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Lands Department, Wellington, loth September, 190)The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier. Small Grazing-run No. Waingaromia Surrey District. to reply to your memo. No. S.G.R. 27/ 18, of the 10th instant, 1 have' to inform you that, in view of the mistaken meaning given io the Minister's approval of the Board's resolution, as conveyed in my memorandum to you ol the sth March last, and Mr. Black's application for preference over one 0 f the three subdivisions into which the run is to be divided, it is desired to know whether one of these areas, if possible- 900 acres or thereabouts, could be given him as a small grazing-run, and the other two opened for public c petition on the optional system. Please, therefore, report as to the scheme of subdivision, and whether the area on which Mr. Black's homestead stands is of approximately 900 acres. A plan showing the subdivisions should accompany your reply. Kindly furnish the required information as soon as possible. Wm. C. KENSINGTON, Under-Secretary.

Department of Lands, Napier, 10th September, 1908. Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Small Grazing-run No. >,-J. Waingaromia Survey District. In compliance, with your wishes, as conveyed by memo, quoted above-, I have the honour to submit the- following remarks upon the proposed subdivision of the above small grasing-run for consideration. 1 send you a tracing of the run, showing ihe subdivisions as proposed by the Distnol Valuer, and described in his report (referred to in your former memo., of the Bth ultimo,, on which I have drawn the portion recommended by the Crown Lands Ranger m his report on the Ist November, 1907, the western boundary having been sketched in to embrace about 1,000 acres. as enclosed within the green bolder. With regard to your reference to Mr. Black's homestead, 1 have to slate that Ihe homestead ,s situated on Ihe adjoining property (the Arakihi Block), which .s freehold. .The improvements on the small grazing-run consist of clearing, grassing, and fencing only. Ihe three subdivisions suggested by the District Valuer, as defined in red lines, are as follows: No. I. 1,434 acres: No. 2, 1,230 aer.s'; No. 3, 1,070 acres (numbers in red). By outting off the I,oo>i acres it will be observed that a small portion in the south-east corner ~f Subdivision No. 1 is included, as i, is severed by the road. In determining the approximate western boundary it will be seen that advantage has been taken of existing fences and natural features, which are shown to be practicable boundaries. With all due deference to the District Valuer's proposals, I venture lo draw attention to the manner in winch the subdivisiona'l boundaries are laid down, particularly the line between parts I aud 3 whichj bj the waj ii intersects the natural features of the country appears unsuitable or boundary purposes. 1 lid respectfully suggest that if H is Imalh decided that the oountry can only be profitably worked ... three subdivisions, the- boundary between parts 2 and 4 could be mon advantageously 'carried from the pom. marked "A" (in pencil, near Mr. rodd ■ homestead,. thence following road to its junction marked " IS." and thence following exist,,,;: fence to pom. "C " which would still insure an equal distribution of good and indifferent land. I also desire ,„ , h , lw attention to the fact that both the Crown Lauds Ranger and the District Surveyor have expressed the opinio,, that the country could be subdivided into five or six blocks ol from 500 to 600 acres each, for which homestead-sites could be found. The country is considered capable ol oarrvinu two sheep to the acre. Under these circumstances it may be considered desirable to ascertain by survey if this can be earned out, as i. would mean double the number ..I tenants. It Will be noticed that the country is well roaded and watered, and. provided the matter of homestead sues can be arranged as reported, it would seem that further attention might be given to this Question There will probably be two or three short a,-cess roads to construct m order to reach the homestead-sites. 1 trust that these suggestions max be considered worthy of uotioe. Hbnrt Trent, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Department of Lands. Wellington, 22, id September, 1908. The Hon- the Minister of Lands. Small Grazing-run No. 45, Waingaromia Surrey District. (It. G. Mack., [„ compliance with your minute of the 14th instant (on 61, below,, the Commissioner of Crow., Lands I as been asked to report whether an area of 900 acres or thereabouts could be given to the [o'se'n. lL„- as a small grazing-ru,,, and the other subdivisions put up under the optional Hi, report on the matter is appended, and I will briefly summarise his remarks for your in FOrm The n total area of the run is 4,33 and the Government Valuer recommended its division into three areas of 1,434 acres, 1,230 acres, and 1,670 acres respectively. included in the first subdivision is the area of 1,000 acres that he Commissioner of Crown Lands and The Land Board have selected for the new lease under small-grazing-run conditions to the oresent lessee (Mr. Black), as you directed. P T „■ Commissioner points out that both the Crown hands Ranger am the Land Officer a, GiBborn f 0p,,,,,,,/that the ,„„ could be subdivided into more than he three areas recom l, l,v ,l„- Valuer as the land will carry two sheep to th,- ace. and that tin- boundaries In the VidueV are no, the bes, that c„„hl be chosen. lie thinks that live or six sub divisions could be surveyed off.