C--No. 1

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

■which the Natives agree to alienate their title to the land in question, for the information of th« Government. I have, &c, Donald McLean, H. T. Kemp, Esq., J.P., Chief Commissioner. *• District Commissioner, Bay of Islands.

No. 56. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP. Chief Land Purchase Commisioner's Office, Auckland, June 28th, 1858. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, reporting that you had examined several Blocks of Land offered for sale by the Natives, and am directed by Hi* Excellency the Governor to request that you will have the goodness to furnish as detailed a* account of the Blocks of Land referred to by you as possible, stating the estimated area of each Block, its position, availability for agricultural or pastoral purposes, proximity to harbour and suck other particulars as may suggest themselves to you. With reference to your suggestions on th* subject of external surveys, I have to observe that the Government is most anxious to adopt th« most economical system; provided always that such surveys are so clear and distinct that no question can afterwards arise respecting the boundaries. If the Government were surveying the Old Land Claims as well as the Native Blocks, your proposal might advantageously be agreed to, because the same person would take up the work from time to time after the principal natural features had been fixed. But at present, and as a general rule, considering that so many surveyors are engaged under separate employers, His Excellency deems it unadvisablo to discontinue the plan of accurately surveying the exterior boundaries of each Native purchase, except where a previous survey is known to have been furnished. You will have the goodness to bear fully in mind that every transaction with the Natives for the purchase of land should be so clear, distinct, and well understood, that no possibility of a question arising in consequence of insufficient surveys should ever exist. The subsequent evils resulting from undefined boundaries are often much greater than the first expense of an accurate survey. The Government, therefore, expects that each transaction with the Natives of your district shall in every way be so final and conclusive, that there shall be no further embarassment caused by disputes arising which might have been obviated. A copy of a [plan which is being compiled of the old. land claims in the Bay of Islands district, showing their relative positions and extent, will shortly be transmitted to you for your information and guidance. I have, &c, Donald McLean, H. T. Kemp, Esq., J.P., Chief Commissioner. District Commissioner, Bay of Islands. _

General. Relative to survey of external boundaries. V. Letter No. 52.

No. 57. MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP TO THE CHIEE COMMISSIONERDistrict Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, Ist July, 1858. Sir, — I do myself the honor to report for the information of his Excellency the Governor that the survey of a Block of Land known as Mokau has just been completed. It is one of the Blocks already reported on as under negotiation, and is estimated to contain Ten thousand (10,000) acres, chiefly forest, comprising some very fine kauri and other timber. It is situated North West of Waimate, distant ten miles, with an available road. It stands connected with blocks over which the Native title has been extinguished, and is in every other respect a desirable purchase. The Chief Wi Hau, a well known and useful servant of the Government, is the seller; and as he is anxious to assist the Government in establishing a settlement here, I beg to recommend that I may be authorized finally to conclude this purchase. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner, Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

R. 58-271. Mqkap Block. The survey «f Mokau Block has been completed. V. Letter No. 46.

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