G.—7

Blocks under Negotiation. , Manoonui o Wai, of about 15,000 acres, now under survey by request of owners. This I believe to be the best block of land in the Hokianga District. Whangape, 21,000 acres, surveyed and through the Court. Much of the land on the rivers and creeks is open country and open bush land of very good quality; about 7,000 acres splendid kauri Pakiri. The balance of this block, 12,000 acres, I hope to conclude almost immediately. 20,000 acres purchased in March last. Tihitihi Block, north of Whangarei. Mostly volcanic mixed bush land, estimated at 11,000 Auckland, 30th December, 1874. E. T. Bbissenden.

No. 78. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Major Geeen. g II? Auckland, 13tli January, 1875. Having been requested by the Hon. Sir Donald McLean to send in an account of the different blocks of land North that I have been dealing for, I have the honor to forward the enclosed list of lands, with the advances that have been made upon them, which, I think, will be found to be correct. With respect to the disputes about Otangaroa and the Patoa Blocks, I have the honor to state the On my arrival at Whangaroa, Mr. Clark, the surveyor, informed me he had been cautioned by Mr. Kelly not to survey Otangaroa and Patoa, as the Natives had told him that any one surveying these lands would be shot; but Mr. Clark told me that such could not be the case, as Mr. Kelly was negotiating the same lands for private parties. Before I left Whangaroa, a Mr. Simpson called upon me to say "he had been sent by Mr. Kelly to survey these lands, and he showed me letters that he said were from Mr. Kelly to the 'Natives. I feel myself convinced that no opposition would have been offered to the survey unless the Natives had thought, or had been led to suppose, they would get a better price than that offered by the Government. I requested Mr. Simpson to return, and not attempt to survey the lands in question ; and I left Whangaroa under the impression that the surveys for the Government would not be interfered with. There are other blocks of land besides those mentioned by me that are being negotiated for by Mr. Brissenden and Mr. Charles Nelson, concerning a few of which I have had something to do, but I have on this paper confined myself to those blocks in which I was directly concerned. I have, &c., Thos. McDonnell, Major Green, General Government Agent. Land Purchase Officer.

For remarks, see paper attached to this list of lands marked A.

28

Names of Blocks in Treaty for. Acros. -dvances. 'rice per .ere. 'ekapekarau ... Vharekahakaka )pouteke, about )ne (Baker's claim in two blocks) 'atamoe and Kairara include about 'otarapoka and Tai Matue Vaoku Vaoku [ahumaku Vaiinatami Vaihoanga Vaitaroto lataki Vharoro 5,025 2,520 12,000 5,968 40,000 £ 375 70 100 1G0 235 2s. 6d. and Is. 3d. 2s. 6d. and Is. 3d. 2s. 6d. and Is. 3d. Is. 3d. irarua ... )kaka langataraire ... Vaihoanga 'mvhata 'e Uwhiroa 'aketure 'e Tauroa )rowhana 'e Huia Jreuhia )puhiti Vaitapu ilokau )tangaroa 17,650 Not surveyed » ?j 1,380 7,590 Not surveyed 830 3,100 Not surveyed l,G90 Not surveyed ~) Surveyed, I but area not ) known Not surveyed 390 5 50 25 20 250 50 15 15 25 25? 15 f 125 \ 195 (. 490 50 GO 10 20 10 10 20 Is. 5d. Is. 5d. Is. 5d. Is. 3d. Is. Is. 9d. Is. Is. 6d. Is. Gd. Is. 6d. Is. Gd.? Is. 2s. 4d. 2s. 4d. 2s. 4d. 4d. 4,000 0,000 2,000 150 1,500 Not known 3s. ") Not >• finally \ arranged. 2s. 6d. ?» ij