720. THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 41

Reserve, which will be available for the use of persons who
may desire to devote more than a day to the inspection.

Description of Land: The above sections are situated on
the western slopes of the Waitotara River Valley, and com-
prise very good but generally narrow river-flats and long
leading spurs with steep faces in parts. The altitude of the
hills ranges from 300ft. to 1,200ft. above sea-level, the flats
being only about 70ft. to 80ft. above the sea, covered by a
rich alluvial deposit, quite free from floods, and well shel-
tered, affording excellent homestead sites at frequent inter-
vals. The soil varies from fair to good on the slopes, but is
poor on the tops of the ridges, which are covered with a nar-
row strip of black birch. Bush of this character sometimes
burns without felling. The forest on the slopes is tawa,
hinau, maire, manuka, rangiora, and the flats are generally
covered with light scrub, creepers, supplejacks, nettles, tawa,
&c., with some rough grass and cocksfoot in old Native
clearings. The distance from Waitotara Township to the
surveyed sections via Block IX. Road is about fourteen
miles, and by canoe up river about eighteen miles. The
river is believed to be capable of being made fit for
light-draft steamers at a reasonable cost. When cleared and
grassed these sections should be well adapted for pastoral
purposes, and the river-flats would be suitable for fruit
growing, &c.

Intending selectors will find a guide on the morning of
each Tuesday, at the camp at the head of the Motoroa
Road, who will conduct them through the block to the
Waitotara River, where a tent is pitched; then he will
conduct them through the whole of the Waitotara River
lands, and back to the starting-point.

Pohangina Block.

SECOND-CLASS LAND.—UNSURVEYED.
Omahine-Kaimanuka Block.

Block II., parts of Blocks IV. and V., Omahine, and parts
of Blocks V., IX., and XIII., Momahaki Survey Districts,
14,500 acres; cash price, 10s. to 12s. per acre.

Description of Land: The land in the Omahine District
is situated on the confiscated lands at the head of the
Omahine and Ngutuera Valleys, and comprises long leading
spurs with steep faces in parts, and rich flat valleys, which
average about five chains in width, and flat at bottom,
which, being only from 100ft. to 200ft. above sea-level,
afford numerous and suitable well-sheltered homestead-sites.
The altitude of the hills varies from 300ft. to 1,400ft. above
the sea. The general character of the formation is sand-
stone and papa. The soil varies from fair to good quality on
the slopes; that in the valleys being principally alluvial drift
of a superior quality, which should be well suited for orchards
or cropping. The forest on the ridges is mainly birch; that
on the slopes includes tawa, hinau, maire, manuka, rangiora,
fern trees, &c., and is generally light. The flats are open
in places, growing tussock and toi grass, and in others
the growth is tawa bush or scrub. The land in the Moma-
haki District is situated on the western slopes of the Wai-
totara River valley, south of the provincial boundary-line,
and consists of the western slopes of the Waitotara River
valley, with good but generally narrow river-flats and long
leading spurs with deep gullies between. The river-flats,
which are only 100ft. above sea-level, are formed of rich
alluvial deposit, are quite free from floods, well sheltered,
and are at sufficient intervals to provide good homestead
sites. The altitude of the hills ranges from 300ft. to 1,400ft.
above the sea. The soil varies from fair to good on the
slopes; the tops of the ridges generally carry poor soil, and
are covered with a strip of black birch. The bush on the
slopes comprises tawa, hinau, maire, rangiora, &c.; the
flats are generally covered with light scrub, creepers, sup-
plejacks, nettles, tawa, &c., with rough grass in old Native
clearings, and an unusual quantity of fern trees occur in the
valley—an indication of good soil. The distance from
Waverley to the western portion of the land is nine miles,
eight and three-quarters of which is a dray-road, and the
remaining quarter of a mile a felled and stumped line.
The distance from Waitotara Township to the eastern part,
by the Mangawhio Road, is fourteen miles, six of which is a
dray-road and five a horse-track.

Special care has been taken to explore for, and mark on
sale-plans, areas suitable for occupation in one holding, with
homestead-sites wherever procurable, with good fencing
boundaries and ample water supply.

