THE NATIVE LAND COM MISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1485, 20 June 1905, Page 3

THE NATIVE LAND COM MISSION.

;(Fer Press Association.)

Auckland, last night. The Commission appointed to enquire into the administration of certain native lands entrusted to various bodies for the oducation of Maori children in the North Island has opened its Auckland sittings. The lands in the Auckland province concerned are : 470 acrea at Kohanga (granted in 1853), 280 ucres at Kohanga (1853), 1385 acres at Hopnhopu known as Pepope South (1853), 870 acres at Punui (1853), 173 acres 33 parches at Otawhao, and 133 acres 3 roods at Pepepo. Mr W. S. Cochraoo, Anglican Diocesan Registrar of Auckland, submitted statements in relation to properties controlled by the Church of England. Mr Gocbrauo aaid in regard to the Kohaoga estate there H»d been no revenue derived from it from 1«53 till 1890. and since then oDly £34 income had been received from it. Since 1890 there had been numbers of Waikato boys taught at St. Stephen’s School in Auckland, twelve having been received from Kohanga. The records of the early davs were incomplete, and the committees appointed by Bishop Sslwyn did not keep a clerk or any consistent record. None ot the old trustees survived. Jq anßtVsr to Mr Wardoili Ty-Tc OocoitinQ sa'd that at St.' Stephen’s,there was instruction in carpentering and farming, as •well as general education, and many of them had get positions in trades and businesses in town. Mr J. Sr. Clair, who represented the Kukutai hapu of Iho Ngatitipa tribe in this block, said be was instructed to ask •the Commission to adjourn to Tuaksu, or Kobanga to hoai; what the original donors had to say. Mr St. Clair sta’ed that in 'tbo early days Archdoaoon Maunapll bad established a school there, and had taught the na«ve3 farming and other useful things. There was a flour mill, and the natives ground their own meal. The natives would a’l bear, testimony to the great work Archdeacon Maunscll did, and they would also propose a scheme for tbo continuance of chat work if it wero pos 3 Qneßtionod ns to the Hopuhopu estate, Mr Cochrane said for the whole torm of 59 years the Act income was £lO5, which had been spent in maintaining the boys of the neighborhood at St. Stephen’s school.