Jan. 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 117

General Description of Land.

The above-mentioned sections form portion of the Ngapaeruru Block, which is situate to the eastward of the Town of Dannevirke, and comprise all the forest country between the Waikopiro Settlement and the well-known Mangatoro Estate. The nearest section is distant eight miles and a half from Dannevirke, and most of the sections about fourteen miles. Of the latter distance, nine miles is along the main Dannevirke-Weber coach-road, which is metalled and in good repair. The areas of the sections range from 130 acres to 913 acres. Speaking generally, the land is undulating, and varies in altitude from 600 ft. to 1,950 ft. above sea-level, but a great proportion of it is under 1,200 ft. The flats are heavily timbered with rimu and kahikatea, which are the principal timbers on the Ngapaeruru Block. Matai also is common, but totara is only seen occasionally. Bush-fires have, unfortunately, destroyed large quantities of the timber. The soil is of good quality, and very suitable for dairying and pastoral purposes. Papa formation obtains throughout, with limestone outcrop on most of the high ranges and spurs. This land is well watered. Besides the Manawatu and Mangatoro Rivers, there are several large streams which will probably supply permanent water to most of the sections. A sum of money is now being expended in making roads throughout the block, and the bush has already been felled 1 chain wide on all the roads in the portion to be opened.

ERIC C. GOLD SMITH,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Rural Lands in the Taranaki Land District open for Sale or Selection.

District Lands and Survey Office, New Plymouth, 19th December, 1898.

THE under-mentioned Crown lands will be open for sale or selection, in terms of section 136 of “The Land Act, 1892,” either for cash, for occupation with right of purchase, or for lease in perpetuity, at the option of the selector, on and after Wednesday, the 22nd February, 1899.

SCHEDULE.

TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

Second-class Land.

Locality and Description of Land.

This land adjoins the settled districts contiguous to Waverley and Patea. The sections in Block XII., Opaku, are about twenty-two and twenty miles from Waverley and Momohaki Railway-stations, thirteen miles of which are by dray-road. Those in Block XVI., Opaku, are from eleven to eighteen miles from Waverley via Motoroa and Okotuku Roads; also via Okahutiria Road, thirteen miles dray- and five miles bridle-road. Those in Blocks IX., X., and XIII., Kapara, are from sixteen to twenty-two miles distant from Momohaki Railway-station via Weraweraonga Road, eleven miles of which are dray-road and the remainder bridle-track; also via Ridge and Mangawhio Roads, eighteen miles being a dray-road. Section 1, Block XIII., Kapara, has also a frontage to Omahire Road, distant about thirteen miles from Waverley, ten miles being a dray-road. The block, generally speaking, is very rough, but of fair quality of soil, and, owing to the difficulty of getting homestead-sites, it is only suitable for settlement in large areas. The valleys near the south end of the block are about 1,000 ft. below the ridges. Throughout the block the slopes are steep and the gullies generally gorgy; the formation is papa; the timber consists mostly of rata, tawa, hinau, with birch on the ridges, and the usual undergrowth.

JOHN STRAUCHON,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.