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No. 40. (Telegram.) Cambridge, sth November, 1879. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.—Member for Waipa holds petition from Ngatiraukawa re Government Proclamation. Patetere Natives declare survey stopped until satisfactory answer received. Taupo Road dependent upon satisfactory solution of this question. —W. Moon. No. 41. Mr. S. P. Smith to the Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department. Sir, — Survey Office, Auckland, sth November, 1879. In compliance with your telegram of the 3rd instant I now have the honor to state, for the information of the Hon. Native Minister, the state of matters in connection with the survey of Patetere. Tour telegram states that " there is considerable speculation here as to the Patetere surveys, and that my reports conflict with those of Mr. Grace." After having seen Mr. Grace to-day at Hamilton, I think this admits of simple explanation. Mr. Grace, in referring to the survey of Te Whaiti Block, which adjoins Patetere, has alluded to it under the latter name, whilst I, in mentioning Patetere, confine that term to the block over which the Government Proclamation extends ; hence the confusion. Te Whaiti Block is situated immediately to the east of Patetere, and, according to the boundaries stated in the application for survey, is of very considerable extent —probably over 50,000 acres—and is, I learn, of excellent quality. You will probably remember the fact of my having mentioned to you, when I saw you in Wellington in August last, some particulars as to the size and character of this block. The survey now going on (for the stoppage referred to in my telegram of the Ist instant was only temporary, it appears) is for the Natives, and is made at their expense by a Mr. Creagh, surveyor, who was authorized by me in that behalf, as the Act requires. As the boundary between this block and the proclaimed boundary of Patetere are common for some miles, the survey can be made available for the latter, and is therefore so far an advantage to the Government. It was this survey to which Mr. Grace has referred in telegraphing to you. I proceeded yesterday to Hamilton, and met Mr. Grace, and completed arrangements for commencing the survey of the Patetere Block as soon as he returns from Waotu in the beginning of next week. The matter is in the hands of one of my most experienced officers, Mr. Cussen, who will render Mr. Grace every assistance possible; and as soon as he shall have advanced the triangulation over the nearer parts of the block —and Mr. Grace informs me that he is ready —I propose sending up three, or possibly four, more survey parties, in order that we may get the whole thing finished, including the subdivisions and reserves, at as early a date as possible. If the Native obstruction does not cause delay, probably the whole survey will be completed and ready for the Court in from four to five months' time. To insure this it will be necessary that the triangulation be extended right through to Te Atiamuri at once. When this is once done any number of surveyors that the Government wish could be put to work at once. It will also reduce the cost of survey by at least one-half. I am therefore extremely anxious that this important work, which I have been endeavouring to accomplish for nearly seven years (at first personally, under the direction of the late Inspector of Surveys), should be successfully carried through. Mr. Grace is very sanguine as to the amount of opposition that will be met with, and believes that after the first start there will be none. In my telegram of the Ist instant I stated that there would be obstruction to the survey, and I still hold to that opinion; but Ido not wish to convey the impression that it would be such as would endanger the lives of those engaged in the work, although it will doubtless lead to considerable delay. In connection with this work there is one matter which I esteem of great importance, which I wish to bring under the notice of the Hon. the Native Minister —and that is, the absolute necessity of having some Native officer constantly on the ground, who could anticipate and deal with Native questions as they arise. It is too much to expect that the surveyor, in addition to his own proper duties, should have to leave his party idle whilst he goes to arrange the questions that constantly arise in all Native surveys. In the matter of economy it would be a saving to the Government, as the expenses of a survey-party, especially in an outlying district like Patetere, are very heavy. Mr. Grace concurs in the advisability of this course. In sending District-Surveyor Cussen to commence these surveys, I have had to withdraw him from other Government work; and, as I contemplate sending another staff-surveyor to join him as soon as Mr. Grace is ready, this will make seven of my staff engaged on land-purchase surveys: therefore, if more surveyors are wanted, extra ones will have to be employed, in terms of the arrangement between your department and the Surveyor-General, to the effect that they shall be paid by the Land Purchase Department. I will communicate with the Surveyor-General on this subject as soon as we know the number required. I have, &c, S. Percy Smith, The Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington. Chief Surveyor. No. 42. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 6th November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Esq., Cambridge. —To be forwarded on. —No. 1,889. —Hon. Native Minister directs that, for the present, all surveys in connection with the Patetere purchase be stopped ; also, that the survey now being carried on outside the eastern boundary of the land by private persons be stopped. You will be good enough to see that these instructions are carried out forthwith, and report as early aa possible. —Richard John Gill (by order). No. 43. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 6th November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —-Hon. Native Minister requests that you will please not to authorize any survey-work to be commenced in connection with the Patetere proclaimed