Oct. 20.

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Sixty-seven Sections and One Small Grazing-run, situate in Ohotu Block, Blocks XL., XII., XIV., XV., and XVI., Makotuku Survey District; Blocks IX. and XIII., Karioi Survey District; Blocks VII., VIII., XI., and XII., Taura-kira Survey District; and Blocks I., II., V., and IX., Nga-matea Survey District, for Lease by Public Tender under "The Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900," and its Amendments.

NOTICE is hereby given that written tenders, enclosed in sealed envelopes addressed to the President, Aotea Maori Land Council, Whanganui, and indorsed “Tender for Section or small grazing-run Block District,” will be received up till 4 p.m. on Monday, the 16th January, 1905, for the leases of the undermentioned sections and small grazing-run, for a term of twenty-one years, with right of renewal for a further term of twenty-one years, and payment to the lessee of the value of improvements on his going out of possession at the expiration of either term. In the event of ballots being necessary, they will be held at the office of the Aotea Maori Land Council, Whanganui, on the 18th January, 1905, at 11.30 a.m.

If the sections or small grazing-run be not leased on the 16th January, 1905, they will remain open for lease until further notice at the upset annual ground-rentals noted below.

H. DUNBAR JOHNSON,
President, Aotea Maori Land Council, Whanganui.

SCHEDULE.
WAIMARINO COUNTY.

Section. Block. Area. Rent per Acre per Annum. Upset Annual Rent.

Makotuku Survey District.

• Weighted with £30 for improvements.

• Weighted with £119 15s. for improvements.

Karioi Survey District.

Tauakira Survey District.

WAIMARINO COUNTY—continued.

Ngamatea Survey District.

• Weighted with £80 for improvements.

Tauakira Survey District.

Small Grazing-run.

NOTE.—All the above sections and small grazing-run are offered subject to amendment of areas and rentals on final survey.

Locality and General Description of the Ohotu Block.

This block, which comprises an aggregate area of 55,121 acres, subdivided into sixty-seven sections and one small grazing-run, ranging from 176 acres to 3,530 acres, is situated on the left bank of the Whanganui River, about forty-five miles from Whanganui, and about six miles south of the Raetihi Township.

The access to the western portion of the block is by river-steamer up the Whanganui River for a distance of about forty-five miles; thence by unformed surveyed roads to the different sections.

The northern portion of the block can be reached from Raetihi, which is six miles distant by about two miles of dray road and the remainder pack-track. This pack-track, which was constructed some years ago, is continued through the block along the Mangawhero River, and joins Field’s Track south of the block.

The access to the eastern portion of the block is from Karioi, which is from seven to fifteen miles distant—six miles by partly formed road, the remaining distances to the different sections by surveyed roads only.

The sections, generally speaking, comprise hilly and undulating bush lands. Sections 1, 2, 4, Block VII., 3 and 4, Block VIII., 1 and 2, Block XI., and 1, Block XII., Tauakira ; 3 and 4, Block V., and 1, Block IX., Ngamatea, are of a rough and broken character. Sections 3 and 4, Block XII., Makotuku, have steep sidlings to the Ararawa Stream. There are flats on the following sections : 1, 2, 3, Block XIV., 7, Block XV., Makotuku ; 7, Block IX., 4, 5, 6, Block XIII., Karioi ; 1, Block XI., Tauakira ; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, Block I., 1, 2, 3, 4, Block V., and 1, Block IX., Ngamatea. There are open flats and swamps on Sections 6 and 7, Block IX., Karioi.

The soil of Ohotu Block generally is from fair to good quality, resting on papa and sandstone formations.

The forest comprises for the most part rimu, rata, tawa, matai, miro, and maire, with undergrowth of karamu, mahoe, rangiora, kotukutuku, &c.

The following sections are reported to contain milling timber : 2, 3, 4, Block XII., and 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, Block XVI., Makotuku.

All the sections are well watered.

Improvements have been effected on the undermentioned sections as follows : Section 3, Block XIV., Makotuku ; valued at £30. Section 5, Block I., Ngamatea—40 acres felled and grassed, valued at £80. Section 2, Block XV., Makotuku—20 acres cleared and grassed, 15 acres cleared (not yet burnt), three whares, and 24 chains of fencing ; valued at £119 15s.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

1. Every tender shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to the President, and marked on the outside as follows : “Tender for lease of Section No. or small grazing-run, as advertised in the newspaper of the day of , 19 ,” and shall be accompanied by a statutory declaration in the form or to the effect set forth in Form K in the Schedule hereto.

2. If any person desires to tender for more than one section or the small grazing-run, a separate tender for each such section or the small grazing-run must be made, and separate declarations as required by the last preceding rule. And