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No. 5. Mr. D. A. Tole to the Hon. the Ministeb of Lands. Sib,— Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 12th April, 18S0. I have the honor to inform you that the Land Board have agreed, in reference to the request contained in the accompanying copy of a letter addressed by Messrs. Grant and Foster to the Hon. the Attorney-General, to withhold from sale, until the Ist day of November next, a further area of 7,000 acres in the Te Aroha Block, on the eastern bank of the Waihou Eiver. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, D. A. Tole, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure in No. 5. Messrs. Gkant and Fosteb to the Hon. Mr. Whitaker. Slß,— Auckland, 29th March. 1880. As you are aware, we made an application to the Crown Lands Office, on the 18th instant for a portion of the Te Aroha Block, and we received a note from that office thereon on the following day. We have been carefully over the portion mentioned in that note, and find it very desirable to include in our application the land lying alongside the same, on the eastern side of the Waihou, and extending from that river to the summit of the Te Aroha range. The higher portion is broken land totally unfit for agricultural purposes, but we are anxious to have it as making the property more compiete, and forming a background for the houses we propose building on the slopes of the hill. As we are leaving the colony by to-morrow's mail, we have requested Captain Steele to act on our behalf: he thoroughly understands our views and wishes on the subject, and we shall be glad if you will communicate with him on the matter at your early convenience. ¥e are, &c, Samuel Grant. The Hon. F. Whitaker, Auckland. John J. Fosteb.

No. 6. Mr. H. J. H. Eliott to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Sir, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 4th May, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 564, of the 12th ultimo, reporting that the Land Board have agreed to withhold 7,000 acres in the Te Aroha Block, for Messrs. Grant and Foster, until the Ist of November next. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Under-Secretary.

By Authority: George Didsbukt, Government Printer, Wellington.—1880. Price 3d.]

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