NATIVE LANDS IN THE WHANGANUI DISTRICT (INTERIM REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, G-01a

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1907. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LANDS IN THE WHANGANUI DISTRICT (INTERIM REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INTERIM REPORT ON NATIVE LANDS IN THE WHANGANUI DISTRICT. To His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. May it please Your Excellency,— We have the honour to present an interim report on Native lands in the Whanganui District. We deem it necessary first to present a bird's-eye view of the larger areas in the district which are more or less unoccupied, and then to analyse them according to the manner in which they are held by the Maori owners, the present position of the titles and of dealings therewith, and the manner in which in our opinion they should be rendered available for settlement. I. To the east of the Whanganui River, and lying roughly between the Waimarino and Raetihi Blocks on the north, the southern boundary of Tauakira Block on the south, the Mangawhero and Whanganui Rivers on the east, are the following lands owned by the Whanganui Maoris : — Acres 1. Ngaporo ... ... ... ... ... 2,900 2. Paekaka or Waharangi 7 ... ... ... 1,484 3. Te Autumutu or Waharangi 6 ... ... 2,204 4. Waharangi Nos. Ito 5 ... ... ... 11,299 5. Morikau 2 ... ... ... .... ... 14,066 6. Morikau 1 ... ... ... ... ... 7,200 7. Ngatipare ... ... ... ... ... 1,610 8. Te Poutahi ... ... ... ... 2,016 9. Ranana ... ... ... ... ... 3,100 10. Ngarakauwhakarara ... ... ... 4,995 11. Ohotu 1, 2, 3, and 8 ... ... ... ... 63,644 12. Tauakira 2... ... ... ... ... 14,900 13. Tupapanui 2 • ... ... ... ... 2,450 14. Mairekura Ato L ... ... ... ... 2,785 134,653

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Up to a few years ago this tract of country was practically virgin to settlement, although from its position there was no area so suitable for small grazingruns or so well favoured, with the Whanganui River as a large waterway to the west, the North Island Main Trunk Railway to the east, and many possible, if unformed, roadways from west to east. The lands in this group may be further arranged as follows : — (a.) Title not ascertained — Acres. Ngatipare and Te Poutahi ... ... ... ••• 3,626 (b.) Vested in the Aotea Maori Land Board— 1 By deeds of trust —Waharangi Ito 5, Mori- Acres, kau 2, Ohotu 1, 2, 3, and 8... ... ... 89,009 2. By Parliament—Tauakira 2, part ... ... 11,661 3. By Order in Council under section 4, " Maori Land Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1906 " —Morikau 1 ... ... ... ••• 7,200 107,870 (c.) Leased — Tauakira 2, parts ... ... ••• ••• 3,239 Mairekura A ... ... ••• ••• 584 3,823 (d.) Balance, which are not subject to any dealings ... 19,334 134,653 It may be assumed that the lands vested in the Board are, if not already disposed of by way of lease, immediately available for general settlement. We give below some details of the work of the Aotea Maori Land Board, under which we deal with Morikau No. 1, one of the blocks specially investigated by the Commission. With regard to Ranana and Ngarakauwhakarara, the leading chiefs desired to lease both blocks to Europeans after making papakainga reserves of 500 acres on the Ranana Block. We were informed that negotiations were already under way for such leases, and that the intending lessees were persons who had secured or were in negotiation for leases of considerable areas of Native lands in other parts of the district. The Maoris have sheep grazing on Ranana; the land is of first-class quality, partly open and partly covered with light bush; and from its position relative to the adjoining Morikau 1 Block, vested in the Board for Maori occupation and farming, and relative to the large settlements of Hiruharana and Ranana, we thought that this land should be dealt with in the same manner as Morikau. Ngarakauwhakarara, lying to the south of Ranana, is overrun with blackberries. The Maoris have no desire that any paoakainga reserves be made on this block, and are willing that the whole should be leased We think that the Native Minister should exercise the power given him by section 3 of "The Maori Land Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1906," and vest this land in the Board to be dealt with as land infested with noxious weeds. The owners of Paekaka (Waharangi 7) and Te Autumutu (Waharangi 6) desired that these blocks should be retained for their use and occupation. Some of the owners have cleared a little bush. We see no reason why the wishes of the Maoris with regard to these blocks should not be acceded to. It is recommended that the Native Minister should apply to the Court to have the titles to the Ngatipare and Poutahi Blocks ascertained as soon as possible, as until the title is ascertained they cannot be dealt with. The Commission did not investigate Ngaporo, Tupapanui, and Mairekura, but propose to do so if possible before Parliament meets. 11. To the west of the Whanganui River, commencing to the north-west of the first group, and intermixed with large areas acquired by the Crown down to the Paetawa Block, opposite Parikino, is another group owned in varying

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proportions by the same hapus as are in the first group, and consisting of the following blocks : — Acres. Acres. 1. Taumatamahoe 2b, No. 2 ... ... ... 42,565 2. Whakaihuwaka ... ... ■■• ■■■ 63,700 3. Tawhitinui ... ... ... ■•■ 3,378 4. Ahuahu A, B, C, E, and F2 1,443 5. TeTuhi Ib.. ... ... ... 1,425 2b 795 3b... ... ... ... 459 4c 2,242 5 ... ... ... 322 5,243 6. Paetawa ... ... ... •■• ••• 3,370 119,699 Within the last twelve months this area has been considerably reduced by sales to the Crown as follows : — Acres. Taumatamahoe 2b, No. 2 ... ... • • ■ 18,048 Whakaihuwaka ... ... ••• ••• 50,389* 68,437 The interest acquired by the Crown in these blocks has not been defined and allocated by the Native Land Court. The area remaining in this second group to the Maoris is thus reduced to 51,262 acres. A glance at the lithograph plan which accompanies this report will show how the blocks in this group are situated. They are the remnant of a large estate bounded on the east by the Whanganui River and on the west generally by the confiscation boundary. Thus Taumatamahoe was originally a large block containing 155,300 acres, to which the Maoris obtained a title in March, 1886. In seven years the Crown had purchased 82,670 acres, which area was allocated in March, 1893, leaving the non-sellers 72,630 acres. In June, 1896, the Crown was further awarded 19,765, and again three years later 12,161 acres. The purchases ceased for some years, but were resumed last year, with the result above stated. The estimated balance at the time of our inquiry was 24,517. The Crown has acquired in twenty-one years upwards of 130,000 acres in this one block. The Crown did not purchase in Whakaihuwaka until last year, and in the twelve months has acquired nearly five-sixths, leaving the non-sellers 13,311 acres at the time of the inquiry. Again, Te Tuhi, the title to which was ascertained in 1897, originally con109 acres in five subdivisions, as follows :— Acres. Acres. No 1. 2,320, of which the Crown bought ... ... 895 No. 2. 1,480 „ ••• ••• 685 No. 3. 8,480 „ 8,021 No. 4. 7,507 „ 5 > 265 No. 5. 322 20,109 14 > 866 The Crown in ten years purchased nearly three-fourths of this block, leaving 5,243 acres to the Maoris. , Ao-ain in Ahuahu (adjoining Te Tuhi), the title to which was ascertained in 1886 and originally contained 11,640 acres, the Crown had up to November, 1901 acquired all but 1,443 acres, which are held in four small reserves and one larger subdivision containing 1,075 acres, with seventy-six owners. Thus in four blocks, which originally formed a Maori estate of over a quarter of a million acres, the Crown has acquired all but 44,514 acres.

* Subject to reserves for sellers.

