esq., Queen Street, Auckland, who will forward it to me. 1 have, &c, The Hon. D. Reid, Crown Lands Office, Wellington. J. Broomhall.

No. 12. The Hon. Mr. Whitaker to the Hon. Mr. Reid. (Telegram.) Auckland, 27th January, 1877. Re Broomhall. I agree with you that we must avoid complications and compensations. Broomhall quite understands the position of the land he wants, and is to pay nothing till all difficulties removed. 1 see no object, even if it could be done, of giving Governor's formal assent till all clear. Letter promising this year, now, would be quito sufficient, and no doubt satisfactory to him. Hon. Donald Roid, Wellington. Fred. Whitaker.

No. 13. The Hon. Mr. Reed to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. Sir,— General Crown LandsOffi.ee, Wellington, 29th January, 1877. The bearer, J. Broomhall, Esq., who is in New Zealand for the purpose of selecting a block of land suitable for the purpose of forming a special settlement, is desirous of ascertaining what lands in your district are available for the purpose, in terms of the 29th section of "The Waste Lands Act 1876." I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to give him any information and assistance he may require. I have, Sec, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. D. Reid. [Copy to Commissioners, Invercargill, Christchurch.]

No. 14. Mr. W. H. Pearson to Mr. D. A. Tole. Sir, — Crown Lands Office, Invercargill, 12th February, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 29th ultimo, requesting I would further Mr. Broomhall's desire to obtain a block of land for special settlement in this district.