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to be necessary that you should return to the North, I wish you to accompany me by the " Luna " to the East Coast, where I shall have the occasion of your services, and on to Wellington, where you will receive further instructions. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Auckland. D. McLean.

No. 82. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Sir D. McLean. My deae Sib Donald, — Native Office. If it is not too late, may I not finish the blocks North that I initiated —the Mangakahia lands, Totarapoka, now altered to Tutamoe and Kairara, and Waoku ? I think really it will save much trouble, and I am thoroughly acquainted with all the ins and outs of these blocks, about which Mr. Brissenden knows nothing. I only got a note from Parore, of the Wairoa, yesterday, or Saturday, begging me to come up and see him about boundaries. I have a legitimate pride in finishing what I began, and Ido hope you will let me do so. lam sure it will be to the benefit of the service too. I succeeded in getting the price of most of these lands reduced from 2s. 6d. to Is. 3d. per acre. Acres. Tutamoe and Kairara, including Totarapoka, estimated at ... ... 20,000 Opouteke ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 Pekapekarau ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,025 Waerekahakaha ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,000 One (Rev. —Baker's Claim) ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 Total acres ... ... ... ... ... 40,025 The above does not include Te Waoku, of 18,600, and Te Waoku, of about 10,000. Kairora and Tutamoe comprise Totarapoka, supposed to be 20,000 acres, and another block of about 9,000 acres, formerly negotiated for by me under Dr. Pollen's instructions when he was Government Agent. Pekapekarau, Waerekahakaha, Opouteke, and One (Rev. — Baker's claim) I also arranged at that time —nearly three years ago : 2s. Gd. was the price agreed upon, since reduced by me to Is. 3d. an acre. Parore and other Natives, afraid that if the lands (Totarapoka) were sold under that name he and tribe would not get their rights, made up their differences with Matiu and Paora and others, and offered the block under the name of Kairara and Tutamoe, increasing the boundaries, so that, although there are many names in the block, it in reality will be but one. I managed this with some trouble, but it requires to be dealt with with caution. I feared that the price of 2s. Cd. would have been asked for the whole ; therefore to save money I mentioned about the provinces being about to be done away with, and that they must leave these lands, but I told them that Is. 3d. was a good price, too good to be refused. Waoku, Victoria Valley, purchased by me in four: Puwhata, 1; Te TJewhinu, 2 ; Tuketure, 3; Orowhana, 4 ; and Te Tauroa, of 13,000 acres. I have, &c, The Hon. Sir D. McLean. Thos. McDonnell.

No. 83. Sir D. McLean to Mr. Beissenden. Sin,— Maketu, 18th March, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that the G-overnment have received a letter from Parore, complaining of the survey of the Maunganui Block. The Government do not wish the survey of any land to be proceeded with in the face of such opposition as there appears to be in this case. You will, therefore, on receipt of this letter, without delay instruct the surveyors to withdraw from the block, and will, until the dispute is satisfactorily settled among the Natives, suspend the negotiations for the purchase of the same. I have, &c, E. T. Brissenden, Esq., Northern Club, Auckland. . D. McLean.

No. 84 Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Mr. J. W. Pbeece. Maketu, 9th April, 1875. The agreement made with Timoti Puhipi and other chiefs of the Barawa for certain lands in the Victoria Valley was, that the Natives were to get 2s. 4d. per acre, the Government paying for the survey, but any expense in surveying that might be incurred iv making reserves for the Natives within these blocks of land was to be deducted from the money they were to receive. The Natives have received the following sums of money placed opposite the blocks named, to the best of my recollection:— Takahuo ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £390 Te TJwhiroa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 195 TePuwhata ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 125

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