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Between these blocks and the confiscation boundary the Crown has purchased the whole area. We refer generally to those Crown purchases in a later part of this report. We investigated Whakaihuwaka and Taumatamahoe, and ascertained the wishes of the owners. 1. Whakaihuwaka. —The owners were unanimous and emphatic in urging that the Crown cease purchasing in this block. They explained that the sale of this and Taumatamahoe was agreed to in conference with the Native Minister in order to meet the loud and insistent demand for land for general settlement. The purchase-money, nearly £19,000, seems to have been squandered, as, with the exception of one or two cases, the Commission could get no satisfactory evidence to show that any of the money was saved or had been expended in the improvement of other lands owned by the sellers. The Maoris complained that the land had been purchased under the full value. The price paid was 7s. 6d. per acre, whereas adjoining land (Mangaporau) had been sold at £1 10s. an acre unimproved value. As to the balance, 13,311 acres, they proposed that certain papakainga reserves be made round existing settlements, viz. : — Acres. Pipiriki 200 Te Aomarama ... ... ... ... • • • 100 Rangitautahi ... ... ... ... ... 20 Tauturu ... ... ... ... ••• 20 340 That 4,000 acres be set aside and cut up into suitable areas for Maori farms; that the balance, amounting to nearly 9,000 acres, be leased to Europeans, either by direct negotiation between the owners and Europeans desiring to lease or through the Board acting as agent for the owners. They preferred to do the leasing themselves. It was stated that many of those who had interests in Whakaihuwaka possessed no other lands. We were also informed of an understanding that on definition of the Crown interests reserves would be made for sellers, and that many sold on this understanding. 2. Taumatamahoe. —Here, again, the owners pressed for a cessation of the purchases. The price, 10s. an acre, was stated to be inadequate. The sellers had received over £9,000, none of which was now available. They desired that the balance of the block be reserved for their maintenance, and that the following papakainga reserves be made round existing kaingas :— Acres. Te Ramanui ... ... ... ... ... 100 Utapu ... ... ... ... ... .. 300 Mataiwhetu ... ... ... ... ... 100 Puketapu ... ... ••• • •• ••• 50 550 There are some new clearings at Utapu, Otikoki, and Tangarakau. Utapu is a considerable settlement, and may be made the nucleus of Maori farms on this part of the Whanganui River. We think that in addition to the papakaingas an area of 5,000 acres should be reserved for Maori farms. The balance, amounting to nearly 19,000 acres, would be available for leasing to the general public. Definite recommendations cannot be made until the interests purchased by the Crown are defined and allocated. Meantime we have the honour to recommend, — (a.) That the Crown cease its purchases in these two blocks, and that the Court be directed to define the interests purchased. (b.) That at the same time the Court define and allocate the papakaingas asked by the owners, and if possible partition the balance of the blocks as follows : (i) After ascertaining what individual owners or families desire to

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occupy and farm their interests these should be grouped in suitable localities, safeguarding existing improvements; (ii) the interests of those desiring to lease should be grouped. (c.) Tnat upon survey of the partitions made by the Court a report should be obtained as to the nature of the land set aside for leasing, in what areas it might be leased, value, and accessibility. Under these proposals 890 acres will be set aside for papakaingas, about 9,000 acres for Maori farming, and we estimate that 28,000 acres will be available for leasing to the general public. Of the remaining blocks in this group, Paetawa has been leased to Europeans by the Board in whom the land is vested. Tawhitinui was awarded in 1901 to 375 owners, since increased by succession orders to over four hundred. The land is of good quality, the block is well situated, fronting the Whanganui River, and is capable of being worked from the Tawhitinui Settlement as a base. We are not aware of any negotiations in respect of this block, and are of opinion that it should be reserved for the use of the owners as farms in the same manner as Ranana, which lies opposite. The subdivisions of Ahuahu and Te Tuhi are small and in areas which may be easily dealt with under existing law subject to proposals for amendment, which we shall submit in our general report. 111. To the north of the last two groups and lying on both sides of the Whanganui River are the following blocks, which may be conveniently grouped together as belonging to the up-river section of the Whanganuis, only a few of whom are owners in lands to the south :— Acres. Acres. 1. Koiro ... ... 7,000 2. Maraekowhai ... ... ... 31,469 3. Whitianga 2 ... ... ... 11,592 50,061 4. Waimarino2 ... ... ... 3,640 3 ... ... ... 18,350 4 ... ... ... 3,450 5 ... ... ... 13,200 6 ... ... ... 1,350 8 ... 60 40,050 5. Waimarino Reserves— A ... ... ... ... 14,850 B ... ... ... ... 9,270 C ... ... ... ... 3,130 D ... ... ... ... 1,410 E ... ... ... ... 4,060 F ... ... ... ... 420 33,140 123,251 Maraekowhai originally contained 54,000 acres, of which the Crown purchased 22,529. In Whitianga the Crown has acquired 14,807 acres out of the original 26,399, and holds an undefined area of 727 acres. Passing to the east of the Whanganui River to Waimarino we find that the area of this huge block was about 452,196 acres. The title was ascertained in March, 1886. By August of the following year the Crown had bought over seven-ninths of the block, being awarded 378,081 acres. The reserves made for those who had sold were called Waimarino Ato F, and amounted to 33,115 acres; while subdivisions 2 to 8, amounting to 41,000 acres, were awarded to 115 owners who had not sold. Waimarino 7 has since been sold to the Crown. In the whole history of the colony there has never been any purchase so extensive in any district, or one completed with such expedition. It will be seen that out of a total original area of 539,595 acres the Crown has acquired and made available for general settlement 415,417 acres, leaving to the Maori owners 123,251 acres.

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Portions of this balance are subject to leases and negotiations, viz. : — (a.) Leases approved— Acres. Acres. Maraekowhai 2a ... ... 5,006 Waimarino 4 2,000 6, part .. ... 100 v . 7,106 {b.) Applications for lease pending— Koiro 6,040 Waimarino Reserve E ... ... 4,060 6, part 1,200 2 3,640 14,940 (c.) Reported to be under negotiation— Waimarino B ... .. 9,270 C 3,130 D 1,410 Maraekowhai A 4 ... ... 5,229 19,039 41,085 For the purpose of this inquiry the area reported to be under negotiation may be classed with the unoccupied land, the total of which in this group of blocks is 101,205 acres. Some of the owners of these lands were examined at Whanganui, some at Pipiriki and Maraekowhai (near the house-boat), and others at Taumarunui. The following is a precis of their views : All urged that the Court should as early as possible partition Maraekowhai, Whitianga, Waimarino A, and Waimarino 3, so that the interest of each individual or family be defined and allocated. Beyond this point they were not prepared to say what would be done with the land—whether they would farm or lease. That would be for each individual or family to decide after partition. Anyhow, they preferred, if the lands were to be leased, that they themselves should do this independently of the Board. The owners of Maraekowhai occupying the land and residing at Taumarunui were most emphatic in expressing their views on the matter The Ngatiuenuku living at Manganui-o-te-ao, who ovvn the greater part of Waimarino 3, desired partition to enable them to farm, but suggested that the interests of absentees (of those who did not live on the block) might be dealt with as the Commission thought fit. A large portion of the block would thus be available for general settlement. As to Waimarino A, the majority of the owners were in favour of leasing. They desired certain papakaingas to be made, and a portion set apart for Maori farming. We were informed that Europeans were negotiating for leases of portions of Maraekowhai and for Waimarino B, O, and D. The land was much sought after by Europeans, particularly in the neighbourhood of Koiro. The Maoris allege that the favourite argument of every pakeha wanting a lease was that if the Maoris did not lease the Government would muru or take the land compulsorily. Negotiations for some of the larger areas are at a standstill, awaiting a Court to subdivide so as to enable the Board to approve of leases in suitable areas. Some of the owners of Waimarino E desired to cut out portions for their use as farms. This reserve is on the route of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and is also served by the Waimarino-Taumarunui Road. Dealing with the lands in this group in detail — 1. Whitianga 2. —It will be seen from the plan that this block consists of two portions wholly detached and separated by intervening Crown land, one fronting the Whanganui River, the other situated some distance inland. This fact, apart from the inadvisability of partitioning because of the smallness of the relative shares, complicate any scheme for partition on a basis of equality

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of value. We think that the interior portion should be made available for general settlement, while the portion fronting the river should be reserved for the use of the owners. 2. Maraekowhai. —Subdivision A 2 is under lease. There remain for consideration the following subdivisions: A No. 3, 3,700 acres; A No. 4, 5,229 acres; A No. 5, 17,524 acres: total, 26,453 acres. We find that the partition orders are not completed, wanting surveys. The scheme of the partition was evidently to place all owners of the original block (then called 2b, and composed of the above three subdivisions) in one subdivision, A No. 3, as a papakainga, and to subdivide the balance according to hapu interests. The interests of the owners and of settlement will, in our opinion, be best served by cancelling existing partition orders so far as A Nos. 3, 4, and 5 are concerned, and partitioning de novo in the following manner : (1) Cut out a communal reserve (papakainga) round the Maraekowhai Settlement, to be held in equal shares by resident owners and such non-resident owners as choose to come in; (2) subdivide the balance of the block as suggested in the case of Taumatamahoe, as between owners who desire to occupy and farm, and those who desire to lease. The area that will be available for leasing to the general public cannot be stated definitely, but it may be estimated at 20,000 acres. That the land is of good quality is borne out by the fact that a gentleman experienced in the leasing of Native lands in the district has offered the owners of A No. 4 Is. 6d. an acre for the first ten years, 2s. an acre for the next eleven years, for a term of fortytwo years, the rental for the last twenty-one years depending on valuation. He characterized the land as good pastoral country, which would cut up into 2,000-acre blocks, with a capacity of two sheep to the acre when fully improved 3. Koiro. —Applications for approval of leases are pending before the Aotea Maori Land Board. Rival leases have caused complications. We have no recommendation to make in regard to this block. We refer to it later in our remarks on the operation of section 16 of " The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905," in the Whanganui District. The Board has expressed the opinion with regard to Koiro that the owners should take advantage of section 17 of the above-mentioned Act, and appoint the Board their agent for the purpose of leasing the land. 4. Waimarino A .--Those of the owners who gave evidence before the Commission claimed 1,800 acres to be set aside for family farms. The majority wished to lease. All asked that they be first allowed to partition the land, after which they would be in a better position to farm or lease, as the case may be. The average interest is 50 acres per head. We think that partition will benefit only a small section of the owners—those who wish to farm—and their wishes can be met without putting the rest of the owners to the expense of a, subdivision Court and surveys. An area of 4,000 acres should be set aside for Maori farms, the rest to be leased in suitable areas to the general public. 5. Waimarino B. —We are informed that Europeans are negotiating for a lease of this block. For the purpose it is proposed to subdivide the block into two, and to lease for forty-two years at 6d. an acre for the first ten years, Is. 6d. an acre for the next eleven years, and renewable for another twenty-one years at valuation. We are also informed that the person negotiating already holds himself, and with members of his family, a large area of Native leaseholds, an excessive amount having regard to the general land policy of the colony. think that this land should be made available for general settlement, and that all dealings in regard thereto be suspended until Parliament has considered our proposals. 6. Waimarino C and D.--Negotiations have been entered into for leases of these blocks. Some of the owners are occupying and have made small clearings. We have no reason to doubt the bona fides of the intending lessees. We make no recommendation. 7. Waim,arino E. —Application is pending for approval to lease for a term of fifty years —twenty years at £203 per annum {i.e., about Is. an acre), ten years at £304 10s. per annum, ten years at £406 per annum, and ten years at £507 10s.

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per annum. The matter has been adjourned from time to time, as the question of reserving the whole block for Maori settlement and occupation has been under the consideration of the Native Minister. We ascertained that some of the owners are desirous of farming portions. We think that the whole block should be vested in the Board to be administered in the same manner as Ranana for Maori settlement. 8. Waimarino F. —This should be reserved for papakainga purposes. 9. Waimarino 2. —This block lies to the east of the Whanganui River Trust Endowment Block, which has been leased during the last nine months in four small grazing-runs at an average rental of about 9d. an acre. The former has a larger frontage to the Whanganui River. An application for a lease of the whole block is pending. The lease is for fifty years—first year, rent-free; twelve years at 6d. an acre, twelve years at 9d. an acre, and twenty-five years at 5 per cent, on the then unimproved value. These terms do not appear to us to compare favourably with those at which the adjoining trust block has been leased. The lessee is one of the Craig family, which have already secured leases for large areas of Native lands in this district, and are negotiating for still larger areas. We recommend that dealings be suspended until Parliament has an opportunity of considering cases of this kind. 10. Waimarino 3. —We recommend that this block be dealt with on similar lines to Taumatamahoe and Maraekowhai. A papakainga reserve of 600 acres round the Manganui-o-te-ao Settlement will suffice for communal use. The estimate given us by the Ngatiuenuku of the area that will he required for farming is 8,000 acres. The balance available for general settlement will be 9,750 acres. 11. Waimarino 4. —Of this 2,000 acres has been leased for twenty-one years at 6d. an acre per annum. The balance, it was stated to the Board in the proceedings on application for approval, was intended to be reserved for the use and occupation of the owners. This intention should be given effect to. 12. Waimarino s. —We have no information at present to enable us to make a report on this block. 13. Waimarino 6. —Part has been leased, 100 acres for twenty-one years at £35 per annum. An application is pending for a lease of the balance to the Puketapu Sawmilling Company. We have not investigated the transaction, but the matter is under the consideration of the Board. 14. Waimarino 8. —To be reserved as a papakainga. IV. The fourth croup consists of blocks lying to the east and south of the first groun, some abutting generally on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, others lying in the basins of the Mansrawhero, Whangaehu, and Tnrakina Rivers. This has been the direction of the most vigorous Euronean settlement either upon lands purchased from the Maori owners by the Crown or upon Maori leaseholds. The titles to the Maori blocks are much more advanced here than in any of the other groups, many subdivisions having been made into individual and family holdings. The Commission has made an extensive search into the titles of these blocks, and into the dealings, so as to arrive at the area which is at present unoccupied and unprofitable. Full details are given in the schedules annexed to this report. The following is a. summary giving the areas and showing what the Crown has purchased in each block :— Crown. Native. Acres. Acres. 1. Raetihi I or Ngapakihi ... ... Nil 2,480 2. Raetihi ... ... 7,485 9,915 3. Urewera ... ... ... 1,092 11,357 4. Rangiwaea ... ... 29,053 26,839 5. Rangiwaea-Tarere ... ... 27 270 6. Rangiwaea-Otaroro ... ... 100 100 7. Rangiwaea Kapuarangi ... ... 100 8. Murimotu ... ~, ... 29,404 1.7,663

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Crown. Native. o r,. . v, Acres. Acres. 9. Otiranm No. 1 ... ... ... 135 j 63 4 Nos. 2 to 5 ... ... 3770 10. Parikawau ... . '559 I i g keh \ '.'.' 5,558 1,370 12. Pungataua 5)00 o _ 13. Otumauma (no title) ... 2 020 it - ;;; 57,480 3^19 15. Raketapauma 7>BBl v 718 }?" S uanu f v , i' 6lo 8,977 17. Ngapukewhakapu 3,213 1,758 18. Ngaurukehu A ... ... ... 6 910 19 - " B ... ... ... 1420 1197 20. Pohonuiatane 31,015 4,505 21. Parapara ... ... 1704 2,699 22.'Maraetaua ... ... ... 4 QB7 3251 23. Taonui ';[[ { 300 192,013 123,908 Total — Acres. Crown purchases completed 192,013 Remaining to Maoris ... 123,908 315,921 It will be seen by referring to the schedule that the area remaining to the Maoris is held by them in about 230 different subdivisions. All the blocks with the exception of three, the title to one of which has not been ascertained by the Court, have been subdivided into individual and family holdings. The position at the conclusion of the various partitions was as follows : (a.) Individualised (held by one owner in each subdivision) ... ... ... ... g3 (b.) Held by families of from two to ten ... ... 102 (c.) Held by families or hapus of from eleven to twenty 30 (d.) By hapus ranging from over twenty to as many as 320 ... ... .. 34 (c.) Title not ascertained ... ... ... \ 230 The lands in this group with few exceptions have lent themselves to subdivision. The individual holdings in many cases are considerable (as high as 1,160 acres in a few instances). It is not uncommon to find one man holding interests in three or more blocks. The demand for land in this locality is explained by its position on the Main Trunk Line, which passes through Raetihi Rangiwaea, Munmotu, Raketapauma, Ruanui, and Ngaurukehu Blocks. The enhanced value, apart from the natural advantages as a pastoral and agricultural country, has justified the comparative activity of the Maori owners assisted by the Court, in pursuing the European ideal of individualising their holdings. A policy which might have been suicidal under other circumstances would seem to have been justified here, because of the extent of the individual and family interests, the position, and the value of the lands involved. In some cases the sections need further subdivision. The greatest need is that of wholesale exchanges between individuals and families "proceeding wherever possible along with partitions to expedite the consolidation of individual and family holdings, a consummation that no one desires so devoutly or finds so very difficult to achieve as the Maori who may own thousands of acres of land, but" finds his wealth distributed and dissipated over a hundred or more square miles in forty or more different blocks.

