G.—4a.

2

and Kaipara, had derived considerable benefit from the bridge. They came frequently to Orakei, and even had interests in land there. I therefore proposed that of the sum of £1,125 7s. sd. for the bridge, £586 10s. should be charged to the Hikurangi, Paioterangi, and Pua-ta-hinga Blocks, on the West Coast. This was agreed to by all concerned : the sum of £404 16s. 2Jd. was set aside for hospital and educational purposes, and £46 12s. sd. appropriated (very willingly on the part of the Natives) to the cost of the management of the fund. Finally, I paid Paul Tuhaere and Te Hira the sum of £356 13s. 9d., and have £110s. left in hand. Paioterangi. On this "West Coast Block there had, on the Ist April last, accrued the sum of £609 14s. 6d. Of this I proposed that £239 15s. 6d. should be devoted to Native schools and hospital purposes, and after a long discussion it was agreed to, the Natives asking that the schools might be established at their settlements on the West Coast. For the Orakei Bridge £130 3s. sd. was set aside, with £20 Bs. for the expenses of management. Ultimately, the sum of £211 16s. OJd. was paid to the Natives, leaving £7 lis. 6d. in hand to meet a possible claim. Hikurangi. To April Ist, 1874, the "10 per cents." accrued on this block amounted to £1,653 7s. 2d. It was agreed, after an exhaustive discussion of the whole subject, that £361 13s. 7d. should be deducted to pay for the bridge, and £57 7s. for expenses of management. I required that £645 16s. 9|d. should be devoted to hospital and educational purposes, which was agreed to, the Natives asking that the schools should be established at their villages. The sum of £588 9s. 9d. remained for distribution to the sellers and their representatives. On the deed of cession of Hikurangi are the signatures of the Waiuku chiefs Te Katipa and Aihepene Kaihau. On my proposing to set aside some money for these Natives, it was opposed, strenuously, by the Ngatiwhatua sellers, who asserted that they had no right as owners of the sold land, but had only been paid some money on account of the murder of a relative there. Aihepene Kaihau and Te Katipa's heirs are now in the King country, and, until they can have an opportunity of stating their case, I propose to retain the sum of £100 14s. 7d., which will cover the outside limit of their claim. I paid the sum of £487 15s. 2d. amongst Te Watarauihi's people and the original territorial owners of Hikurangi. Pua-ta-hinga. This block also lies on the West Coast. To the Ist April, 1874, there had accrued the sum of £432 10s. The Natives, who fairly represented the original vendors, agreed, after full discussion, that £94 13s. should be charged to the bridge account, and £l 4 17s. to expenses of administration. They also consented to £168 18s. 6d. being kept back for schools and hospitals. The sum of £154 Is. 6d. was then divided amongst those who had sold the land, the survivors of the deceased vendors, Paul and Te Watarauihi, allotting the money. Of the sum last named, £50 on this block and £30 on the Hunua were, at my instance, handed over to Colonel Balneavis and Dr. Goldsbro, the legal guardians of the sons of the deceased chief Isaac Takaanini, who are being educated at the Auckland Grammar School. , ' JRualcaka. On this land, which lies between Whangarei and Waipu, there had, on the Ist April, 1874, accrued the sum of £473 16s. lOd. I went to Whangarei to meet the persons interested in the "10 per cents.," but they were so dispersed at Native meetings and gum-digging that I could make only a few payments. The chief Taurau, and those who were present, representing the sellers, agreed to £236 18s. sd. being appropriated to education and hospitals, and £16 ss. 4d. to the expenses of administration. This left £220 13s. Id. for distribution amongst the Native sellers. Finding that the Natives did not come to Whangarei, I convened a meeting for Mahurangi —a central place for the scattered people interested in this and the Mangawhai Block, but they did not meet me there. Ultimately I found in various places a few more of those interested, and made payments to the extent of £35, but found it necessary to leave with Mr. Robert Mair, at Whangarei, and the Key. Mr. Gittos, at Kaipara, blank receipt forms to be signed by certain indicated Natives, to whom I can remit the respective amounts that have been decided upon. I may state that the Euakaka Natives had entirely forgotten the stipulation relating to " 10 per cents." Mangawhai. This was a very difficult case to deal with, there being no less than fifty-eight parties to the sale, the majority of whom were dead, but whose descendants had to be found : the money to be divided— £419 13s. 2d. —the smallest of all. These people failing to appear at Whangarei and Mahurangi, I met the principal of their chiefs at Auckland and other places, and they agreed to deal with the money in the following manner, namely, to appropriate to—

.Lilt; cuieis Auam x^aiana auix xn-auirii ranuttv, principal men 111 me saie, gave me vaiuaDie assistance in allocating the amounts to the respective claimants. They had all quite forgotten the circumstance of the stipulation, and expressed their gratification at the Government having taken care of their interests. In this case, after paying £68 to those present, I had also to leave blank receipt forms with

Schools and hospitals To expenses of administration And to presents ... £ s. d. 209 16 7 14 6 6 195 10 1 £419 13 2 _1 •_.*»_. A _1 TT" I-- -1 T\ •r • ' t» *r • i _ • j i . . i ii