SURVEY OF MAORI LAND IN THE KING COUNTRY (REPORTS FROM THE CHIEF SURVEYOR, AUCKLAND, RELATIVE TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885 Session I, G-09

G.—9

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

SURVEY OF MAORI LAND IN THE KING COUNTRY (REPORTS FROM THE CHIEF SURVEYOR, AUCKLAND, RELATIVE TO).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 2nd July, 1885. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House all reports from the Chief Surveyor, Auckland, relative to an agroement made on the 19th December, 1883, between himself and certain Maori chiefs, for the survey of a large block of land in the so-called King country, including reports on the progress which has been made in the said survey, and as regards its present position."—Hon. Mb. BRYCE.

No. 1. The Assistant Sdeveyoe-Geneeal to the Subveyoe-Genebalt. The Surveyor-General, Wellington. Kihikihi, 19th December, 1883. Meeting with Ngatimaniopoto just completed. Great deal of underhand opposition to Government surveyors undertaking survey of tribal claim, but Natives now all concur. Hope to commence next week. Triangulation will go on immediately. Have asked Humphries if he can spare a surveyor, to start from confiscation line, White Cliffs, to meet another who will commence in middle on upper branch, Wanganui, whilst Edgecumbe will start from Buapehu. Final arrangement will be made after meeting you at Kawhia, for which place I start on Friday morning. J. P. Smith, Assistant Surveyor-General.

No. 2. The Subveyoe-Genebal to the Assistant Sueveyob-Genebal. Wellington, 20th December, 1883. Percy Smith, Esq., Assistant Surveyor-General, Kihikihi. Glad to hear that Native opposition to Government undertaking surveys in King country has been overcome. Skeet is now triangulating country, White Cliffs to Mokau. This should fall in, with your extension from Wanganui Biver and Buapehu. I will see Humphries on my way to Kawhia, where I expect to meet you on Sunday next. J. McKeebow, Surveyor-General.

No. 3. The Assistant Sueveyoe-Genebal to the Sueveyob-Ganebal. District Survey Office, Auckland, 3rd July, 1885. The Surveyor-General, Wellington. Be Aotea or King Country Block. In reply to your telegram as above, I beg to enclose herewith copies of two letters (C.S. 1838/4 and C.S. 1838/6), which contain the arrangement made for the survey of the above block between the chiefs therein mentioned and myself, acting under instructions of the Hon. the Native Minister, which letters passed immediately after the meeting held at Kihikihi on the 19th December, 1883, when the arrangements were made before the assembled tribes. The actual survey thereof referred to commenced on the Bth January, 1884, at which date Messrs. Edgecumbe and Spencer left Kihikihi to define the southern boundary from Buapehu to the confiscation line near the White Cliffs. Mr. Spencer finished out his portion of the boundary to the confiscation line and reached Auckland on the 26th March. Mr. Edgecumbe completed his part to near Buapehu by the 9th May. The northern portion of the boundary was commenced by Mr. Spencer on the 16th April, 1884 —see your telegram 12th April—and finished on the 30th July, 1884, This completed all that was necessary to make a map for the Native Land Court, excepting the eastern boundary of the Mokau-Mohakatino Block, which is common to that block and the King country Block; and here an unforeseen difficulty arose in carrying out the order of the Native Land Court as to the boundary laid down in that order (interlocutory), which the Natives very strongly objected to when it was found where it would run to. As the adjustment of this boundary can only, I believe, be settled by the Court in the'presence of the people concerned, and as no Court has sat in that district (Waitara, New Plymouth, &c.) since, the completion of the survey is thus delayed. J. Peecy Smith, Assistant Surveyor-General.

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Enclosures. Ki a Wahanui, ki a Taonui, ki a Bewi Maniapoto. Awamutu, 19 Tihema, 1883. Tena Koutou. Kua tae mai ta koutou pukapuka o tenei ra nei e whakahua ana i nga korero i whakatakotoria nei e tatou i te aroaro o te iwi. Tenei taku kupu whakahoki ita koutou pukapuka, e whakaae ana te Kawanatanga ma nga kai ruri a te Kawanatanga e ruri i nga raina o te rohe potae o ta koutou poraka kia oti tika ai kia taea ai te puta o te Karauna Karaati ki a koutou ki o koutou iwi hoki, a e whakaae ana hoki kia kaua te moni ruri mo tenei mahi e neke ake i te kotahi mano i te ono rau pauna, ko te moni e whakahoki mai e koutou ki a te Kawanatanga kia kaua e neke ake i tenei £1,600 e whakaaetia ana tenei kupu hei kupu tuturu kahore he tikanga ke atu a te Kawanatanga a tetahi atu Kawanatanga ki muri ake nei, ko nga kupu o tenei pukapuka e whai tikanga ana ki te rohe Porotaka anake. Na Te Mete, Tumuaki Kairuri.

[Translation.] To Wahanui, to Taonui, to Bewi Maniapoto. Awamutu, 19th December, 1883. Gebeting to you all. Your letter of this day's date has been received, in which you state the arrangements made by us in the presence of the people. This is my word in reply to your letter : The Government consent that the Government surveyors should make an acurate survey of the lines of the external boundary of your block, in order that a Crown grant may issue to you and your tribes; it is also agreed that the survey shall not exceed £1,600; the amount for you to refund the Government will not exceed £1,600. And it is agreed to as a definite word that neither the Government nor any other Government can make any other arrangement in the future. The terms of this document apply to the external boundaries only. J. P. Smith (Te Mete), Chief Surveyor.

Ki a Te Mete Tumuaki Kai-Buri. Kihikihi, 19th Tihema, 1883. Kua whakaae matou ma to Kawanatanga e whakaoti pai nga ruritanga tika o te rohe porotaka o to matou poraka e taea ai te whakaputa mai te Karauna Karaati ki a matou me o matou iwi me o matou hapu hoki, mo ce utu kua whakaritea mai nei e koe e kore e neke atu i te kotahi mano i te ono rau pauna £1,600 hei utunga atu ma matou. Na ko ta matou kupu tuturu tenei katia rawa tenei whakaritenga e whakarereketia e tetahi atu tikanga, e tetahi atu Kawanatanga ranei a muri ake nei. Wahanui. Ngahued te Bangkiaiwhieia. Taonui. Te Heeekiekie. Bewi Maniapoto. Te Pikikotuku.

[Translation.] To Mr. Smith, Chief Surveyor. Kihikihi, 19th December, 1883. We consent that the Government should make an accurate survey of the external boundary of our block in order that a Crown grant may issue to us, our tribes, and our hapus for the price as arranged by you, namely, that the cost to us should not exceed £1,600. Now, this is our decided word: this agreement must not be altered by any other arrangement or by any future Government. Wahanui. Ngahubu te Bangikaiwhibia. Taonui. Te Heeekiekie. Bewi Maniapoto. Te Pikikotuku. [Approximate cost of Paper.— Preparation: £1 14s. Printing (1,225) copies: £1 4s.]

By Authority : George Didsbdby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs.

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