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We give a short account of the proceedings in Rangiwaea to illustrate some of the difficulties and the delays experienced by the Maoris in securing titles to their lands. Some of the complications caused by the Crown purchasing while the block is passing through the many stages from a communal to an individualised block may also be seen. After sitting nearly four months and taking voluminous evidence the Court determined the title to Rangiwaea, originally containing 56,000-odd acres, awarding the land to 331 owners by order dated 19th April, 1893. These proceedings cost the Maoris in Court fees £70, in solicitor and agents' costs over £1,200, and in living-expenses attending the Court, not allowing for waste and estimating the figures very low, about £800. So that, apart from cost of survey, the original investigation cost the Natives over £2,000. Immediately after ascertainment of title the Crown purchased 22,000 acres, which were partitioned in 1896, entailing further expense to the non-sellers in partition and survey charges. In 1898 the Maoris took the first step towards individualising their interests, and made seven subdivisions, six into individual and family holdings, the balance in one large block of 25,000 acres held by 210 owners. It is quite usual for a partition to be made for the benefit of a few owners —thirty in the present case—who obtain their holdings while the rest of the owners are left to their own devices to carry on among themselves in the future the necessary partitions. In the twelve months following this partition the Crown had purchased another 6,000 acres, which necessitated further partitions of four blocks in June, 1899. On this occasion the communal owners of the residue availed themselves of the opportunity to make thirty subdivisions. This by no means reduced all the holdings into compact family interests, so that in 1900 and again in 1901 further partitions were made. At each step costs were incurred in Court fees, agents' fees, and expenses of attendance. We find that Court costs on partition amounted to nearly £100, costs on succession orders £20, and survey charges borne by the Maoris who have not sold their interests about £600, while agents' fees and expenses of attending Courts may be estimated at £750. We think that at a low estimate the cost to the Maoris of obtaining their titles to this block since 1893 may be put down at £4,200. Further surveys are required to complete partitions recently made by the Court, and further subdivisions will be necessary in order to reduce some of the areas from hapu (or subtribal) to individual and family holdings. The Crown has bought 29,000 acres in the block at an average price of ss. an acre, paying £7,200. Now, let it be remembered that the Maoris have had to undertake the task of securing proper titles to their lands without capital. They have been compelled to sell portions of the land to pay the cost, and in the case of Rangiwaea one may say that they have lost more than one-third of the block in order that they may secure titles to the rest. And the final subdivisions have not yet been made. We do not comment on the length of time—fourteen years—which has elapsed since the ancestral title gave way to a title held from a legal tribunal of the colony ; on the necessary delays at each subsequent step of the process in order to have the subdivisions surveyed, without which the next step, the further subdivisions, could not be made. We need not point out that the Maoris are entitled to some consideration at the hands of those who rashly and without knowledge of the circumstances charge the Maori with the responsibility of delay and blocking the settlement of his land. Rangiwaea is not a solitary instance in this district. We can quote Raetihi, Maungakaretu, Raketapauma, Murimotu, and other blocks where the same process has gone on, the same costs incurred, and with the same results. The total area of lands in this group held by the Maoris, as given above, is 123,908 acres. Some of the blocks are profitably occupied either by the owners or by European lessees; some are vested in the Maori Land Board, and readily available for settlement; while the Crown has undefined interests in some of the subdivisions. The following details are subject to modification, as we have not at the present time information of registered dealings, and in the case of

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unregistered leases existing prior to the year 1901 correct information is not available:— Acres (a.) Vested in Maori Land Board ... ... 3,917 (b.) Leases approved by Board ... ... ... 8,640 (c.) Applications pending for Board's approval to leases ... ... ... ... ... 2,638 (d.) Under lease to Europeans prior to constitution of Councils of Boards, about ... ... 30,000 (c.) Occupied by Maoris and worked by them ... 8,000 (/.) Undefined interests purchased by the Crown ... 3,413 56,608 The area, therefore, at present unproductive, so far as our information enables us to estimate, is 67,300 acres. It will be noted that the blocks in this group, having been subdivided into comparatively small areas, are in a position to be dealt with by Europeans under existing law by lease under section 16 of "The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905." We remark elsewhere on the working of this section in the district under review. With the exception of Raetihi, we have not ascertained the wishes of the Maori owners with regard to the lands in this group, and until we do so we have no specific recommendations to make on any of the lands in the group. We propose to complete the inquiry if possible before Parliament opens. The Aotea District Maori Land Board. We deem this a suitable opportunity for dealing at length with this Board, its position in relation to the lands in the Whanganui District, its administration and general work in the Aotea Maori Land District, which takes in the Taranaki Land District and that part of the Wellington Land District lying to the west of the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges. Be it remembered that prior to " The Maori Land Administration Act, 1900," most of the large Maori blocks in the Whanganui District, certainly all those in the first group of lands covered by this report, could not be leased or dealt with in any way by private persons. The owners could only sell to the Crown ; they had already taken that course, and sold over a million acres. The opportunity afforded by the Act of 1900 of leasing through the Council instead of selling to the Crown was eagerly seized upon, and resulted in the vesting of about 100,000 acres in the Council by deeds of trust, executed by a majority of the owners. This operation and the completion of the titles in the Council occupied up to 1903. Since then the Council, and now the Board as its successor, has leased more than half the area vested in it. Other large blocks are expected to be put on the market immediately. After so many years the Whanganui Maoris might be expected to hold strong opinions as to this system of administering their lands. The case they made out against the present Board as successor to the defunct Council was a strong one. Incidentally they instituted comparisons with leases they themselves have negotiated or are negotiating since section 16 of " The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905," came into operation. Their views may be summarised as follows : They did not favour any system of leasing which divested them of the fee-simple of their lands; the system inaugurated by the Act of 1900 was expensive, and though good rentals might be obtained, the deductions for costs of surveying, roading, and administration would more than counterbalance any advantage that leasing by tender through the Board might have over leasing by direct negotiation with the lessees; they cited the Ohotu Blocks, which the Board, after an expenditure variously estimated at from £8,000 to £10,000 for roading and surveying, had leased with some difficulty; they had not yet received any rents from the Board for any of the lands leased by it, whereas the moment their private leases were approved by the Board, if not before, the rents were available without any deductions -except for land-tax. Generally speaking, they alleged against the system, delay, expense, and loss of freedom of dealing.

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They could not be expected to be influenced by general considerations of policy as to limitation of holdings and the prevention of aggregation. Some were not altogether opposed to the Board acting as agent only to lease their lands, the fee-simple remaining in themselves, but preferred if possible to do the leasing themselves The President of the Board (Mr. T. W. Fisher) explained that the survey of any block for settlement was done at the Board's request by the Chief Surveyor for the district, and the roading by the Chief Engineer of Roads. The cost was advanced by the Government and secured on the land and rents, on the same principle as loans to local bodies. The surveyor's report always guided the Board in determining the size and upset rentals of sections to be offered. With regard to Ohotu, there was an understanding that any expense over £8,000 for survey and roading would be borne by the Government, as the roading and settlement of Ohotu would benefit adjoining lands owned by the Crown. No figures were yet available to show the actual cost to the Board of preparing Ohotu for settlement, and this delayed the disbursement among the'beneficiaries of the rents already collected, amounting to nearly £3,000 per annum. Until those figures were available no comparisons could be properly made with the system of lease by direct negotiation between owners and lessees. As to limitation of holdings and prevention of aggregation of leases of lands vested in the Board, although no one lessee could hold more than 2,000 acres in any one block offered, there was nothing to prevent the lessee of such an area, or of any larger area, from tendering for and obtaining a lease of a further area of 2,000 acres in any other blocks. The area vested in the Board as shown in the accompanying schedule is 115,955 acres, of which 96,974 acres were vested voluntarily by deed of trust and the rest by Parliament (section 3 of " The Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1904 "), or by Order in Council for Native townships or for Maori occupation and settlement. The area leased, according to the figures supplied to us by the Board, is 58,476 acres, at ah annual rental of £3,124. The area now cut up and ready to be offered for leasing is, roughly, 24,000 acres, being balance of the Ohotu Blocks and the whole of Morikau 2, on the Pipinki-Raetihi Road. It is anticipated that the average rentals likely to be obtained for the latter will exceed Is. 6d. an acre. We fully expect that with the assistance of the Survey and Road Departments the whole of the lands now vested in the Board will, within twelve months, be in profitable occupation. Morikau 1, a block vested in the Board for Maori settlement, was investigated by the Commission. This lies between Morikau 2 and Ranana, and is reported to be land of excellent quality, almost wholly pastoral, lying to the east of the Hiruharama Settlement. The owners have always desired the land to be reserved for their use and occupation. It is now vested in the Board, and the question for consideration is, What course is advisable to secure that the land should be properly farmed by the owners ? There was a diversity of opinion among the owners who gave evidence before the Commission. Some wished the land to be cut up into family holdings, which might be leased or farmed as the respective families might think fit. Others simply desired the land to be made inalienable. All deplored the lack of capital to bring the land under cultivation. On the other hand, there was a distinct demand for an opportunity to be given to some of the owners to farm, and an old resident, well acquainted with the local conditions, thought that if the block were cut up into small farms many Maoris would come forward and take it up, but they would have to be assisted, financially to do any good. The President of the Board said that the settlement of Maoris on their own lands might be deemed an experiment. The Board was bound by the law, whose provisions were not elastic enough to permit the Board to farm the land for the owners. It could only lease to Maoris, and in leasing could not even give preference to the owners, or to those who had clearings and other improvements on the block; further, as trustees, the paramount duty of the Board was to

