36

G.—B

They all said that I ought to pay them the money —to each separate hapu its share : that is to say, to each hapu of the tribe which owns that land. That I and my European companion should have the payment of the money. We thought when we allowed this money to be paid to Aperahama that he was a person who would act justly, the same as Hori Kingi, but now you write to Mr. McLean and ask him to portion the money for each hapu. This was the strain of their talk. I replied to them, telling them that I was going to Parae Karetu to see what kind of land it was in accordance with instructions that I had received from Mr. McLean ; it will be for him to consider what you have now stated to me, requesting me to bring it before the Government, so that they may rectify it to the satisfaction of you all, and of our elder relation. But come some of you to conduct me to this land. On the morrow we reached Turakina, the place from where you returned at the time you purchased the land beyond Turakina. The persons who came to conduct me numbered twelve. We went straight to Wareroa, the land which Paora Turangapito and Hori te Eangi Ao spoke about. Tou know what these old people said. I saw the boundary of the land for sale, viz., Tiriraukawa. We slept here; in the morning we reached the eel lakes. There are two lakes; Ngaruru is one, and Namunamu another. They persisted in asking for 1,500 acres as a reserve for themselves. I said it was too much, and that they should ask for a smaller quantity. They wanted their reserve boundary-to take in both the lakes, so that no trouble might arise when this land became the property of other owners and lest it might be taken away like other lakes had been by the Europeans. I told them that the persons who used the pen, who knew of these things, would inform them; that is, would make both themselves and the Europeans acquainted with the facts, and it would be through this medium that the boundaries and the acreage would be made known ; let the land you wish to reserve be between these two lakes : it will be for the Government to consent to the size of this reserve, after which I will tell you the acreage, and send a surveyor to lay it off. Here this talk concluded. This land is bad —it is hilly—a portion of it is cliffs, but that on the Turakina Eiver is good—it is all bush—there is no clear land on the Turakina side. The timber is kahikatea, rimu, rata, there is only a small quantity of totara, and some manuka. These are all the kinds of timber on this land; I do not mention the small scrub. I should say that this block is seven or eight miles in width; Ido not know about the length of it. I here returned in the direction of Pourewa. There is another reserve here belonging to Pehira Karatau and Utiku te Angi. This has been surveyed, but not investigated by the Court. It is within the land we are purchasing. The portion which has been surveyed is 1,500 acres. Utiku says that a portion of their land is not yet surveyed. My word to you is—that Ibe allowed to send a European to survey our laud in order that the acreage may be ascertained ; I mean the amount that will be left after the reserves have been made. Perhaps it would be as well to leave the survey until the purchase is concluded. Pourewa—that is the land towards Eangitikei—is bad and hilly, some portions are good ; there is no clear land. The timber is similar to that on the Turakina side, which has already been described by me in this letter. There is only one clear place, and that is Parae Karetu—the whole of the land is hilly. I should say that this clearing is about eighty acres. That is all on this subject. I have, &c., The Hon. the Native Minister. Kepa te Bangthiwinui.

No. 48. Mr. Edwin Woon to the Undee Seceetaet, Native Office. Sib,— Whanganui, 30th January, 1872. I am directed by tho Hon. the Native Minister to forward to you herewith the accompanying plan and description of boundaries of the Parae Karetu block purchased by Major Kemp, assisted by myself, to ask you to get a conveyance prepared for said block of land. It passed through the Native Land Court at the sitting held here last December. Should you require further particulars Mr. Smith possibly will give them to you. In accordance with the order of Court there will be required a Deed of Trust prepared which must be dated and signed prior to conveyance of the land sold to the Crown. A special meeting of all persons interested is called for the 20th Pebruary, when the balance of the purchase money is promised to be paid. To prevent disappointment may I trouble you to give the necessary instructions so that the deeds may be prepared at once. When finished forward them to me to get executed as it is required by the Act they should be interpreted by a licensed interpreter. I have, &c, H. Halse, Esq., Native Office, Wellington. Edwin Woon

No. 49. Mr. S. Locke to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. Sic,— Napier, 20th June, 1872. I have the honor in continuation of the several reports of land purchases as printed iv Parliamentary Papers A., No. 18, 1870, and D. No. 7, 1871, to forward the following report upon lands purchased during the past twelve mouths in the East Coast and Taupo districts. The final cession of the 250,000 acres, less 19,870 acres for Native Eeserves, to the Government of the Hawke's Bay end of the Seventy Mile Bush (Tamaki) was made by deed dated lGth August, 1871, for