No. 69.
Mr. Commissioner Searancke to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

I have the honor to inform you that I have completed the survey of the "Mangari" Block, offered for sale to the Government in January last by Hori Kingi.

I also beg to submit, for your consideration and approval, the payment to him and the other owners of this land the sum of £330, as a final and complete settlement of their claims on this block of land, which contains 2,800 acres; about two-thirds of which are poor, hilly, open, clay land; and one-third, on the banks of the Mangari and Waipiu Rivers, of good quality. The price asked is at the rate of 2s. 4d. an acre, a price. I consider low when the daily increasing competition from private purchasers is taken into consideration.

I also beg most respectfully to call to your attention that it is adjacent to Government land (the Ruatangata Block), to which the present block would give a defined river boundary, in place of the present undefined line across country.