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secure revenue as soon as possible from every part of the estate for the beneficiaries. This last consideration would naturally hamper the Board in making such provisions and concessions as were no doubt necessary in the early stages of such an experiment. He thought that the Board, instead of cutting up into small areas for individual or family farms, might farm the land as a whole, and appoint a competent European to manage, the owners having preference in all work on the place. No doubt, under the President's scheme, the financial difficulties would be overcome, as the Board could borrow on the freehold. All questions such as rating and taxation, the eradication of noxious weeds, and the profitable occupation of waste areas would be fully met —all but the question we deem most vital, and that is the encouragement of individual Maoris to engage in farmingpursuits by themselves going upon the land, and by using body and mind in the struggle with nature to develop the independence, forethought, thrift, and resource necessary to make of them citizens of the colony in the fullest sense. We think that the best plan is for the Board to subdivide the land in the following manner : — (a.) Papakaingas : A great deal of evidence was taken on this point. We recommend that 400 acres be reserved round Hiruharama, to the north of the Mangoihe Stream, and 100 acres to the south of such stream to take in existing kaingas, while reserving access by road through these reserves to the main block. (b.) Reserve of 200 acres in the heavy bush for timber and firewood. (c.) 3,000 acres to be set apart as a communal farm, to be managed by a competent person under direction of the Board in accordance with the President's scheme referred to. (d.) The balance to be cut up into suitable areas and leased to Maoris, preference being given to those who have already effected improvements on the land. The manager of the communal farm to supervise and instruct. If the experiment proved successful the Board could cut up the communal farm into small farms. Apart from the administration of lands vested in it the Board controls the leasing of other Native lands, for it has to safeguard the interests of lessors, and without its approval no lease of Native lands would be valid. The following is a summary of the areas covered by leases finally or provisionally approved or consented to by the Board : — (a.) Finally approved or consented to — (i.) Prior to passing of " The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905," viz.— Acres. Acres. Acres. Whanganui ... ... ... 12,498 Other parts of district ... ... 7,055 19,553 (ii.) Subsequent to passing of said Act — Whanganui ... ... ... 6,651 Other parts of district ... ... 1,495 8,146 27,699 (b.) Provisionally approved or consented to (all subsequent to passing of the said Act) — Whanganui ... ... ... ... ... 7,781 Other parts of district ... ... ... ... 3,236 . —— 11,017 38,716 The area covered by recommendations for removal of restrictions to permit of sale is 15,866 acres. We have no information at present as to what part of this area has been actually sold.

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Operation or Section 16 of " The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905." The general removal of restrictions to enable leasing by direct negotiations with the Maori owners after the passing of the above Act was availed of at once and to the fullest extent permitted by the position of the titles. The apparent freedom of dealing was welcomed by both Maoris and Europeans. We have already stated the Maori view of the matter in the Whanganui District. It remains to note briefly facts brought under our notice during the Whanganui inquiry. The usual procedure in negotiating a lease is to secure the assistance of a prominent owner in the block—a man of influence who as agent takes the preliminary agreement round and obtains signatures thereto. His "expenses" are paid by the intending lessee, while money passes to the owners on signing the agreement. This becomes a proposal to lease, which is then brought before the Board for approval of terms and rental, and on approval (provisional only) the formal lease is executed before the usual official witnesses, interpreters, and Justices of the Peace. There is nothing to prevent any other party taking the same course in regard to a block already under negotiation and obtaining the signatures of other owners or even of owners who had already signed other agreements. Theoretically there may be competition, practically there is none. The first man to secure the assistance of the leading influential owners to carry the deal through generally gets a clear field until he obtains the signatures of all willing to lease. Competition, as in the case of the Koiro Block already referred to, produces awkward complications. Some of the Koiro owners have signed two leases to different parties, and are being induced now to repudiate former leases in favour of new parties offering better terms. In the confusion produced by this rivalry the Board has withheld approval until full inquiry is made. Some of the dealings were commenced eighteen months ago, and the intending lessees are out of pocket to a considerable extent. If the Board with regard to areas vested in it is compelled to await the operations of surveyors and engineers before putting land upon the market, the limitations imposed by law as to the area to be included in any one lease hamper and delay direct negotiations for leasing the larger unsubdivided Native blocks. A block of 5,000 acres, for instance, ranked as second-class land cannot be leased in one block, but requires subdivision into areas not exceeding 2,000 acres. The partition can only be made by the Native Land Court, which usually means delay, and when completed entails to the owners heavy expense in Court costs and survey charges. The chief complaint of the witnesses at Whanganui was that want of subdivision had prevented Europeans dealing with the Maori owners and delayed settlement. There is abundant evidence to show that the principle of the limitation of holdings is in the Whanganui District quite disregarded. There is also a suspicion of speculation about some of the transactions. We set out here in detail the dealings of one family with Native lands in the Aotea and Maniapoto-Tuwharetoa Districts. Particulars of Dealings with Native Lands by Craig Family. A. Aotea Maori Land District — 1. William Craig— Acres. Acres. Lands held under old lease ... ... 7,000 Leases approved by Council or Board ... 539 Applications for approval pending before Board 2,219 Under negotiation in Maraekowhai and Waimarino ... ... ... ... 10,000 19,758 2. Thomas Craig — Leases approved by Board ... ... 2,111 Application pending ... ... ... 1,380 3,491

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3. James Craig— Acres. Acres. Recommended for sale ... ... ... 130 Leases approved ... ... ... 702 832 4. Martha Craig— Application pending ... ... ... ... 3,640 5. Janet Craig— Application pending ... ... 2,188 6. Launcelot Craig— Application pending ... ... ... 1,472 31,381 B. Maniapoto-Tuwharetoa District— 1. Nora Craig—Approved lease.. ... ... 2,000 2. Vera Craig „ ... ... ... 1,074 3. Robert Craig „ ... ... 1,381 4,455 Total in two districts ... . 35,836 The area covered by these operations extends from Murimotu, on the Main Trunk Line, to Ohura South, in the upper reaches of the Whanganui River, eleven miles in direct line to the south-west of Taumarunui, down the Whanganui River as far as the Whanganui River Trust Endowment Block. There is nothing in our law to prevent the family transferring to one of its members, and thus aggregating the different holdings, and nothing to prevent the transfer of the whole to a third party at a profit for the goodwill. It is possible for an ordinarily resourceful man, who is persona grata to the Maoris, who knows where to look for the influence necessary to " round up " the scattered owners of a block and obtain their indispensable individual signatures—it is possible for such a man to negotiate successfully all the leases he may require, and even to set up in business as a medium for obtaining leases for less fortunate if bona fide settlers not so well versed in the underground methods of dealing with Native lands. It is an art unknown to nine-tenths, if not more, of those who are searching one end of the colony to the other to find land, and because of their ignorance make the Native lands the butt of their indignant complaints. There is freedom of leasing to the man who knows, and unlimited scope for operating. To the hungry frequenter of the land ballots the way is practically closed. The Board is powerless to regulate, much less to prevent, abuses of a system which Parliament has devised to facilitate the settlement of Maori lands. We reserve for our general report proposals for amendment in the law to prevent such abuses. Crown Purchases of Native Lands. To deal in detail with these is beyond the scope of the present report. A brief review of the facts is, however, necessary and pertinent to our inquiry. The Crown has been purchasing largely in this district since the early eighties. We find that from 1881 to the present time, during a period of twenty-six years, the total area purchased is nearly 1,273,000 acres, at a cost of £273,340. Nearly one-half of this area lies within the boundaries of what may be called the North Island Main Trunk Railway loan system of blocks, and was acquired in conjunction with that undertaking. Deducting from the cost incidental expenses, the amount Daid to the owners did not average more than 4s. an acre. We believe that but for the practical cessation of Crown purchases between 1901 and 1905 another quarter of a million acres would have been acquired. The Maoris knew in later years that they were parting with their lands at absurdly low prices, but the restriction against private dealings left them no alternative. They had to sell to the Crown at the latter's price, for, among other things, Court fees, agents' costs, and survey charges had to be met, and in litigation, in order to substantiate claims to one block, a whole tribe

