]).—1

46

two-thirds second class, 8,017 acres; Wharoro, second class, 839 acres; Awarua, first class, 3,100 acres; Whaoku No. 1, one-half first, one-half second class, 17,650 acres; One, second class, 1,348 acres : total, 157,415 acres. Of this, the first-class land is very rich, and equal to the best land in Hawke's Bay or Canterbury. The second class will also form good agricultural and pastoral land when cleared. On the Waaku Nos. 1 and 2 and Waimatanui there is a considerable amount of good kauri forest. The first-class land in Opouteke and Waaku Nos. 1 and 2 will be specially suitable for sub-tropical cultivation. On the section between Helensville and Maungakaramea there are the following Crown lands : Kaukapakapa, one-fourth first, three-fourths second class, 1,130 acres ; Makarau, one-fourth first, three-fourths second class, 6,250 acres; Komokoriki, second class, 1,630 acres ; Ahuroa, second class, 6,000 acres ; Tauhoa, one-eighth first, seven-eighths second class, 12,000 acres ; Hoteo, second class, 3,730 acres ; Pakiri, second class, 6,740 acres; Pakiri Block, second class, 15,750 acres; Mangawhai, third class, 7,120 acres ; Kaiwaka, one-fourth second, three-fourths third class, 560 acres ; Waipu, one-half second, one-half third class, 32,170 acres ; Paparoa, one-half second, onfe-lialf third class, 2,460 acres; Mareretn, one-eighth first, one-eighth second, six-eighths third class, 15,400 acres; Matakohe, one-half second, one-half third class, 1,245 acres; Omaru, onefourth first, three-fourths second class, 6,120 acres ; Tauraroa, one-fourth first, three-fourths second, class, 2,610 acres; surplus of Walton's grant, second class, 4,898 acres ; Ruakaka, one-half second, one-half third class, 4,940 acres; Waikiekie, second class, 775 acres: total, 131,528 acres. There is some kauri on Kaukapakapa and Makarau, and much kauri on Omaru and the surplus of Walton's grant. The distance from Helensville to Omapere Lake is about 110 miles, and, if l-in-40 grades and 7-J-chain curves are adopted on the difficult parts of the line, it may probably be constructed and equipped at an average cost of £6,500 per mile, or for the sum of £715,000; 67,210 acres of first-class Crown land, 182,296 acres of second-class Crown land, and 39,447 acres of third-class Crown 1and—288,943 acres—will be brought into communication by it. I have, &c, The Engineer-in-Chief, Wellington. C. B. Knobpp, Inspecting Engineer. P.S.—lt is stated on good authority that between Maungakaramea and Omapere there are 252,000,000 ft. of kauri, 20,000,000 ft. of totara, and 2,000,000 ft. of puriri; of which, 152,000,000 ft, of kauri is on Crown land.—C.B.K.