G.— 3a.

4

Completed Purchases— continued. Hawke's Bay Land District. No. on ~. , No on Map. Blo <*- *• "• r. 0 " Block. A. R. p. 230. Aorangi Native Reserve .. 830 0 0 247. Pukekura West A .. .. 1,084 035 231. Manawatu No. 2c .. .. 304 212 248. Waimarama" No. 1a .. .. 580 033 I 232. „ No. 2b North .. 261 3 21 249. ~ No. 2b No. I 37 0 0 233. Okaihau No. 1a No. 1.. .. 400 0 0 250. „ No. 2c. No. 1 .. 68 2 0 I 234. „ No. lc .. .. 151 1 0 251. „ No. 2d No. 1 208 2 0 235. „ No. Id No. 1.. .. 923 2 0 252. „ No. 2e .. 113 026 236. „ No. 2a .. .. 135 0 0 253. „ 2f No. 1 .. .. 4 220 237. No. 2b .. .. 20 0 0 254. „ No. 2g No. 1 4 2 01 238. „ No. 2c .. .. 140 0 0 255. „ No. 3a No. 3a 740 0 0 239. „ No. 3b .. .. 670 0 0 256. „ No. 3a No. 4a .. 1,168 lit 2 240. „ No. 3c No. 1.. .. 1,549 0 0 257. „ No. 3a No. 6a .. 717 018 241. Pukekura East No. 1a .. .. 672 0 0 258. Waipuka No. Ib No. 1 .. 460 0 0 242. „ No. 2 .. .. 224 0 0 259. „ No. 3a No. 5 .. 190 0 0 243. „ No. 4a .. .. 83 316 260. „ No. 3c No. 1.. .. 1,076 2 0 244. „ No. 5 .. .. 252 0 0 . 245. „ No. 6a .. .. 112 0 0 Total Hawke's*Bay .. .. 13,294 223 246. „ No. 8 .. 113 0 0 Wellington Land District. No. on t,, . Map. Block - A. K. p. 261. Taonui No. 2b .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ _ _ 109 o o 3 Total Wellington .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. , _ 109 o 0 Grand total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 263,001 3 12f

APPENDIX. Sir, — Department of Lands, Kihikihi, 30th May, 1908. In compliance with your request I have the honour to report as follows :— Since my last report, sent you about this time last year, and taking all things into consideration, I think the progress made in the purchase of Native lands within the sphere I have been working may be considered satisfactory, and had the Act permitted the -expenditure of further funds much more could have been accomplished, for the purchasing of Native land practically came to a finish at the end of February last. When the Maoris found that I was curtailing purchases there was great anxiety shown by them, as they were wishing to sell in all parts of my district, but they had to be disappointed. Still they hope that purchasing will be again resumed shortly. The general wish amongst the Natives is to sell a large portion of their surplus lands which they do not utilise, and which are of no use to them. This refers to the Maoris within the Robe Potae, who still show a great desire to sell any of the lands they do not require. In my last report I gave you an idea of the quality of lands in the various parts of my district and of the blocks I was negotiating for, so that I do not think it necessary to add anything more now. You will see that the total area acquired and vested in the Crown in the district over which I have control approximately amounts to 164,403 acres. I should, I think, here state that the whole of the above area acquired is not suitable for very close settlement, but that the most of it is; and, without doubt, when brought into the market it will be readily taken up, and will tend to the opening-up of this part of the country, as it will be occupied by Europeans, who will work the land. Re Tokanui G and Rangitoto A Blocks, with their Subdivisions All these blocks are most suitable for small farms, especially in the case of the Tokanui Blocks and those of the Rangitoto A to the north of a line drawn from Pamotumotu Trig. Station to Otoru Trig. Station, but still there will be a large tract of country to the south of above line which will make a number of fine homesteads of fair average sizes suitable for dairy and grazing farms. Re Rangitoto-Tuhua Blocks. All the areas acquired to the north-east of the railway-line from Otorohanga to Mangapeehi Railway-stations are of good quality, and will turn out well for small-settlement purposes, and I greatly regret that the limit placed on purchases has prevented my acquiring more of the said lands. This remark also applies to Tokanui and Rangitoto A Blocks. The Native owners who have not sold are most eager to do so now. I would point out that the vast country above described is practically unoccupied, with the exception of a few isolated spots. The principal settlement (Native) is at Mangaorongo, on Rangitoto A; but this settlement is on a block of 1,000 acres called Rangitoto A No. 15, specially set apart for a papakainga. All the above lands, if acquired, would make a splendid farming district carrying many settlers, as the land is most suitable for farms of a moderate size.