Intending selectors will find a guide on the morning of
each Tuesday at the head of the Motoroa Road, who will
conduct them through the block to the Waitotara River,
where a tent is pitched; thence he will conduct them
through the whole of the Waitotara River lands, and back to
the starting-point.

Maungakaretu Block.

Portions of Blocks XI., XII., XV., and XVI., Ngamatea
Survey District, and Blocks V., VI., IX., X., and XIII.,
Maungakaretu Survey District; area, 13,200 acres; price 15s.
per acre for cash.

Description of Land: The lands comprised in this block
consist of high hills with broken or easy faces, merging into
undulating and flat land in the Wangaehu and Koukoupo
Valleys. The soil is generally of fair loamy quality. The
forest includes rimu, rata, hinau, tawa, tawhero, maire,
matai, &c., with totara in places, sufficient generally for
homestead purposes, with some good heavy timber, including
totara and kahikatea, in the Wangaehu Valley. The under-
growth includes karamu, konini, akeake, wharangi, mahoe,
&c. The block is well watered by the Wangaehu River, the
Koukoupo Stream, &c. Should the proposed Main Trunk
Railway—Marton-Te Awamutu—be constructed, it will form
the natural outlet to this block, as the proposed railway-line is
only twelve miles distant. The distance from Wanganui is
about fifty miles. There is a dray-road for about twenty-
eight miles, and a formed horse-road to within about nine
miles of the block. When cleared and grassed, the country
will be well adapted for pastoral purposes.

Selectors will have the privilege of choosing, subject to
reasonable restrictions, the precise locality and area of their
future holdings, with the additional advantage of securing
good fencing boundaries on ridges and spurs where available.

A guide will be found at Mr. Humphries's survey camp, at
Freeth's clearing, and a tent will be pitched for the con-
venience of intending selectors.

Otairi Block.

Parts of Blocks X., XI., XIV., and XV., Tiriraukawa
Survey District; area, about 6,500 acres; price, 15s. per acre
for cash.

Description of Land: The block is situated on Murray's
Marton-Murimotu Road, six miles north of Hunterville,
west of the Porewa Valley, and includes the western slopes
of that valley, the dividing range between that stream and
the Turakina, and the heads of the Hatawa and Hau-
makariri Streams. There are some small flats on the
Porewa Stream. The soil is good in the valleys and slopes,
and poor on part of the dividing range, but good on the
range forming the northern boundary of the block, which is
a broad ridge with old Native clearings on it. The block is
well watered. The forest consists of tawa, hinau, matai,
karamu, with occasional totaras on the north boundary
range and on the slopes and in the valleys, with some kahi-
katea in the Porewa. The top of the dividing ridge in the
centre of the block is covered with a strip of black birch,
which might burn without felling, and would then take grass
readily. The block is of easy access, being about four miles
from the Rangatira Railway-station, on the North Island
Main Trunk Railway. From the station there is a dray-
road to within a short distance of the block.

Pohangina Block.

Parts of Blocks III., IV., VII., VIII., and XI., Pohangina
Survey District; 9,000 acres; price 10s. to 15s. per acre for
cash.

Description of Land: This block is situated on both sides
of the Pohangina River, north of and adjacent to the Wanga-
nui Harbour Board and Awahou Special-settlement blocks.
The area comprises generally broken and undulating hills,
intersected by deep gullies, which are gorgy in places, but
there are flats on the upper and lower river terraces. The
whole block is splendidly watered by the river and branch
streams, and is covered with forest; that on both sides of
the river north of Axup's and Anderson's runs is of the usual
mixed character, including rimu, rata, hinau, titoki, maire,
kahikitea, matai, and scattered totara trees. The under-
growth is very dense, comprising rangiora, supplejack,
lawyer, karamu, &c. On the south-eastern part of the block
there is black birch on all the ridges, but on the sides and in
the gullies the bush is mixed. Durable timber sufficient for
building and fencing purposes is available generally all over
the block. The formation is papa and sandstone, and the soil,