C—No. 1

No. 3. MR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Omanu, Wairoa River, Kaipara, 18th December, 1854. Sir,— ■ I have the honor to enclose a deed from the Native Chief Manukau of the Uriohau tribe to the Crown, giving up a piece of land guaranteed to contain five hundred acres which I have purchased for the sum of Fifty pounds. The circumstance which led to this pu-chase was, that Manukau offered a large Block on the rivers Wairoa and Otamatea, the merits of which I was unable to investigate through the various stages necesrary before purchase, on account of a press of more urgent business in another locality, and from the difficulty I have experienced in making an fquitable bargain with this Chief. I could not make him any advance on account; but, as he was anxious for cash, and having a strong voice in affairs here, I thought the most advisable plan was to make a purchase for a definite portion in the manner which has been dene; so that, in the event of my not being able to agree with Manukau about the large block, no disadvantage will accrue to the public interest. I have, &c., John Grant Johnson, District Commissioner. Donald McLean, Esq., Principal Land Commissioner, he, &c.

R. 13—55. Enclosing Deed for 500 acres purchased from Manukau.

No. 4. MR, COMMISSIONER KEMP (ACTING FOR THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER) TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Land Purchase Department, Auckland, 19th April, 1855. Sir,— I do myself the honor to enclose for His Excellency's information the original Deed with receipt endorsed tr,e.recn, together with translation, for a block of land on the Kaipara, known as the "Toka Toka," by which it will be seen that the final instalment of Two hundred pounds (£200) has been paid to the natives, making in the whole the sum of Three hundred pounds (£3(0) for this block, estimated to contain about four thousand (4000) acres. It will be remembered as the site chosen for a Custom House, and is likely to become of value. The sum of Twenty pounds (£2O) has been placed to the credit of Mr. Johnson, as the portion due to the Chief Parore, and will be either handed to that Chief by Mr Johnson himself, or forwarded to the care of Hastings Atkyns, Esq., who has undertaken to ccc it delivered. In the meantime, I knew of no objection to the block being surveyed and laid open for selection. I have, &c, H. T. Kemp, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Native Secretary, Land Department, Auckland.

Tokatoka. Transmuting Deed of Tokatoka Block. V- Letter No. 1.

No. 5. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER TO MR. COMMISSIONER KEMP. Land Commissioner's Office, • . Auckland, 26th June, 185 G. Sir, — I have the honor to request that ycu will furnish me with information upon the following point:—Mr. Johnson, in the purchase of the Tokatoka block, at Kaipara, made <*n arrangement with the consent of the selling party, that a sum of Twenty pounds should be paid to the Chief Parore for his claim upon that block, which amcunt it is evident from his report to me on the subject, Mr. Johnson intended to have deducted from the final payment of Two hundred pounds (£200) for the Tokatoka block. It appears that this final payment was made by ycu in Auckland on the 13th February, 1855, but there is nothing to show that the sum of Twenty pounds (£2O) paid to Parore, was refunded by the receipient of the final payment. Parore has given a separate receipt for Twenty pounds (£2O) on the ICth September, 1855, and Paraone and the other parties to whom you made the payment on the 13th February 1855, give a receipt in full for Two hundred pounds (£200). The point, therefore, on which I now request information from you is whether the Twenty pounds (£2O) was deducted by or repaid to

Tokatoka. Respecting advance of £20 to Parore on account, of Tokatoka.

V. Letter No. 4 t

95

RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES,