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have it done by their own surveyors without charging them, they asked if this expense would not be taken into consideration by the Government when offering a price for the land; to which I replied that the Government would offer what they considered a reasonable price, and it would be at their own option whether they accepted it or not. It was then agreed that any surveyors which the Government might send should be permitted to make the survey. A map of the above description could be prepared in a short time, and at a comparatively trifling expense. It could, I believe, be completed so as to allow of the Court sitting in the early spring. Surveyors, however, should be set about it at once. An exact survey is not required. It would be sufficient to roughly traverse the rivers with a pocket compass for a sufficient distance to mark their general direction, and their sources could be shown as seen in the hills from the flats below. The Manawatu river has already been surveyed, and the Ahu-o-turanga block would form the northern boundary.

All the claims extend to the boundary of the 70-mile Bush purchase on the Tararua range, which would form the Eastern boundary. I would furnish the surveyor with a translation of the boundaries as given by the natives in their written applications to the Court, as many as possible of the names of which should appear on the map in order to facilitate the subdivision of the map. In this way a map might be prepared at a trifling cost which would answer all the purposes of the Court.

I would suggest that the services of Mr. Carkeek be obtained for the purpose. He understands the Maori language tolerably well, and is acquainted with the country. Doubtless the Provincial authorities would not object to his being detached from the Provincial service for a short time.

I am informed that Mr. Jackson, the Chief Provincial Surveyor, is anxious to have a trigonometrical survey made of the district in question, but has hitherto been unable to get it done, owing to the opposition of the Natives.

As they have now consented to allow of a survey being made for the Court, there is no reason why this should not be done at the same time.

I have now given every information that occurs to me, to enable the Government to see the exact position of affairs at the present moment on the West Coast up to the Manawatu river, in so far as concerns the claims of the Ngatiraukawa (the invaders of the district) on the one side, and the Muaupoko, the Rangitane, and Ngatiapa (the original inhabitants) on the other. I may mention that demands for advances of money on account of their claims were everywhere made, which I invariably discountenanced.

I think it inadvisable, as a rule, to make advances on land to which there are so many adverse claimants before their titles have been investigated by the Court. If one party receive money, the other will expect it also, or they will say with reason that favour is shown, and that the rights of one party is being acknowledged to the prejudice of the other.

I left Otaki on the evening of the 21st, and arrived in town on Friday, the 22nd inst.

I have, &c.,

G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary,
Native Department.

James Grindell,
Native Department.

H.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 26th April, 1872.

Sir,

With reference to your Honor’s letter of the 22nd November last, in which you recommend the purchase of Parae Karetu Block I have now the honor to inform you that the land has been purchased from its Native owners and the deed extinguishing the title signed on the 16th of March ult.

The Notice extinguishing the title will be published in the New Zealand Gazette at an early date, meanwhile I forward to your Honor a description of the boundaries.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

W. GISBORNE.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

Schedule.

Province of Wellington.

Parae Karetu Block.—Estimated to contain about 46,975 acres. Bounded on the north by a line from Haumakariri, on the Turakina river, to Tiriraukawa Hill, and thence to the Valley of the Pourewa; on the East by lines in the valley of the Pourewa and the Pourewa stream to the boundary of the Taraketi Block; on the South, the