C—4a

4

The western bounday of the Whareroa reserve has been started under a chainman, with a party of the Armed Contabulary. Captain Blake, however, in order to push on with the Mountain (Egmont) road, discontinued this work after the end of June. It will be resumed early next month, and carried to the confiscated boundary. The country through which this line passes is easy of access, and well adapted for settlement. Future Survey. As soon as the survey of the Railway Reserve is completed, I propose to detail one surveyor to cut the boundary line between the Provinces of Taranaki and Wellington, and I have every expectation that by this means some first class land available for immediate settlement will be found, in which case a block might at once be prepared for sale. Another surveyor might be employed in laying out roads, and generally completing the Compensation Court award blocks in the Okotuku district, and Mr. Williams could carry on the triangulation of the district, exercising a general supervision of the surveys in progress. The appointment by the Hon. D. McLean of Mr. Degennes Frazer as clerk, &c, will be of great assistance, and he will doubtless, after a little experience, be able to undertake a considerable portion of the duties of draughtsman, thus relieving Mr. Williams, who is anxious to devote more of his time to field work. Messrs. Northcroft and Rawson are pushing on the survey of the railway reserve, a scheme for the subdivision of which was forwarded in my letter No. 283, dated July 24th, 1873, and which I propose to offer for sale in October next. I understand that some of the settlers at Hawera, Manutahi and Wairoa are anxious that bush reserves should be made by the Government near those places for the use of surrounding settlers. I am of o pinion that it is not desirable to make reserves of this nature, experience having proved that where a number of people have access to a bush common to all, great waste accrues, and I consider it preferable that the land should be sold, when the supply of timber, &c, being a matter of private enterprise on the part of owners of bush land, a fresh industry is started, and the danger of waste is avoided. In addition to this, the settlers who have bush sections already to which they have to look for a living, would be deprived of a market for their labour; so that what may be desired by one class ©f settlers is opposed to the interests of others. I approve of the suggestion made by Mr. Williams, that where possible small bush sections may be laid out, in order that those settlers who are without bush land may have an opportunity of purchasing, and will recur to the matter at some future time. The arrears of Crown grants are being worked off as speedily as possible, and I have, by the courtesy of Major Turner, obtained the services of Constable Baggett, of the Armed Constabulary, for this and other clerical work, which has proved of considerable assistance. Owing, however, to the great press of office work, and the many and varied calls upon my time and attention, further help is urgently required, and I trust that Mr. Fraser, of whose appointment I was informed in June last, will bo sent to Patea with as little further delay as possible. I have, &c, C. E. Haughton, Esq., C. A. Wray, Under-Secretary Crown Lands, In charge of Confiscated Lands, West Coast. Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. SCHEDULE A. NATIVE RESERVES made in 1867-68, in the PATEA DISTRICT.

Locality, &e. Area. Total Aeea. 1st Class. Province of Taranaki— Rural Sections 6 and 7, Native Contingent Block Rural sections 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (Katene), Native Contingent Block K'aukuia Reserve. Hawera Block ... [ngahapa Eiver Reserve ... faugalije River Reserve ... tVhureroa Reservo tfokoua Reserve... faumaha Reserve Rural Section Taumalia (3G1) a. e. p. 100 0 0 285 0 0 400 0 0 250 0 0 60 0 0 10,500 0 0 6,000 0 0 2,800 0 0 127 0 0 A. E. P. Province of Wellington— Hural Section No. 16, Okotuku District No. 39, „ No. 40, „ „ No. 43, „ „ No. 61, „ No. 131, No. 177, „ Dika Reserve Putahi Reserve, Part Taranaki .hupuku Reserve 20,522 0 0 37 0 0 12 3 0 50 0 0 29 0 0 65 2 0 51 0 0 52 3 29 330 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 1,228 0 29 21,750 0 29