C—Ne. 1

No. 93. MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, 14th April, 1861. Sir,— I do myself the honor to report, for the information ot His Excellency the Governor, that I recently proceeded to the districts of Mangonui and Whangaroa, carrying with me the sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds (£250), the amount agreed upon for the purchase of the Hikurangi Block, which was duly paid to the Native claimants, in the presence of the Resident Magistrate and other Officers of the Government. During my stay at Mangonui, I accompanied Mr. White to Whangaroa, for the purpose of holding a Circuit Court. I availed myself of this opportunity to hold a final meeting of the principal Chiefs concerned in the sale of a considerable Block of land ai the head of the Whangaroa Harbour, estimated to contain from thirty to thirty-five thousand acres (30 to 35,000 acres). For the Block I have been some time in treaty. Apart from its other advantages, its acquisition would be very desirable as connecting the whole of the public lands between the Bay of Islands and Mangonui, and is the only intervening Block over which the Native title has not been extinguished. Owing to the death of the principal Chief, Ururoa, of the district, our arrangements have been interrupted, and the purchase will in consequence be delayed for some time. I proposed to the Chiefs, as a safe way of ascertaining all claims, that they should with their own people first cut the lines (for which some allowance should be made at the time of offering the payment) ; and that the Government would undertake to furnish a surveyor. They promised to give a reply on a reconsideration of the proposal there made. During the holding of the Court, the state of the country and other political subjects were freely discussed by the Chiefs ; and in reply to many questions put by them, Mr. White and myself furnished them with such information as we were able, and thought suitable under the circumstances. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

R. 61-215. Hikurangi. Reporting completion of the purchase of Hikurangi Block. V, Letter No. 90.

No. 94. MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, 17th April, 1861. Sir, — In continuation of my Report of the 14th instant, I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency, that the remainder of the Block of land near the North Cape, which i has been under negotiation, has been withdrawn for the present in consequence of a disagreement' between the Native claimants. The terms proposed to them were these : That if they required a' Reserve for their own use, the Government would have it surveyed for them, and then to offer them a lump sum for the Block. The necessity for an outline survey of the whole Block being in this instance dispensed with, from the fact of its being clearly defined by natural lines, as well as by other surveys, already made at the Government expense. This claim, although of considerable extent, is inferior in quality, and not required at the present time for settlers. Should the Natives agree to our terms, I think'it may be purchased for a reasonable sum, I have, &c, H. I. Kemp, The Chief Commissioner, District Commissioner. Land Purchase Department, Auckland.

R. 61-216. North Cape. Negotiations for Block near the North Cajie postponed,

No. 95. MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Bay of Islands, 7th June, 1861. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 16th ult,, requesting a general report on land purchasing opeiation in this district from the Ist to the 31st March, 1861; a visit to the Natives on the coast has prevented my replying to it as early as I could have wished, I beg now to forward

General. General Report of Land operations in his district.

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RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.