MAORI LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 111, 31 October 1911, Page 8

MAORI LANDS.

the position analysed. Elaborate details of the native lands of the North Island and their present condition luive been furnished to Parliament by the Native Minister. The total area is 7.137,205 acres, of which 4,(>.»t!.342 acres are profitably occupied, and .'!.OBit.So'3 are unoccupied lands, though some portion of this is unfit for settlement. It is to be found mostly in the Urewera country, and other portions of the North Island difficult of access. I'pon analysis of the details, the report shows that two-thirds of the unoccupied lands are mussed in a part of the North Island generally regarded as unfit for settlement except in large areas as small grazing runs.

A sum of £1.010.080 has been spent since !S!H in purchasing native lands for settlement. I he area acquired bj/the Government being over three million acres. During the same period (for the greater part of which the sale of native land to private individuals was the area sold to private persons was' 4!>!),852 acres. Thus, duripg the twenty years under review, the Maoris parted with the freehold of 3,01)2,281 acres, all in the Xortli Wand. I'MWVUPV lAX IK DIMINISHING.

Tn 1801 the area of Papatupu lands lying virgin, not only to the axe of the settler, but to the law, held by the aboriginal owners under their customs and usages, not according to any title recognised by the District Land Registration offices, amounted to 2.777.20!) acres. Tn 1000 this had been reduced to 4!)0,702 acres as follows: Acres. Auckland district 341.407 Ifawl-rc's Tsny district.. 149,28.") 400,752 At March 31, 1011, this area had been further reduced to 100,702 acres, ot which the bulk is in the Auckland Land District. Til two years it is estimated the?e will not he any block of value remaining in the category of "customary" or "papa- i tupu" land.—Wellington Times.