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I.—4a.

Sir, — Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland, 30th August, 1902. In reply to your letter of the 26th instant, informing me that Mr. Rossenbeck has already applied for a coal lease for that portion of the Wahi Lake opposite to Section 48, Pepepe Parish, and that therefore our application would have to be amended, I now beg to apply for a lease of that portion of Lake Wahi fronting allotments 26, 27, 28, 29, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 145, 53, as shown by red lines on the tracing enclosed herewith, less that portion of the lake opposite Section 48, already applied for by Mr. Rossenbeck. I have, &c, The Commissioner of Crown Lands Auckland. F. Scherff, Secretary.

Department of Lands and Survey, District Office, Auckland, 10th February, 1903. Coal Lease, Wahi Lake. With reference to your application relative to above, I have to request you to comply with the provision of section 4 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1891," by advertising twice at an interval of one week in some newspaper circulating in the locality, and furnish copies of advertisements to this office ; and as the area is computed to contain 408 acres, I have to request you to pay to the Receiver of Land Revenue, Auckland, £23 145., in addition to the £37 10s. paid. If this request is not complied with within two weeks from this date, the application will be considered lapsed. G. Mueller, Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Secretary, Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland.

Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland, 4th March, 1903. g IR Re Coal Lease, Wahi Lake. In reply to your letter of the 10th February, I beg to inform you that I have paid to the Receiver of Land Revenue £23 145., being the balance due for application, and that I have inserted the notice required by section 4 of the Coal-mines Act, in the Waikato Argus of the 20th and 27th February, copies of which papers are forwarded herewith. I have, &c, The Commissioner of Crown Lands Auckland. Franz Scherpp, Secretary. [Inserted in the Waikato Argus and the Waikato Times of the 20th and 27th February.] Public Notice under " The Coal-mines Act, 1891," and its Amendments. —Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to section 4 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1891," the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited) have made an application to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for a lease for coal-mining purposes of that portion of Lake Wahi fronting Allotments 26, 27, 28, 29, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 145, and 53, Parish of Pepepe. Franz Scherff, Secretary. Auckland, 17th February, 1903,

Department of Lands and Survey, District Office, Auckland, 6th April, 1903. Proposed Coal Lease, Portion Wahi Lake. In reference to your letter of the 4th March, I have to inform you that the Land Board wish to know what the proposed expenditure and output during the first five years is to be. The Board have postponed consideration until this information is supplied. The Secretary, Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland. Hugh Boscawen, For Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland, 24th April, 1903. Sir, — Re Coal Lease, Wahi Lake. In reply to your letter of the 6th April, I am directed to inform you that the company ar now carrying on boring operations in order to ascertain the coal-measures in connection with above lease. As soon as ascertained a scheme for working the property will be determined upon. I am, &c, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Franz Scherfp, Secretary.

Department of Lands and Survey, District Office, Auckland, 30th April, 1903. Coal Lease. In reference to your application for a coal lease for land under the Wahi Lake, I have to inform you that the matter has been considered by the Land Board, when it was resolved that you be requested to explain the proposed course of working and indicate on litho. or plan the approximate position of shaft, machinery, buildings, and trains, and that the following are the conditions that the Board propose to recommend the Minister to approve of, when granting a lease : — Term, twenty-one years. Royalty, 4d. per ton, payable half-yearly. Rent, ss. per acre per annum. Expenditure in opening and developing : Within twelve months, £500; within twenty-four months, £1,000 ; within thirty-six months, £2,000. Output first year, nil; second year, 1,000 tons ; third to seventh year, 2,500 tons ; eighth to twenty-first year, 5,000 tons. Hugh Boscawen, The Secretary, Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited). For Commissioner of Crown Lands.