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

9 Waikauau Block

9 Waikauau Block.

This may be estimated to contain about 60,000 acres of land, the greater part of which is of broken description. There are a few patches of land available for cultivation on the banks of the numerous streams which intersect it; but these bear but a small proportion to the whole. The best pieces of land for settlement are at Te Puru and Wainui, but these have been either sold to Europeans or are required for Native reserves. Probably not more than 2,000 acres of this block have been granted under the Native Lands Act. The town of Hastings and the Tapu Creek diggings are within it. There is reason to believe that a very large proportion of the land is of an auriferous character. The available kauri timber in the neighbourhood of the Waikawau and Mata streams has been sold to Captain Daldy, who owns a large and valuable saw-mill at Waikawau. The kauri timber at Otuturu has been sold to Mr. Hector McKenzie, and that at Waipukapuka to Mr. Thomas Kelly. The survey of this block is in a forward state, having been undertaken by Captain Daldy and myself page 324with a view to purchasing the whole block from the Natives, subject to the Government agreements with them respecting gold mining. We are, however, prepared to waive our claims on condition of Captain Daldy receiving a title to the timber heretofore purchased by him, and a piece of 400 acres of land adjacent to the Waikawau saw-mill, and 50 acres at the booms on the Mata stream, and our being repaid the cost of survey and the deposits paid by us to the Natives on various pieces within the block, less the proportional cost of the 450 acres before mentioned. The pieces of 400 and 50 acres respectively required by Captain Daldy to be excluded from the operation of "The Mining District Act, 1871." It is anticipated that no additional Native reserves will be required, as there are considerable holdings at Kereta and Matariki immediately north of this block, which with the pieces already mentioned at Te Puru and Wainui are sufficient for Native requirements in that neighbourhood.

The survey at present in progress is merely of the external boundaries, and some sub-divisional lines will probably have to be cut in consequence of troublesome disputes between the hapus of Ngatitamatera as to internal boundaries. Immediately south of the Waikawau Block is that known as Te Wharau or Wairuaterangi, which has been purchased by the Crown.