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will recklessly throw away the land it has already won. And the taste for good Government cash or cheques once cultivated easily became a passion. The purchase-money has generally gone in litigation and riotous living. This weakness has been known for a generation, and ministered to whenever there is an outcry for the settlement of the waste areas of the colony. There yet remain to the Maoris of the Whanganui District about 500,000 acres, at a liberal estimate. For outside the lands covered by this report are small blocks in the vicinity of the Whanganui Township, all in profitable occupation, and into which there is no urgent necessity at the present time to inquire. The average interest per head of adults and minors is 250 acres. As a matter of fact the relative interests vary greatly from 30 or 40 acres to 3,000 or 4,000 acres per head. Our general inquiry into the titles and ownership of the lands yet remaining to the Whanganuis, though necessarily incomplete, has led us to believe that though a minority of owners can afford to sell a proportion of their interests, it will not be wise to treat the mass as having surplus lands for sale. We do not think it. advisable that the present system of purchasing should be continued in this district. We find, moreover, that the larger Maori landowners have in most cases succeeded in individualising their interests. The information in the schedule of lands under Group 4 is ample testimony of this. They are in a favourable position to deal with such lands, and are availing themselves of the opportunities afforded by recent legislation. Maori Farming. It was disappointing to find among the Whanganui Maoris a lack of the ambition to become farmers that seems to fire the Maoris of such portions of the East Coast as we have been able to visit. Among some of the leading men there was a disposition to decry any attempt to make of the Maori a decent farmer. We found reason to discount their opinions somewhat by the fact that many of them, being busy promoting leases to Europeans even of lands already partly occupied by Maoris and within a stone's throw of Maori kaingas, were impatient of schemes and experiments likely to jeopardise the negotiations. We have reason to believe that there is good material among the Whanganuis, as yet undeveloped and unorganized, that if taken in hand in the proper way there will be found a proportion able, under guidance and instruction, to make farming a success, and by their example lead others to adopt the same healthy occupation. We believe that if our proposals for the settlement of Morikau No. 1 Block were carried out and applied to other blocks in the district recommended for Maori farming and settlement, and that if systematic instruction and assistance were given instead of the half-hearted advice so freely tendered, the younger Whanganuis will distinguish themselves in the arts of peace as their fathers, under Meiha Keepa Taitoko (Major Kemp), and forefathers under other leaders, distinguished themselves in war. The Whanganuis are handy men; they are adaptable and intelligent above the ordinary; they want efficient leadership. Consolidation of Holdings. We believe that there are few Maori districts where the consolidation of interests can be so well carried out as in Whanganui by wholesale exchanges between individuals and families. The witnesses examined by us at Whanganui were unanimous in asking for a simple and effective system of exchange. Our proposals under this head are reserved for our general report. Summary of Lands inquired into. The area covered by this report is as follows : — Acres First group ... ... ... ... ... 134,653 Second „ ... ... ... ... ... 51,262 Third „ ... ... ... ... 123,251 Fourth „ ... ... ... ... ... 123,908

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. To ascertain the unoccupied area it is necessary to deduct from this total lands partly purchased by the Crown, lands in occupation of the owners, leased or in respect of which applications are pending before the Board. The following is a summary of such lands : — 1. Undefined interests bought by Crown in blocks in groups 3 Acres. Acres. and 4 ... ... ... ... 4,140 2. Under lease by direct negotiation— (a.) Prior to 1901 ... ... ... ... 30,000 (b.) Since 1901 ... ... ... 19,569 49,569 3. Leased by the Board (being lands vested in it) ... ... 58,476 4. In Maori occupation (group 4 only, and not including kaingas, cultivations, and clearings for which provision is made in blocks recommended for Maori farming) ... 8,000 5. Subject to applications for approval of leases pending before the Board, 17,578 acres; less applications recommended to be suspended, 8,950 acres ... ... 9,628 Total ... ... ... ... ... 129,813 The balance, 303,261 acres, is subject to further analysis as follows : — 1. Vested in the Board for general settlement and not yet leased— (a.) Cut up and ready to be offered ... ... 22,604 (b.) Not ready ... ... ... ... ... 34,875 57,479 2 Vested in the Board for Maori settlement ... ... 7,200 64,679 Leaving a balance of 238,582 acres to be dealt with. With regard to a part of this area, the following is a summary of the recommendations of the Commission : — 1. To be set apart for Maori occupation and farming— (a.) Papakaingas— Acres. Acres. Acres. Whakaihuwaka ... ... 340 Taumatamahoe ... 550 Maraekowhai 500 Waimarino 3 "... . . 600 Waimarino F ... ... ... 420 Waimarino 8 ... ... ... 60 — 2,470 (b.) For farming— (i.) To be vested in the Board— Ranana ... ... ... 3,100 Tawhitinui ... ... ... 3,378 Waimarino E ... ... ... 4,060 4, part ... ... 1,450 11,988 (ii.) Not recommended to be vested at presentTe Autumutu or Waharangi 6 ... 2,204 Paekaka or Waharangi 7 .. 1,484 Whakaihuwaka, part ... ... 4,000 Taumatamahoe, part ... ... 5,000 Whitianga, part ... ... 4,865 Maraekowhai, part ... ... 5,953 Waimarino A, part ... ... 4,000 3, part .. ... 8,000 35,506 49,964

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2 For leasing to the general public— Acres - Acres - Whakaihuwaka, part ... ... 8,971 Taumatamahoe, part ... ... ••• 18,967 Whitianga 2, part. ... ... ... ••• 6.000 Maraekowhai, part ... ... ... 20,000 Waimarino A ••■ 10,85.0 B 9,270 2 ... ... .. 3,640 " 3 • 9,750 And to be vested in the Board under section 3 of " The Maori Land Settlement Amendment Act, 1906," for general settlement— Ngarakauwhakarara ... ••• ••• 4,995 8 92,443 3. Papatupu blocks (the titles to which have not been ascertained) in respect of which it is recommended that the Native Minister should apply to the Court for investigation — Ngatipare ... ... ••• ••• 1,610 Te Poutahi ... ... ... ••• 2,016 Otumauma ... ... ••• ••• 2,020 5,646 5. Subject to negotiations in respect of which the Commission makes no recommendations— Waimarino C and D ... ... .. 4,440 6 . 1,250 5,690 6. Balance to be further inquired into ... ... 84,839 238,582 In the balance to be investigated there are a few large blocks, notably Waimarino No. 5, of over 13,000 acres. Schedules giving details of the lands in the third and fourth groups reviewed accompany this report. We have asked the Under-Secretary for Lands to direct that a lithograph plan be prepared showing the lands covered by our report, which will be forwarded as soon as possible. We have, &c, Robert Stout, A. T. Ngata, Wellington, 26th April, 1907. Commissioners.

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Schedule of Lands vested in the Aotea Maori Land Board. 1 . By Deeds of trust— Acres. Acres. Acres. Ngaparaki or Raetihi 1 ... ... ... ... ... 2,480 Waharangi No. 1 ... ... ... ... ... 709 No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... 1,928 No. 3 ... ... ... 113 No. 4 ... ... ... 5,622 „ No. 5 ... ... 3,725 12,097 Morikau No. 2 .. ... ... .. 14,066 Ohotu 1, 2, 3, and 8 ... ... ... ... ... ... 63,644 Paetawa ... ... ... ... . . ... 3,370 Otiranui No. 2 ... ... ... ... 515 No. 3 ... ... ... ... ... 802 1,317 _ 96,974 2. By .Section 3 of " The Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1904"— Subdivisions of Tauakira 2 ... ... ... ... 11,661 3. By Orders in Council— (a.) For a Native Township—Raketapauma 2b No. 8 ... ... 120 (b.) For Maori settlement—Morikau No. 1 ... 7,200 7,320 Total ... ... ... ... 115,955

Schedule.—Group 3.

