POVERTY BAY NATIVE LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2064, 26 April 1907, Page 1

POVERTY BAY NATIVE LANDS.

COMMISSION’S RKI’ORT. Thu Nnfive .Lands Commission (the Cliiof Justice and Mr Ngata, M.M.R.) have submitted to the Govornmont an interim report on their investigations in regard to, certain properties in liaiv'ke’s Hay. “We intend,” the commission states, in opening, “to rotor in our general report to the history of some of these blocks and of the transactions concerning them. We think that when that history is

stated it will appear plain that: the mode of dealing with native lands in the past has not been beneficial to tiio natives, nor to the Europeans desiring to obtain land for settlement, nor to the State.” Following is the report on the blocks of land in the Tai Eawhiti District. Maori Land Council district, which are as follow:

Moluika, 24,225 acres; Wharoraurakau, 3310 acres; Tutaokuri, 12.552 acres; Tutuotekaha, 6056 acres ; Nulla ka, 15,500 acres; total, 01,703 acres. The Maori owners, report the commissioners, appear to have an honest desire to utilise their lands properly, and are willing to conform to any reasonable scheme ensuring to thorn fair working titles. They found the bulk of the lands eminently suit-

iblo for Maori farms, and believe that with a little care in the soleetion of Maori tenants, who, in the

majority of cases, would themselves bo owners, and with assistance, the Maori owners can occupy those large aroas with profit to themselves and to the State. The wishes of the Maori owners are summarised as follows : To lease to some of themselves, the majority of the lessees being heads of families or large owners or connected by marriage with some of the owners. Some of those required the addition b,v leases of the interests of some of tho other ownors to make up holdings of fair areas ranging from 150 to 1200 acros. In some eases where tho interest of a small family was ascertained and allocated,

tho mombers of the family asked that they retain for their uso and occupation as farms such areas. In a few cases the owners desired their interests to tie leaseil to the highest bidder. Small areas to be reserved as papakiangas for residence and cultivations, or to enclose existing kaingas. Meantime, says the commission, it is desirable to complete tho orders made by the Native Land Court by proper surveys, proper subdivisions in some cases being necessary in order to carry out tho proposals for leasing or farming. They therefore recommend tiiat a staff of surveyors should, as soon as possible, bo detailed for this work, which should include the laying off of roads and the valuation of the various subdivisions. The surveyors’ reports will complete , the information on which the Legislature may act in sanctioning their recommendations. They recommend in regard to above-named blocks—Area proposed to be reserved as papakaingas, 2445 acres; area proposed to be set apart as farms for individual owners, fami-

lies, or incorporated committees, 11,930 acres; areas proposed to bo leased to specified Maori tenants, 34,248 j acres; area suitable for general settlement (a) unconditional 6044 acres, (b) conditional 4103 acres, area leaseil to Europeans 17801 acres, at present unsuitable for settlement, 1152 acres; total, 61,703 acres. Of the area 34,2481 acres proposed to he leased to Maoris, the specified tenants own 9769 acres. Under these

proposals, if approved, over 200 Maoris will be put on the land—their own land—with good titles to fairsized holdings. “In conclusion, we may say,” report the commissioners, “that since the passing of the Maori Land Settlement Amendment Act, 1900, it was open to the Native Minister to have vested any or all of these blocks in the District Maori Land Board under section 4 of that Act, for settlement and occupation by tho Maoris, and we have no doubt that the section was passed with the view of putting

such manner as our proposefs jfitfr--cate. Wo doubt, however, whether the wishes of the native owners would thereby have been carried out as tho law now stands. If the board were permitted to grant leases to Maori tenants specified by the owners, or to issue occupation licenses or certificates of partnership or incorporation to individual owners, families, or liapus, there would bo no necessity for future legislation.”