3

G.—6.

During the past financial year, in the districts of Mongonui, Bay of Islands, Ilokianga, and Whangarei, several valuable blocks of land have been acquired, in addition to those noted as transactions incomplete in the above return. The completed transactions from Ist July, 1874, to 30th June, 1875, are as follows : —ln the Mongonui District —2 blocks of land, containing 28,527 acres, at a cost of £3,728 18s. 3d., or 2s. 7sdL per acre; in the Ilokianga District —34 blocks of land, containing 131,097 acres, at a cost of £11,765 13s. 2d., or Is. 9h&. per acre ; and in the Whangarei District —3 blocks of land, containing 61,941 acres, at a cost of £6,074 14s. 6d., or Is. ll|d. per acre. The total area of land purchased during the year, North of Auckland, has been 221,565 acres; and the amount paid, including surveys and all incidental expenses, £21,569 ss. lid., being Is. ll^d. per acre. The incomplete negotiations of land purchases during the past year in the above districts may be classed, — Ist. Lands that have passed the Native Land Court, the transactions for acquiring which are nearly complete. 2nd. Lands surveyed, and awaiting sittings of Land Court at Kaihu, fixed for 11th August. 3rd. Lands under survey, and intended to be brought before the Land Court in September next. 4th. Lands, the surveys of which have not yet been commenced. Of the lands that have passed the Native Land Court, 10,406 acres are in the Mongonui District; 5,200 acres in the Bay of Islands District; 6,942 acres in the Hokianga District; and 82,313 acres in the Kaipara District —a total of 104,861 acres, and on which moneys amounting to £2,150 15s. lOd. have been paid. A sum of £6,075 4s. 9d. is required to complete these purchases. I know of no reason why these lands should not be acquired within the next month or two. The lands surveyed and awaiting the sittings of the Land Court at Kaihu, on the 11th of August, represent 14 blocks, having an area of 116,601 acres, and on which advances have been made to the amount of £3,996 16s. lOd. The lands are situate in Mongonui District, 11,906 acres ; Bay of Islands District, 23,974 acres; Hokianga District, 45,421 acres; and Kaipara District, 35,300 acres. The lands—ll blocks—now under survey by the Inspector of Surveys' Department, Auckland, are estimated to contain 31,000 acres. Advances have been paid on these lands amounting to £1,092 3s. 2d. The lands are situate in the Mongonui District, 17,500 acres; Bay of Islands District, 6,500 acres; Ilokianga District, 3,000 acres; and Whangarei District, 4,000 acres. The lands awaiting survey, are 13 blocks in the Bay of Islands, Hokianga, and Whangarei Districts, the estimated area being 110,800 acres. No price has yet been fixed for these lands. Advances to the amount of £636 2s. have been made to the Natives interested in them. The following form shows the transactions in the several districts North of Auckland, during the past year : —

I.A rDS ACQUIRED DUEING PAST YEAE. UNDE Lands at peesent Negotiation of Puechase. DlSTEIOT. No. of Blocki Acreage. ■ Total Cost. Price per Acre. No. of Blocks Acreage. Amount Advanced. Mongonui ... Bay of Islands ... Hokianga ... Kaipara Whangarei 2 84 £ 8. d. 28,527 3,728 18 3 131,097 11,765 13 2 61,941 6,074 14 6 s. d. 2 7i r'oi 9 17 13 6 1 39,812 59,974 56,163 117,613 4,000 £ s. d. 1,007 16 10 1,466 1 4 1,744 6 9 3,517 12 11 140 0 0 3 i ill Totals 39 221,565 21,569 5 11 1 Hi 46 *277,562 7,875 17 10 * This area does not include 85,700 acn is under lurcliase on which no ■meni a had bi :en chari red to 30th June.