RETURN OF THE QUANTITY OF LAND PURCHASED FROM THE NATIVES; ALSO THE AMOUNT SURVEYED TO 1st JUNE, 1861.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1861 Session I, C-03

C—No, 3

RETURN OF THE QUANTITY OF LAND PURCHASED FROM THE NATIVES; ALSO THE AMOUNT SURVEYED TO 1st JUNE, 1861.

RETURN TO AN ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF 12th JUNE, 1861.

{Mr. Fox.)

C—No. 3

MEMORANDUM. In reference to the Order of the House of Representatives, calling for " a Return shewing the " number of acres over which the Native title has been extinguished during the twelve months ending " the lst June, 1861, and the purchase money paid, or agreed to be paid for the same ; also the " number of acres surveyed during the same period by surveyors acting under the orders of the Land " Purchase Department," the Chief Commissioner supplies the following information :— Bay of Islands District. The only two purchases are as under :— Ahipara Block, 9000 acres, purchase money. £700 Hikorangi Block, undetermined, do., £260 The Ahipara Block was purchased prior to lst June, 1860, but was not included in the last Return furnished. The Commissioner residing at the Bay of Islands has been called upon to supply information as to the number of acres surveyed. Whangarei and Kaipara Districts. The following purchases have been effected :— £ s. d. Mairitahi Block, 5,950 acres, purchase money , 297 10 0 Omapou Block, 8,842 acres, do., 442 2 0 Te Kari Block, 13,320 acres, do., 66110 0 Waionike Block, 20,600 acres, do., 1030 0 0 48,712 acres. £2431 2 0 Number of acres surveyed during the period, Fifty thousand eight hundred. Thames and Piako Districts. Number of acres purchased, 6000. Amount of purchase money, £350. No surveys executed as the Commissioner was detached from this district in August, 1860. Province of Wellington. No purchases have been made since lst July, 1860. Twenty seven thousand and sixteen acres have been surveyed during the same period, an amount apparently small, but large when the number of district surveys (40 in number) is taken into consideration. These surveys include lands purchased; lands under negociation ; lands reserved for Natives ; and lands in the hands of the Natives. Much time has been spent during the same period, in determining and surveying the back boundaries of former purchases in the Wairarapa. In the Province of Ahuriri no fresh purchases have been made, but a surveyor attached to the depertment has been employed in surveying the external boundaries of blocks under negotiation and reserves for the Natives. Donald McLean.