55

H.—2l

The cost of maintaining the Hostelry has been very small. It has been chiefly defrayed out of fines inflicted for misconduct on Natives stopping at the Hostelry, which, by an arrangement made by Dr. Shortland, are payable to the keeper. The expense of firewood has been defrayed by the General Government. The Hostelry requires new shingling and painting, and the ground on which it stands would be the better for draining. At the present time there is not much demand for building allotments, and the best way to utilise this land would be to divide it into yards for firewood and timber. This would require a little outlay for surveys. Onehunga Beserve. Before my appointment, this land was leased to Mr. David Hutchison for a ship-building yard. He paid rents amounting to £120 which were received by me as Civil Commissioner ; of them £117 4s. was paid to Mr. Salmon, under instructions from the Hon. the Native Minister, in payment of a debt due by Natives. The sum of £2 16s. was paid to Mr. Brookfield for expenses in recovering a portion of the above amount from Mr. Hutchison, who left the place in June, 1867. It has not been since occupied nor applied for by any one. There are some buildings upon, it which might be rendered available for a Native Hostelry, which is required there. At the present time there is no demand at all for land, the place being partially deserted, owing to a large portion of the population having gone to the Thames. Before 1867 there was some difficulty about the title to these reserves ; but by " The Auckland and Onehunga Native Hostelries Act, 1867," this was set at rest as far as regards Nos. 11, 19, and 4, which were placed under my control. No. 89, containing 6 acres 1 rood, was not brought under the provisions of that Act, and remains under the original Crown Grant to certain trustees, which appears to have been reconveyed by them to the Crown ; consequently I have no power to deal with this reserve. Probably Dr, Pollen, who was one of the original trustees, can give some information about the rent of this reserve. James Mackay, Jun. Taken before me this seventh day of May, 1869, at the Inspector of Surveys' Office, Auckland. Theoph. Heale, Commissioner. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,675 copies), £37 3s.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington. —1898. Price Is. 3d,]