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district, the boundaries of which he describes as commencing at a place called Matakitaki, on the sea coast, thence to the Raetaea, Pukekohe, Puketotara, Ahuotarakuku, te Irihga, Kaituruki, Patatetahi, Omono, Waikirikiri, te Oronga, on to Kopuru. This land being situate within your district, you will be enabled to ascertain whether it has been previously purchased; whether the present man is the proper owner ; and if it would be desirable, from its proximity to Auckland, to acquire it from the aboriginal owners. I have, he, Mr. Commissioner Johnson, Donald McLean, Whangarei, Land Commissioner.

No. 31. MR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Whangarei, 24th August, 1855, Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that I have received a letter from the Chief Tirarau, stating his willingness to give up a sufficient quantity of land, as I requested, to enable me to recommend the payment of a sum of Two thousand seven hundred pounds, for the Maunga Karamea Block 1 have also seen the individual owners of the land in question; and they have agreed to the propositions made by Tirarau, on the understanding that certain reserves for their use are to be repurchased for them from the Government, at the rate often shillings (10s.) per acre. The great difficulty of procuring Native labour has prevented me from surveying these reserves at once, in order that the Government might be informed of the precise conditions of the purchase. The entire Block is estimated at thirty thousand (30,000) acres; and it rests with you to determine whether it would be expedient to wait for my report of the contents of the portions to which a pre-emptive right of purchase will be required, or to send the money at once, (as the Native Chief's are very impatient,) and trust to my prudence in concluding the most favourable arrangement for procuring as large a portion of the available land as possible for the European settlers as I can, without overlooking the welfare and the requirements of the Native race. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Esq., John Grant Johnson, Principal Commissioner, &c, Commissioner for purchase of Native Land. Auckland.

R. 55-105. Maungakakamba. Relative to purchase c? Maungakavanaea bleek.

No. 32. MR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Rangiora, Whangarei, sth September, 1855. Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that the Natives* named in the margin wish to dispose of a small block of land containing, by the enclosed survey, one hundred and fifty-seven acres three roods and thirty-six perches (1 57a. 3r. 36p.) to the Government, for the sum of Forty pounds (£4O). A condition of this purchase is, that the Chief Maketu be allowed apre-smptive right of purchasing four acres out of the Block at the rate often shillings (10s.) pet acre. Should the completion of this purchase be approved, the amount can be pail out of the funds in my bands for extinguishing Native claims. I have, &c, Donald McLean, Esq., John Grant Johnson, Principal Commissioner, &c, Whangarei. Auckland.

R. 55-112.

No. 33. MR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. District Commissioner's Office, Whangarei, 10th September, 1855. Sir/— You will perceive on reference to the survey of the Manga Tapere Block at Whangarei that a small strip of land along the bank of the Otaika river, containing some cultivations, has been excluded from the purchase by the Natives.

R. 55-124. Manga Tapere. Recommending purchase of frontage of Maunga Tapere Block. V, Letter No. 24,

* Maketa, Te Pirihi, Te Koni Koni, Te Reweti, Ngakapa, ltipeka.

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RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES.