RELATIVE TO LAND PURCHASES

31

C—No. 1

No. 28. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Ahuriri, March 27th, 1862. Bra, — Adverting to my letter of the 29th November last, upon the subject of an offer of a piece of land adjoining the Ngatarawa plain, in the most valuable part of the district, I have now the honor to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency, that my expectations have been more than realized, as regards the extent to which I anticipated that new land would be offered. On my return to this district from Auckland, I found that the survey of the small piece of the Ngatarawa plain, alluded to in my letter above quoted, had been suspended at the instance of Te Moananui, on the grounds that it was better to do nothing until Te Hapuku and myself should return from Auckland, as it was intended to offer considerably more land than was at first proposed, and he was anxious that we should both accompany the surveying party. An application was accordingly made to me immediately on my arrival, to proceed to the survey of the lands claimed by Te Moananui and his party, within the blocks surveyed by Mr. Park and Te Hapuku, and an invitation was sent to the latter Chief requesting him to accompany the expedition. It happened, however, that the sale of the Manga or Rangipeke block effected by Te Hapuku and Watene at Auckland, and which land is claimed by a hapu called Ngaitakaha, of the other party, who never saw a fraction of the purchase money, had, together with unfair divisions of the piece of some of the lately purchased blocks, given rise to much indignant discussion and blustering on both sides, that Te Hapuku declined the invitation, and it was decided to proceed without him. The party consisted of Te Moananui, Tareha, Karaitiana, and their followers, to the number of about seventy, who, in consequence of the violent speeches of the opposite party, but especially on account of Te Hapuku's refusal to join the expedition, all went armed to guard against an attack from their opponents. I endeavonred to dissuade them from this step, but ineffectually, and finding that it would be impossible to bring matters to a satisfactory termination without yielding to some extent to this party, who complained loudly of injustice at the hands of the others, I consented to accompany them. The results of this expedition have been that the boundaries of the following lands were traversed :— Ist. A block of 32,600 acres, including the Ngatarawa plain, with the grassy hills and slopes adjoining, and a portion of the Raukawa bush. This block consists of about one-third plain, and the rest low limestone hills, almost entirely free from fern, with a sufficient quantity of timber within easy reach to supply the wants of the settlers. The block, as regards the quality of the soil, is the richest yet offered for sale in the district, and is now approachable by a good cart road the whole way from Waipureku. 2nd. A block bounded by the Waipawa river, the Maraekakaho, Aorangi, and Otaranga blocks, and the Ruahini range, and containing about 87,500 acres, exclusive of the portions admitted to belong to Te Hapuku and his party. This block contains bush, plains, and fern hills, and would be a valuable acquisition to the district. It would cut up into six good sheep run?, and contains some very valuable timber and a fair proportion of rich soil. 3rd. A piece of land containing about 9000 acres adjoining the Mata block, and consisting of a plain called the Kaokaoroa, with the grassy slopes adjoining. These lands are all more or less valuable, and their acquisition would be of great benefit to the district; but for two reasons their purchase at the present moment cannot, I fear, be accomplished. 1. Because the prices asked are, with the exception of the second block, so high, that I imagine his Excellency's Government would not feel justified in giving such large sums. 2. On account of the opposition of Te Hapuku and his party. With regard to price, the lowest sum asked for the Ngatarawa block is £3600. The land would, I think, be a good purchase at £2000, (Is. 2^d. per acre), and even the whole sum asked by the Natives is a trifle in comparison with the revenue it would immediately yield, but it would amount to an amount per acre higher than the Government have been in the habit of paying for land in this district. The demand for the block at the north end of the Rua Taniwha is £2100 (s|d. per acre). This, considering the quality of the block, would be a good bargain, but the land is so much subdivided by the intersecting claims of the opposing parties, and there is so much difference of opinion as to theii extent and value, that until they come to an understanding amongst themselves, it would not be advisable to conclude a purchase, unless the principle be admitted of buying up the claims of opposing parties separately, which would increase the labour and expense of purchasing, but would ensure in the end more satisfactory purchases. The sum demanded for the Kaokaoroa block is £1200, but, according to prices hitherto paid, it ought not to cost more than £600 (or Is. 4d. per acre) ; the same remarks apply to the pecuniary value of this land as to that of the Ngataroaroa block. But even were the prices demanded for these lands and other circumstances attending their offer such as to render their purchase advisable, I regret to say that in the existing mutual relations of the Native population, it would be unsafe to conclude a pur-chase of any of them at the present moment, for the opposition offered by Te Hapuku and his party is so strong, that even were a payment made to the others, it is most probable the land could not be occupied for a considerable time. For these reasons, then, I have deemed it my duty to put off the negociations for the purchase of the three blocks in question, in such a manner as not to offend the Chiefs who are offering them, but

Reporting negotiations J^STmuIJiJI °f **"*'