THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 31 May 1907, Page 2

THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

TO HE OPENED UP. FINAL REPORT OF COMMISSION. Per Tress Association. Wellington, May 30. During the session of 1890. an Act was passed to mil:' pioiision as to ownership and local gvcrnment of native lamU iii rin L'rewera district, aggregating about; three-quarters of a million acres. In accordance with the provisions of the Statute a commission of two Europeans and live members of the Tuhoe tribe,was appointed to diwde the Crewera district into blocks, and with due regard to native customs and usages, investigate the ownership of each block, adopting as lai as possible Iwpu boundaries. Ihe com mission spent a considerable period in c.'.irving out its duties. Orders sumc made declaring the names of the owners of each block, grouping families together, but specifying the name of each member

I of tlie family, and tlu} relative shave of the block to which each family was entitled. A very large number of appeals were lodged against the divisions of the commission. Authority was given to the Native Minister under the Act to direct an expert enquiry into the .cases with respect to which appeals were made, and in accordance with the power thus conferred upon him, ho appointed Captain Slair, of the Native Department, Mr Paratene Ngata (father of Mr A. T. Ngata, M.H.K.), and Mr Barclay, Maori interpreter in the House of Representatives, a commission to deal with appeals. The commission has now com- j pleted its labors, and has forwarded its report to the Native Minister. The Hon. Mr Carroll states that titles to all blocks in the Urewera Country have now been ascertained, and a committee of natives set up to deal with all questions all'ecting the reserve as a whole, or affecting any portion of it. The committee has power to alienate any portion to the Crown, cither absolutely or for any lesser estate, or by way of cession for mining purposes. The Governor may order the laving out of the roads, and landing purposes in the district, and authority is given to the Crown to take land for accommodation houses, camping grounds for stock, and other purposes of public utility, the total area to be taken not to exceed 400 acres. For many years there has been a belief that the Urewera Country is rich in minerals and attempts have been made to allow it to be prospected. The natives, however, have set their faces against any invasion of their territory, but the Native Minister ' points out, that now titles have been finally settled, the Crown will be able to move*in the direction of getting portion of the area for milling purposes.