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of Ngei.tu and Ngateue tribes, and purchased a large slice of land adjoining the Waoku; price Is. sd. an acre. I reached Ohaeawai the same evening, and met the Whangaroa chiefs on Monday, the 12th instant. I paid them a deposit of £50 on their blocks of land in their district, acreage and price partially arranged for; but lam to meet them at Whaugaroa the next time Igo North. The next day, 13th, I purchased a block near the Waitaroto named " Okaka," about 5,000 acres more or less, price to be Is. 3d.; also another block, acreage not known, price to be fixed in future, but survey is to commence at once. When my health is restored I shall proceed North again, as there is yet much work to be completed in all the lands I have mentioned about, for there is great jealousy existing, and the greed for money is unbounded, leading the Natives to all sorts of tricks and devices to obtain advances. I have been constantly at work day and night, sometimes working till daylight to accomplish our object, with the exception of the time I was laid up. I have, &c., Tnos. McDonnell, Laud Purchase Commissioner. H. T. Clarke, Esq., Under Secretary, Native Office.

No. 72. Mr. Beissenden to Mr. H. T. Clarke. Silt, — Auckland, 3rd November, 1874. I have the honor to report that I have secured by purchase, and paid deposit on account of Government on several blocks of land north of Auckland, a schedule of which I enclose. Nearly all of them are now under survey. I may state that the land is of the general mixed character, as it necessarily must bo in so large an area. I have been as particular as possible to select the best at the lowest price. I have, &c, H. T. Clarke, Esq., Under Secretary, Native Office, E. T. Beissenden. Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 72. A SCHEDULE of LANDS purchased for the GOVERNMENT by E. T. BRISSENDEN, North of Auckland, since August 20th, 1874.

No. 73. Memoeandum to Sir Donald McLean on Land Purchase Matters North of Auckland. I HATE to report considerable progress in the acquisition of Native lands for the Government north of Auckland, made since my last report. 1 have been able to add about 200,000 acres, comprised iv very many blocks, as the holdings are but small in the Ngapuhi country.

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Name of Block. District. Remarks. 1 a :i 4 5 6 7 8 0 L0 11 ia :a A .5 16 7 -8 a so !1 12 S3 M S6 16 :7 Punakitere Waimamaku Pakanae ... Kanae o Euruwahine l'awhero ... Tukuwhcnua and Oteraite ... Kuhuera... Pukewhaeaihi Pawhero ... Wai Hoanga Wairau ... Eakauhongi Orovvhana TcAuaTuturu ... One No. 2 Okorihi ... Ponewhanua Kahumaku and Rairoa Unuhaia, Te Huia, Te Patoa, and Opuiti Turato Omatoroa Taraire ... Mangataraire Tutamoc Te 'Xakanga Waipona* Ngapuku Hokianga jj j» jj » ii )» Bay of Islands )i »> Whaugape Hokianga n a Whangaroa Hokianga j) Bay of Islands Kaipara Hokianga Kaipara Hokianga * (26) This block is in my former report. I have sinct extended it from Hokianga Heads to lCailm, com prising now nearly 100,000 acres : its former area was about 40,000 acres. 1 believe I am much uncle) the mark. The blocks here mentioned at 200,00( acres. No ■embor 3rd. 1871. f. B.