Name of Block. Area. Total. | l Title. ■*! al £2 o Remarks. Acres. Acres. 11,592 I, Whitianga ... Residue order 398 727 acres undefined Crown interest. 2. Maraekowhai A No. 1 Reserve 2. „ A No. 2 A No. 3 A No. 4 10 5,00t 3,700 5,229 Partition 4 orders 1 6 42 9 Leased to Hunter. 31,469| Negotiations for lease to W. Craig. A No. 5 17,524 7,000) Partition orders 33 ? Applications pending—Craig and others. Application for lease to Martha Craig. 3. Koiro 4. Waimarino No. 2 3,640 25 No. 3 18,350 108 Acres. 4A ... 1,150 4b ... 2,300 5 10 2,000 acres leased to C McDonnell. 3,450 5aNo.1... 1,277 5a No. 2... 851> 4 „ 5a No. 3... 851 5a No. 4... 425 5a No. 5... 425 Residue of 5 8,878 5b ... 332 5o ... 161 40,050 Partition orders 3 3 7 1 1! ? 22 22 100 acres leased to C. McDonnell. 6 13,200 1,350 3J 8 5. Waimarino Reserve A B C D . B 60 14,850 9,270 3,130 1,410 4,060 6 367! 194 65 43 99 Application for lease pending. 33,141 Partition orders P 420 421 Total ... ... j ... 123,251!

(t~- 1a

Schedule.—Group 4.

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Name of Block. Area. Total. Title IS Remarks. J.. Ngapakihi or Raetihi, No. 1... A. R. P. |2,480 0 0 j | I A. R. P ... »■ • ■ 2,480 0 0 297 Vested in Aotea Maori Land Board. 2. Raetihi — a. r. p. 2b Ia ... 80 0 0 Partition order, 31/8/05 1 2b 1b ... 242 2 8 2b lc ... 80 0 0 2b Id ... 648 2 10 2b No. 2 ... 1,779 2 0 3 1 Partition order, 14/12/00 19 2b No. 3 ... 727 1 22 2b No. 4 ... 3 0 0 Ditto 11 3 3,56l"0 0 ... „ • • ■ Partition order, 31/8/05 8/b-No. 1 ... 161 3 26 3b No. 2 3b No. 3 3b No. 4 3b No. 5 ... 161 ... 728 ... 485 ... 405 3 26 2 17 0 18 1 33 ... 2 9 6 5 1,943 0 0 3,237 0 0 Partition order, 23/6/96 42 No. 4b No. 5b 15 1,174 0 0 1 " i 9,915 0 0 3. Urewera — No. 1b No. lcNo. 1 2,086 0 No. lcNo. 2 1,096 0 No.lcNo. 3 1,004 0 No. lcNo.4 1,129 0 No. lc No. 5 324 0 No. lc No. 6 647 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 928 0 0 928 0 0 ... 6.286 0 0 6,286 0 3,843 0 300 0 0 0 0 No. 2a No. 2e 0,20D U V 3,843 0 0 311 3 300 0 0 11,357 0 0 4. Rangiwaea — "4a No. 1 302 0 0 Partition order, 6/5/98 4a No. 2 302 0 0 ■ 604 0 0 700 0 0 4b 4c 2a ... 560 2 20 Partition order, 23/6/00 "3 4c 2b 4c 2c 112 0 20 ... 2,457 1 0 1 7 4d 2 •3,130 0 0 775 1 10 Partition order, 5/6/99 2| 640 acres leased to F. Stubbing, 11 yrs. at £32, 10 yrs. at £64— 21 yrs. from 1904. Leased to D. McLaughlan, 21 yrs. from 1904 —7 yrs. at Is., 7 yrs. at Is. 6d., 7 yrs. at 2s. 4e 2a 700 2 25 Partition order, 14/11/00 4e 2b 751 0 05 -1,451 "2 30 j Partition order, 5/6/99 4f 2a ... 1,032 2 30 4f2b '4f 3 4f 4a 4f 4b 4f 4c 4f 4d \v 5 ... 430 3 25 ... 335 0 0 249 "2 15 304 3 32 ... 115 0 0 167 0 0 112 2 0 4 6 2 10 1 1 1

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Schedule.—Group 4—continued.

Name of Block. Area. Total. Title. 12 o_ Remarks. . Rangiwaea— contd. a. r. p. 4f6 ... 123 0 0 4f7 ... 388 0 0 4f7a ... 104 3 8 4f8 ... 29 2 0 4f 9 ... 110 2 16 4f10 ... 107 2 33 4f 11 ... 730 1 10 4f 11a ... 36 1 10 A. R. P. A. R. P. 4 5 1 1 2 1 8 1 4f12 ... 340 0 0 4f 13 ... 359 1 15 4f 14a1 ... 46 1 26 8 8 1 Leased to S. S. Cox for 21 yrs. from 1904, at 3s. per acre per annum. Partition order, 22/8/05 4f14a2 ... 1,103 2 14 4f14b ... 671 3 11 7 13 Partition order, 5/6/99 4f 14c ... 232 0 0 4f 14d ... 2,006 3 24 4f 15 ... 2,381 0 7 4f16 ! ... 331 2 0 5 9 55 7 Partition order, 7/8/01 Leased to Thomas Craig. 4f 16* ... 997 2 0 4f 16 s ... 414 2 0 4f16< ... 1,386 1 0 7 7 16 4f 17 .. 3,083 0 10 Partition order, 5/6/99 40 Crown has 180 acres undefined in 16. Crown has 2,775 acres undefined in 17. 4f 18 ... 445 2 10 4f19 ... 1,997 3 0 6 32 20,175 0 16 5. Rangiwaea-Tarere— 2b 26,839 0 16 Partition order 2c 2d 158 90 20 3 7 2 27 2 34 Leased to W. T. Carter— 3 yrs. at 2s., 7 at 3s., 11 at 4s. 270 0 28 100 0 0 44 6 6. Rangiwaea-Otaroro 2 ... Partition order, 16/6/96 11 28 acres undefined Crown interest. 7. Murimotu— 2b 1,361 0 0 Partition order, 12/12/00 Partition order, 25/10/05 11 3b 1a ... 949 1 5 3 3b 1b ... 579 3b lc ... 2,584 ; 3b 2 ... 3,250 i 1 13 3 32 0 36 6 8 18 \ Under lease to William / Craig. 7,363 3 6 4,190 0 0 Partition order, 12/12/00 or 12 ! Applications to lease 1,219 acres pending. 4b 5b No. 1 ... 1,108 3 37 Partition order, 23/3/03 6 ! 5b No. 2 5b No. 3 5b No. 4 ... 1,181 ... 517 ... 762 0 24 1 39 1 30 13 2 12 Partition order, 3/10/05 5b 2a 5b 2b 5b 2c ... 534 ... 103 ... 541 2 11 0 24 0 0 3 2 (?) 4,748 3 5 1,7663 2 11 Orders on investigation of* title, 11/8/97 8. Otiranui— No. 1b 1,634 2 0 108!

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Gk—lα

Schedule.—Group 4—continued.

Name of Blook. Area. Total. Title. 00 u u -2 a a b So Remarks. 8. Otiranui— contd. a. r. p. No. 2 A. R. P. 515 0 0 A. R. P. Vested in the Aotea Maori Land Board. No. 3 No. 4a ... 186 0 17 802 0 0 "l3 Partition orders, 26/7/05 No. 4b ... 155 0 0 No. 4c ... 243 2 24 No. 4d ... 194 3 27 No. 4e ... 567 0 9 No. 4g ... 177 0 32 No. 4h ... 194 3 27 No. 4k ... 239 0 35 No. 4l ... 256 3 35 32 18 25 49 20 10 10 3 2,215 0 0 No. 5a ... 95 0 32 Partition orders, 17/8/05 14 No. 5b ... . 83 1 8 No. 5c ... 59 2 0 38 35 238 0 0 9. Parikawau 5,404 2 0 559 0 0 Order for C. of T., 11/5/86 2S 1 Crown has 277 acres undefined. 0. Okehu— No. 1 100 0 0 Partition orders, 15/6/03 15 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 564 315 391 0 0 0 0 0 0 52 40 13 Title not ascertained. 1,370 0 0J .1. Otumaumau ... 2,020 0 0 .2. Maungakaretu— 3b1 ... 3 0 0 Partition orders, 7/11/0 3b2 ... 545 0 0 548 "0 0 4b No. 1 ... 277 0 0 Partition Crders, 6/2/92 1 4b No. 2 ... 270 0 0 4b No. 3 ... 285 0 0 4b No. 4 ... 480 0 0 4b No. 5 ... 217 0 0 4b No. 6 ... 284 0 0 4b No. 7 ... 217 0 0 4b No. 8 ... 217 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2,247 0 0 823 3 30 Partition orders, 28/7/00 15 Leased to W. McDonnell, 21 vrs. from 1903— 7 yrs. at £40 17s., 7 at £61 14s., 7 at £81 12s. 5b2b2 3,618 8 30 i3. Raketapauma— 1a No. 2 ... 200 0 39 Partition orders, 5/6/99 ... Leased to John Craig, 21 yrs. from 1906, at £50 per annum. Is No 2 ... liNo. 2 ... 1,235 0 0 li No. 3 ... 200 0 0 li No. 4 ... 608 0 0 773 1 0 4 :;: 1 24 2,043 0 0 2b No. 1 2b No. 2 2b No. 3 2b No. 4 2b No. 5 287 94 50 80 25 0 0 0 10 0 31 0 4 0 18 5 1 2 1 ...

