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The Undeb-Secbetaby, Native Department, to Mr. G, T. Wilkinson, (Telegram,) Government Buildings, 11th February, 1884. (Confidential.) —On looking into title of Ngamoko No. 2 I find that no dealings are registered against it—that the unregistered grant remains in the Deeds Office. The land was granted to Te Baihi and other Natives in 1870. Moreover, Mr. Kay does not include the land in his Property-tax return. Has he stated to you what title he has ? T. W. Lewis, George T. Wilkinson, Esq., Alexandra. Under-Secretary.

The Undee-Seceetaey, Native Department, to Mr. G. T. Wilkinson. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 12th February, 1884. You had better go and see Ngamoko No. 2, and send me report, with information about title, as soon as you can. Native Minister wishes matter expedited. T. W. Lewis, George T. Wilkinson, Esq. Under-Secretary.

Mr. G. T. Wilkinson to the Undeb-Seceetaby, Native Department. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 12th February, 1884. Me. Kay has not stated to me what title he has to Ngamoko No. 2. I took it for granted that he was the owner, knowing, however, that the necessary inquiries into title would be made if the purchase was agreed to. Do you wish me to see or communicate with him? G. T. Wilkinson, The Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Government Native Agent,

Mr. G. T. Wilkinson to the Undeb-Secbetaby, Native Department. Sib, — Native Office, Alexandra, 15th February, 1884. In accordance with instructions contained in your telegram of the 12th instant, I have the honour to state that I waited upon Mr. Andrew Kay at Orakau yesterday, and with him went to view the Ngamoko No. 2 Block. As, before anything could be done regarding a sale, it would be necessary that the person selling should have a good title, I may state that, on questioning Mr. Kay about his title, he informed me that the land was bought by him in the name of his brother-in-law (Mr. John Bunciman). He says there were five owners to the block, of whom Wiremu te Wheoro was one. The interests of four of the owners had been purchased some time ago, but it is only lately that the fifth interest (that of Te Wheoro) has been secured. Mr. Kay says that the purchase is now complete ; the deeds have passed the Trust Commissioner and are at present in the hands of Mr. McGregor Hay, solicitor, of Hamilton, who will have them registered without delay. Should a purchase be agreed upon, Mr. Kay guarantees a good title. Presuming, therefore, the title to be a good one, I can now refer to the land. A number of years have now elapsed since this block was surveyed; it was not, therefore, possible for me to see the exact position of the boundaries, and Mr. Kay could only point them out to me approximately. To get the exact position it would be necessary to re-survey the block. The boundary-line dividing Mr. Tole's land from that of Mr. Kay has not been fenced yet. I have made a rough sketch (attached) showing the position and features of the block. I am of opinion that, taken by itself, the.block, although valuable for European farming, contains too much swamp to be a suitable block to give to the Natives. Mr. Kay, however, offers to guarantee that there are not less than one hundred acres of dry and cultivable land in it. You will see by the sketch that most of the dry land is in such a position as to be cut off by swamp from the present Government road. There is, however, a road, which is at present in general use, which, from its position, will, I think, be a continuation through the King country of the present Government road, which ends at the confiscated line, and they could make use of this road to connect with the Government one. (I have shown it with dotted lines on the sketch-map.) Should, however, the purchase of the block be agreed upon, Mr. Kay will give a right-of-road along the confiscation line through Lot 55 to Government road. It appears to me undesirable to give to the Natives a quantity of swamp land that they cannot well cultivate. At the same time it would be a great advantage to them to have the use of the Mangahoe Stream for fishing purposes, and the timber that grows along its banks, even if this had to be got at the expense of taking a portion of swamp land with it. I would therefore suggest that the Government buy a portion of Ngamoko No. 2 (abutting on the creek and extending to Tole's line, as per either of dotted lines on sketch), say 100 or 150 acres, at £2 10s. per. acre, and also a portion, of, say-, twenty-five or thirty acres, of Lot 55 (as per either dotted line on sketch), at £6 per acre, which would thus give Te Kooti and his people sufficient dry land for their present use, and they could increase their area by draining the swampy part of Ngamoko No. 2 whenever they thought fit to do so. By buying the land in this way it would not cost more than to purchase the whole of the 261 acres of Ngamoko No. 2 only, and the requirements of the Natives would be better satisfied. Mr. Kay says he would not object to a purchase of that sort taking place, but he would require a right to drain his portion through their land if the fall rendered it necessary. As, however, the land in that locality is valuable, and is likely to get more so, it would not, I think, be unadvisable to purchase the whole of Ngamoko No. 2, as well as the part, or even the whole, of Lot 55, as then a sufficiency of suitable land, consisting of dry land, swamp, creek front-