Mr. Parris to the Hon. J. C. Richmond.

I have the honour to forward herewith the returns called for in the Under-Secretary's letters dated 16th May and 21st November, Nos. 208–2 and 218–2, so far as the matters referred to have been settled up to the present time. In addition to the schedule which gives the totals, I have appended thereto a detailed account of the reserves made for returning rebels, but of course His Excellency's Government is aware that a great many more reserves will have to be made in every district, as has already been contemplated.

In the Ngatiawa coast, Waitara South and Oakura Blocks, that is, from the White Cliffs (the northern extremity of the confiscated territory) to Hangatahua, in the Taranaki District, and also in the Ngatiruanui coast from Patea to Waingongoro, so much of the available land by the seaboard has been taken up for the military-settlement scheme that there is not sufficient to satisfy the awards to loyal Natives within the same lines; but there is a great deal of very fine country inland of those lines, as soon as it can be made available, which is a work of time, and cannot be reckoned upon as available at the present time.

The block of land between Waitotara and Whenuakura is computed to contain over 50,000 acres of very superior land within eight miles from the beach: of this about 22,000 acres will be required for military settlers not yet located, and for awards to loyal Natives; the remainder will be at the disposal of the Government, and would, I have no doubt, realize from £1 10s: to £2 an acre, if put into the market judiciously. The block between Whenuakura and Patea is computed to contain 12,000 acres of available land within the same distance from the beach; and, after, laying out the township on the south side of Patea, it is proposed to reserve the remainder for awards of the Court to loyal Natives and for returning rebels.

From Waingongoro to Hangatahua, a seaboard of fifty miles, there is a district of very fine land, and no military settlers' settlements. In this, district 62,500 acres have been awarded to loyal Natives These it is proposed to concentrate as much as possible within the block between Hangatahua and Waiweranui set apart for that purpose, and for the Ngawahunga returning rebels (none having been reserved for that purpose north of Hangatahua), and within the block set apart for the chiefs, William King Matakatea, and the late Arama Karaka and their followers, between Moutote and Taungatara. Upon this block it is also proposed to concentrate as many as possible of the rebels, thereby leaving a block between Moutote and Kapoaiaia; and another block between Taungatara and Kaupokonui, altogether about twenty miles of a seaboard with its proportion of back land to confiscated line, nearly free, to be disposed of by the Government. From Kaupokonui to Waingongoro, about eight miles across by the seaboard there is the finest block of land in the whole district, estimated at, over 30,000, acres. Out of this a reserve has to be made for the Ngaruahine section of the Ngatiruanui Tribe.

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The estimated total area of land confiscated in the Province of Taranaki, including, I presume, the Patea, Waitotara Block, and the block inland of the Whanganui Settlement, is 1,144,300 acres. From this must be deducted 291,852 acres for mountain and swampy land, as per estimate, leaving 852,448 acres of the so-called available land, of which there has already been used for military settlers, loyal and rebel Natives, as per schedule, 272,243½ acres, leaving 580,204½ acres. From this quantity a further reduction will have to be made for returning rebels, and reserves for absentees, and the quantity abandoned south of the Waitotara River.

In the present state of the whole question it is impossible for me to furnish exact information, for the only part of the confiscated territory which has ever been surveyed is that where the military settlers' settlements are, and an approximation as regards any other part would be very imperfect data to base a calculation upon.

Enclosures.
(No. 1.)
Quantity of Land set apart for Returning Rebels to Present Time.

Ngatiruanui Coast:		Acres.
	At Ihupuku, Waitotara, for Aperahama Tamaiparea and his followers	50
	For the Pakakoes between the Patea and Tangahoe Rivers	9,000
	For the Tangahoes between the Tangahoe and Waingongoro Rivers	10,500
	Also the burial-grounds on the sandhills; quantity never decided; not more than 20 acres.
	Ditto for the chief Hone Pihama.	500
	For the Ngamahanga Tribe from Hangatahua to Waiweranui, after satisfying awards to loyal Natives and awards to absentees which will have to be made, say 5,000 acres	12,000
Waitara South:
	For the Puketapus at Kaipakopako	600
	For the Pukerangioras in the Huirangi Mataitawa Block	287
Ngatiawa Coast:
	For the Ngatimutungas in the Urenui Block	200
	For W. King Rangitaike, in the Waitara Township, including the Manu-korihi Pa	25
	For the Otaros at Waitara between the Township and Tikorangi Military Settlers	50

(No. 2.)
Province of Taranaki

Name of Block.	Land given to Rebel Natives. Land returned to Loyal Natives.	Land allotted to Military Settlers.	Amount already sold in each Locality, with the sum realized	Amount still Available for sale in each Locality, with probable Value.	Payments in Money or Scrip already made as Compensation ot Friendly Natives and Settlers.	Sums expended in Surveys, Road making, &co., to make Land accessible.
	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.			£	s.	d.
Ngatiruanui Coast				Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.	See Report enclosing this Return				Roads—£3,800 Surveys—£13,639
Waitotara to Kaupokonui	19,550	17,364	*12,300	Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.		Nil
Kaupokonui to Hangatahua	12,500	11,900	46,000	Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.		Nil
Opunake Block returned to W. King and Arama Earaka, and intended to satisfy all claims of their hapu both residents and and absentees, estimated to contain		†50,000		Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.
Oakura	Nil	12,142	17,369	Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.		‡12	0	0
Waitara South	887	8,626	12,260	Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.			Nil
Ngatiawa Coast	275	34,249	18,448	Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.			Nil
	33,212	134,281	106,377	Taken up in Waitara Township on 8th May, 1867, under Order in Council of 4th February, 1867, and in accordance with "The Laud Orders and Scrip Act, 1866," in satisfaction of original Land Orders 18 9.50 acres.

Note.—Survey and roads cost 1s. 4d. per acre, principally block surveys.