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by first opportunity. Please notice by this that I shall require a further sum of money immediately. Other blocks are in course of negotiation. E. T. Brissenden, H. T. Clarke, Esq., Under Secretary, Government Land Purchase Agent. Native Department, Wellington.

No. 36. The Under Secretaut, Nativo Department, to Mr. Brissenden. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 13th May, 1874. No. 553. Be yours of yesterday, am instructed to inform you that you will have to send requisition for any money you may require on the ordinary form; it will also be necessary to name the particular blocks and area for which the money is required. H. T. Claeke, E. T. Brissenden, Esq., Auckland. Under Secretary.

No. 37. Mr. Beissenden to the Undee Secbetaey, Native Department. Sir,— Auckland, 18th May, 1874. I have the honor to report the purchase of the under-mentioned blocks of land, viz.:— £ s. d. Te Ara Kiore Block, about 440 acres, for ... ... ... 10 0 0 The Owhetu Block, of 523 acres ... ... ... ... 100 0 0 20,000 acres of Pakiri Block, for ... ... ... ... 1,650 0 0 Total £1,760 0 0 Vouchers for the above sums I have forwarded to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. I shall be able to transmit deeds in a short time (after my return from the North). I have, &c, H. T. Clarke, Esq., Under Secretary, E. T. Brissenden. Native Department, Wellington.

No. 38. Mr. Brtssenden to the Under Secretary, Native Office. Slß,— Auckland, 30th May, 1874. In reply to your telegram No. 588, dated 29th instant, I have the honor to forward, as directed by you, deeds and agreements, by Native and other owners, of the blocks of land specified. In regard to the Pakiri Block, I desire to point out that it contains over 31,000 acres. The agreement is signed by Arama Karaka, and Mr. John Sheehan, as trustee for Wi Apo, an infant, and by Hori te More, claimant, to succeed his son Panapa, deceased. There is one grantee who has not yet come into the negotiations. I have good reason, however, to believe that I shall succeed in obtaining her consent as well; but in the meantime the present agreement gives the Government two-thirds of the block, containing all the best land, and comprising that portion of it through which the main road from Mahurangi to Port Albert is now being constructed by the Public Works Department. The usual "runangas" have been held on the block, and all parties have agreed that the land shall be equally divided, and that Ilori te More shall succeed to Panapa. This secures to the Government two-thirds of the block, as above mentioned; and as soon as Judge Eogan, now in Auckland, makes the necessary order of succession, the title will be legally complete. To return to the portion of the Pakiri Block purchased, I may state it is the best portion of it, as it contains several thousand acres of fine alluvial soil, watered by the Hoteo River, and offers the best site that could be found north of Auckland for a special settlement, the distance from steamer at Mahurangi being only eight or nine miles from the centre of the block. The price paid is £1,660, a low rate when we take into consideration that the land is surveyed, and through the Court. • I found it impossible to deal with the Natives at first, on account of the demand that the whole of the purchase-money should be paid in full at once. However, it was ultimately settled in this way: £850 was paid into the hands of the Natives, and the balance, £SOO, was lodged in the Bank of New Zealand by me in their presence to a special account —namely, the Pakiri purchase account —as per enclosed agreement, so that I hold the sum of £800 in trust till the title is made complete by the action of the Native Land Court. The £50 additional to that mentioned in the agreement was for the purchase of outside claims. The receipt (voucher) I have sent to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. I also enclose the deed of the Ara Kiore Block, 470 acres, which has passed through the Native Land Court under an interlocutory order, which I think quite sufficient for Government purposes. I have sent Mr. C. E. Nelson north with £400 to pay deposits on Muriwhenua, and other blocks of Native land under negotiations. I hope to be able to follow him in a few days on the receipt of necessary means.

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