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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

No. 53. — The Chief Commissioner to His Excellency's Private Secretary

No. 53.
The Chief Commissioner to His Excellency's Private Secretary.

New Zealand.Present State of Native Land Purchases.

Sir,—

Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 21st April, 1856.

I have the honour to lay before you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, a general report on the present state of the Native land-purchasing operations throughout the colony.

Middle Island.

  • 1. In my letter of the 7th instant the arrangements made for the extinction of the Native title to the unpurchased portions of the Middle Island are so fully detailed that I need not again advert to this subject further than to remark that, with the exception of D'Urville Island, a dispute at Akaroa, and certain reservations essential for the subsistence of the Natives, the claims to that Island may be now considered as finally settled.

Province of Auckland.

  • 2. In the Auckland Province the districts where purchases are at present carried on by officers of this department are the Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Auckland, and Whaingaroa on the West Coast.

Bay of Islands.

At the Bay; of Islands, arrangements for the purchase of lands by this department were not commenced until the 1st of June, 1855, when Mr. Kemp was instructed to carry on this duty. He was subsequently recalled to Auckland, so that he has only, as yet, been enabled to complete the purchase of 10,000 acres, at a cost of £700. The Natives of that district have offered to dispose of several blocks of land to the Government, varying in extent from-1,000 to 8,000 acres each.

On the 17th November, 1855, instructions were issued to Mr. Kemp (a copy of which is herewith enclosed) to proceed to Mangonui, and use every exertion to acquire such lands in that vicinity as would be eligible for the location of a body of immigrants expected from Toronto, if sufficient inducement could be held out to them to establish themselves in this colony. From what I can gather from Mr. Kemp's reports, which I have already furnished, the Native chiefs were not inclined to dispose of the Victoria Valley, which from its fine rich soil and situation would be the most eligible site for such a settlement; but, at the same time, Mr. Kemp expresses an opinion that the valley might be obtained if certain reserves were made for the Natives, and a sum of £2,000 placed at his disposal to effect the purchase.

I estimate that 100,000 acres might be obtained in the Bay of Islands District during the ensuing year at an outlay of £6,000.

Whangarei.

In the Whangarei District, which is situated between the Bay of Islands and Auckland, 230,000 acres have been acquired, from the 13th February, 1853, to the 31st March, 1856, at a cost of £9,910. There are several blocks of fair average quality, which may be altogether estimated to comprise upwards of 100,000 acres, offered by the Natives, which might be obtained at an expense of £5,640. As this district is being settled by Europeans it is very desirable that purchases of the more desirable blocks for agricultural purposes should be carried on during the present year.

Auckland District.

In the Auckland District a sum of £5,000 could be judiciously expended in the purchase of several blocks of land which are, from their proximity to the town, much required for settlement.

Eastern District.

Several extensive tracts in the Thames, Piako, and Bay of Plenty Districts might also be, purchased in the course of the present year if an officer to negotiate with the Natives, and others to carry on the surveys of the several blocks they may offer to sell, could be stationed there.

Whaingaroa and Mokau.

In the Whaingaroa and Mokau District 59,000 acres of land have been acquired for £1,905. The purchase of 39,830 acres, on which instalments to the amount of £917 have been paid, can be finally settled for an additional sum of £2,215.

There are several settlers from Auckland and Taranaki locating themselves at Whaingaroa, and the purchases there are being gradually carried on towards the Waikato and Waipa Districts; but, from the report of the District Officer, I expect it will be some considerable time before any extent of the interior portions of those districts will be alienated by the Natives, as it is with considerable reluctancepage 55 they even dispose of the homesteads for the few Europeans who have for many years resided in that part of the interior.

Province of Taranaki.

  • 3. The whole of the land acquired from the Natives in the Taranaki Province may be estimated at 60,000 acres. Of this extent there are about 3,000 acres in the Waiwakaiho Block, exclusive of reserves, of which the Natives have not yet given up possession to the Government.

In consequence of the continued feuds among the Natives at Taranaki, I do not anticipate that there" is any prospect of acquiring land there during this year. At the same time some provision should be made to enable the Government to do so whenever the Natives are disposed to sell. A sum of £3,000 would be adequate to meet this contingency.

Province of Wellington.

  • 4. In the Province of Wellington there are above 700,000 acres of land at Ahuriri and Manawatu still unpurchased. Of this extent, 300,000 acres, a portion of which is situated in the valuable Ahuriri Plains, near the harbour, might be acquired in the course of the ensuing eighteen months, if funds and survey assistance are afforded to effect this object. A considerable portion of the land is adapted for agricultural and most of it for pastoral pursuits.

From the changeable disposition of the Natives in reference to their land, it is impossible for me to furnish more than an approximate estimate of the sums that may be required. The amounts may be either over or under what is stated, but I would submit that it is most advisable to be provided with funds to complete purchases when the Natives are disposed to treat for the sale of their land.

I have &c;

Donald McLean,
Chief Commissioner.
Captain Steward, Private Secretary.