OK—la

Schedule.—Group 4-continued.

23

Name of Block. Area. I Total. Title. o . . 00 - c 3 S SO Z Remarks. .3. Raketapauma— contd. A. R. P. A. R. P. 2b No. 6 ... 13 2 5 2b No. 7 ... 3 0 21 2b No. 8 ... 120 0 0 1 1 7 Vested in Aotea Maori Land Board as a township. 2b No. 9 ... 3 0 22 2b No. 10 ... 9 1 23 2b No. 11... 23 2 8 2b No. 12 ... 27 0 32 2b No. 13... 27 I 6 6 5 4 3 5 763 2 20 ... 3a No. 2 ... 165 0 0 Partition orders, 5/6/99 16 3b No. 2 ... 118 0 0 3c No. 2 ... 67 0 0 3d No. 2 ... 231 0 0 I 9 5 3 4a No. 2 ... 5a No. 2 ... 581 0 0 167 0 0 138 3 30 24 6 Lease to W. Spooner, 21 yrs. from 1903. 5b No. 2 ... 5c No. 2a Id No. 1 ... 232 0 27 16 1 35 20 0 0 6 5 1 Partition order, 20/5/99 Id No. 2 ... 928 2 35 1.160 '3 22 1.161 0 0 4 ■ 1b Order on investigation of title, 27/6/92 lc If ■ 1g 1h oc 2b 1,161 0 0 1,161 0 0 1,161 0 0 1,161 0 0 49 0 0 1 2 6 1 1 11,718 1 26 Partition order, 5/6/99 4. Ruanui — 1 No. 1 ... 10 0 Partition orders, 19/7/94 lNo. 2 ... 303 0 0 1 No. 3 ... 672 0 0 1 No. 4 ... 670 0 0 1 No. 5 ... 670 0 0 lNo. 6 ... 670 0 0 lNo. 7 ... 670 0 0 lNo. 8 ... 670 0 0 1 No. 9 ... 670 0 0 1 No. 10 ... 670 0 0 i I I 3 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 5,666' 0 0 Under lease to Europeans. Lease has 7 or 8 yrs. to run. 2b No. 2 ... 1.165 0 0 Partition order, 23/6/99 2 2b No. 3 ... 547 3 16 2b No. 4 ... 392 3 0 2b No. 5 ... 246 3 22 2b No. 6 ... 338 1 5 2b No. 7 ... 245 3 35 1 1 6 1 2,936 "2 38 J .. Partition order, 26/5/93 1 3b 125 0 0 3c 250 0 0 375 0 0 8,977 2 38 Partition order, 26/11/01 .5. Ngapukewhakapu — No. 1b 169 0 0 7 No. 2b ... No. 3b ... 758 0 0 607 0 0 35 30

G.—lα

24

Schedule.—Group 4—continued.

Name of Block. Area. Total. Title. -2 c a * 30 25~ Remarks. 15. Ngapukewhakapu— contd. A. R. P. A. R. P. 72 0 0 12 0 0 140 0 0 A. R. P. No. 4b No. 4c ' ... - No. 4d ... 3 1 1 1,758" 0 0 16. Ngaurukehu A— No. 1 553 0 0 Partition order, 13/1/93 Leased to J. Bremner, 9 vrs. at 3s., 8 vrs. at 4s., from 1904. No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 1 145 1 28 553 0 553 0 547 0 545 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 2 Partition order, 23/9/01 No. 6 No. 2 398 2 12 5 No. 7 544 0 553 0 0 0 Partition order, 13/1/93 1 No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 ... 550 0 300 0 2,166 0 0 0 0 1 14 12 ... Appn. for lease of Sec. 3, 541£ acres, 42 yrs. No. 10a 46 0 0 6,910 0 0 11 17. Ngaurukehu B— No. 2a 335 0 0 I Partition order, 29/8/96 Lease to W. Bremner, 21 yrs. from 1905, at 3s. 6d. per annum. No. 2b No. 2c No. 2d 522 0 0 201 0 0 131 0 0 3 1 7 Lease to J. Bremner. Lease to J. Bremner, 10 yrs. at £9 15s., 11 at £13, from 1904. /* No. 2e 8 0 0 11 18. Pohonuiatane — No. 1b ... 1,197 0 0 33 1 13 Partition order, 2/2/92 No. lc No. 2b 8 1 13 500 0 0 Partition order. 17/4/89 1 1 Lease to W. Bremner, 21 yrs. from 1905 at 3s. 6d. per acre. No. 2c 3b 73 1 26 1,245 0 0 6 4 Leased to C. H. Allan for 21 yrs. from 1904—7 yrs. at 4s., 14 yrs. at 6s. per acre per annum. ■ 3e 3d 1b 3d lc 3d2 316 0 0 40 0 4 523 3 2 317 0 0 1 4 3 1 Application for consent to lease pending. 3d3 3d4 3e 315 0 0 632 2 0 501 0 0 1 1 2 4,505 1 18 19. Parapara— No. 2a 2a ... 288 0 0 Partition order, 16/5/04 14 Leased to John Anderson and another. No. 2a 2b ... 2b No. 2—16 subdivisions, viz:— 2b 2a ... 860 .0 0 19 55 0 70 0 0 0 Partition order, 4/6/04 2b 2b ...

a.—lα

25

Schedule.—Group 4—continued.

Approximate Coat of I'bjim , .—l'repai-Ktion, not given ; printing (9,500 copies}, #]8 13s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o7.

Price 9d.]

4—G. lα.

Name of Block. Area. Total. Title. is ■ as _ o I Remarke. 19. Parapara— contd. 2b 2c ... 2b 2d ... 2b 2e ... 2b 2f ... 2b 2g ... 2b 2h ... 2b 2i ... 2b 2j ... 2b 2k ... 2b 2l ... A. R. P. A. It. 10 0 123 0 235 0 171 0 122 0 56 0 78 0 32 0 65 0 363 0 A. It. P. 10 0 0 123 0 0 235 0 0 171 0 0 122 0 0 56 0 0 78 0 0 32 0 0 P. A. R. P. 0 Q 0 0 0 i 0 i 0 i 0 ... Partition order, 4/6/040 0 I 2 2 6 5 2 1 16 li ] 2j 20j 2 2 6 5 2 1 16 1 65 0 0 363 0 0 2 20 Leased to John Anderson and another. 2b 2m ... 2b 2n ... 59 0 91 0 59 0 0 91 0 0 0 0 1 1 10 1 10 Leased to John Anderson and another. 2b 2o ... 2b 2p 20. Maraetaua — Ib 11 0 10 0 A. E. P. 668 3 4 11 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 2,699 0 0 Partition order, 6/12/01 o 2 7 ! 4 2 7 lc 116 2 8 Leased to Allan Robinson for 21 yrs. from 1903, at 2s. per acre per annum. Id Lb If 2b 8h 4h No. 1 ... 4b No. 2 ... 4b No. 3 ... 23 2 14 16 2 24 241 1 30 _, 1,067 0 58 0 584 0 156 0 1,004 0 382 0 0 0 ... Partition order. 26/11/01 0 ... 0 ... Partition order, 25/7/06 0 0 - - 3,251 0 0 8 5 ! 44 | 36 59i 10 I i 25 Leased 21 yrs. to Isaac Guthrie—7 yrs. at 9d., 7 at Is. 3d., 7 at 2s.— from 1905. 21. Taonui — lc 582 0 0 13 Id 1b 70 0 539 0 0 0 22 20 22 20 ■ I : Leased 21 yrs. to Isaac Guthrie —7 yrs. at 9d., 7 at Is. 3d., 7 at 2s.— from 1905. 2b 109 0 1 1,300 0 0 ,123,913 3 7 ioj I 10

LANDS DEALT WITH IN WHANGANUI DISTRICT.

g ._l,.