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Land Purchase Department, Auckland, „ l August 13, 1855. Sir, — I have the honour to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency the Officer administering the Government, that the Native Chief Te Hapuku of Hawke's Bay, has come up here to receive payment for several valuable blocks of land in the Ahuriri District; and as he has determined on returning there sooner than he expected in consequence of the illness of one of his children, I have to request that a sum of four thousand five hundred pounds should be sent by him to the District Commissioner at Ahuriri, as first instalments on account of the several purchases (No. 1 to No. 6,) alluded to in the enclosed Report. I have, &c., (Signed) Donald McLean, Principal Commissioner. I find that the vessel by which Te Hapuku sails isgoing off in the morning at the latest, I am afraid if he was to go back without the money for his lands, that it might influence him against the sale of them or of any other lands in futnre. (Signed) Donald McLean*.

ENCLOSURES TO MESSAGE No. 22. (Copy.) Post Office, Auckland, Ist May, J 855. Sir, — In reference to the enclosed statement I have to remark that the number of letters 10,04-2, is the total number posted for the United Kingdom in Auckland, in the severa village post offices, and at Russell and Hokianga. The return as now forwarded is there fore complete for the whole Province. I have, &c., (Signed) William Hulme, Postmaster. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., icc. A Statement of the Number of Letters and Newspapers despatched from the Province of Auckland to the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st March, 1854. Number of Letters. Number of Newspapers. 10,042 . 13,450 Ten thousand and forty-two Letters. Thirteen thousand four hundred and fifty Newspapers. (Signed) William Hulme, Postmaster. Post Office, Nelson, 31st May, 1855. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular No. 27,, date asppre r margin, and, in reply, beg to state for the information of his Excellency the Officer administering the Government that the number of Letters posted by me for London during the year ended 31st March last amounted to (3236) three thousand two hundred and thirty-six, and that there is no other Post office in the Province from whence mails can be sent. I have, &c., (Signed) B. Walmsley, i. be Honorable Postmaster, The Colonial Secretary,

26tb April, 1850,