G—6a

But supposing a settlement should be formed here, the harbour might be made available for vessels of much larger tonnage. By reclaiming about 18 acres (see sketch), at the base of Moturoahou (or the island as it is called), the body of water, would have a clean sweep out, deepening and widening the Channel, and on this reclaimed land might be built the lower town, on the island the higher ; forming a depot for the produce of the country for 100 miles round : great portions of the lagoon might also be reclaimed ; as you are likely to purchase the whole of the land from East Cape to Port Nicholson, I cannot imagine a finer site for a settlement than the district altogether would form. The unpurchased land lying between the two blocks and generally known as the Ahuriri plain, is as you are aware, covered with large swamps, but all of them drainable ; the lower part being a dead flat the drains might form (Channels) canals intersecting the plain in every direction, making an easy and cheap mode of transport, the distance from Wellington by the Wairarapa is somewhere about 150 miles and the road from what I have seen of the country, would not be an expensive one to make, the greatest obstacle being a bush about 40 miles along between the Ruataniwha and the Wairarapa. The Mohaka block is distant about 21 miles from the Ahuriri block, and contains about 80,000 to 90,000 acres. On the South-east it is bounded by the sea, the distance from Mohaka southwards to Waikari being about 7 miles, all cliff; the beach at the base is passable in the summer time, but is rather dangerous from the cliffs constantly falling. The southern boundary is formed by the Waikari river, along which it runs to its source about 16 miles to a place called Patuwahine on the Mangaruru range, from thence down to the Mohaka 2 miles further. On the West and North by the Mohaka river, following it until it joins the sea, the whole distance may be 30 miles. This is a fine river and navigable for canoes as far as the Ahuriri block, but much impeded with rapids and large blocks of stone ; there is a whaling station at the mouth, the boats belonging to it passing in and out at almost all weathers. There is a regular traffic between Mohaka and Ahuriri carried on by the Natives when they have produce for sale. The soil is very good : there is sufficient timber for all purposes, and the land not too much broken, as in the Ahuriri block, and a little more grass, than on the Mohaka, some table plains above the river, and pleasant spots at the bends below. Altogether it is a very pretty little purchase, and would make three or four good runs, the great drawback being the badness of the road, which is, as it runs at present, execrable. It appeared to me, however that one might be got further inland, and which accords with the Native opinion ; but I had not time to examine it. There is some good building stone inland : on the Mohaka and Waikari rivers sand and limestone. The former would make excellent grindstones, the Natives using it for that purpose. I have only to add that the climate is magnificent, nothing can be finer. I have only lost three days in as mainmonths from wet weather, as it generally rains at night, or early in the morning, the wind steady and bracing, and not too strong ; in fact, quite a summer in the depth of winter. Accompanying I send two sketch maps, one of the district generally, and one of the entrance of the harbour. I have, &c, Robert Park, Surveyor. To Donald McLean, Esq., Land Commissioner.

District of Napier No. 7 The Chief Commissioner to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington Ahuriri, 19th November, 1851. Sir, — I have the honor to report to you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief that the first instalment of purchase money for Te Hapuku's district was paid to the Natives at the Waipukurau on the 4th instant, on which date the deed of sale, signed by 377 claimants, was duly executed. There was a numerous attendance of Natives from different parts of the island, and the utmost

£. e portii><' payment of the first instalment for Hapuku's block.

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