51

H.—2lb

Memorandum. —153 acres is the total of Crown Land included in the grant to the Bishop. 3rd January, 1870. Alexander Mackay. The Native Eeserves at Motueka were made by the New Zealand Company, in accordance with their original scheme, that one-tenth of the land within the then settlement of Nelson should be set apart for the Natives, for educational and charitable purposes. The estate at Motueka comprised 100 fifty-acre sections (5,000 acres), of which 918 have been granted to the Bishop of New Zealand as an endowment for an industrial school; 1,020 acres are occupied by the Natives; and the remainder (3,062 acres, less 150 exchanged with Mr. Thorpe for section 9, at Takaka) is under the management of the Governor through his delegate. The average value of this portion of the estate may be classed as follows, viz. : — 1,500 acres, poor land, value—about 20s. per acre. 350 acres, middling land, value—between 40s. and 60s. per acre. 1,062 acres, good land, value—between 80s. and £30 an acre. In 1844, as will be seen by the accompanying map, Mr. Commissioner Spain appears to have awarded out of the land originally selected at Motueka as Native Eeserves, sections Nos. 157,159,160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 182, 183, 187, 188, 212, 219, 220, 241, and 242; in all, 800 acres, for the use and occupation of the Natives of Motueka, in consideration of the unequal payment made to them by the New Zealand Company for the relinquishment of their claims to land at Motueka and surrounding districts; and one cause of the dissatisfaction continually expressed by the Natives of Motueka is owing to four of these sections, Nos. 219, 220, 241, and 242, containing 200 acres in all, having been included in the grant made by Sir George Grey to the Bishop of New Zealand. The Ngatitama, or Motueka Natives, prior to the grant to the Bishop of New Zealand, resided on a portion of the block, and considerable dissatisfaction was manifested by them at being compelled to remove in consequence. Provision was afterwards made for these Natives by allotting them land in another part of the estate. The only Native who has any claim now to consideration is a woman named Bamari, who was absent (in the Asylum at Nelson) when the others were provided for. It was proposed to have allotted her a portion of section 9, at Takaka, received from Mr. Thorpe in exchange for land belonging to the trust at Motueka; but, owing to the jealous and domineering conduct evinced towards her by some of the local Natives, she could not be prevailed on to locate herself amongst them. The intention is now to allot her a small piece of land at Motueka, as soon as circumstances will permit, whereon to reside; and when section 9 is subdivided, to reserve a share for her out of it, where she can remove to in course of time, when the present feeling amongst the local Natives dies out. Notwithstanding the award made by Mr. Commissioner Spain of certain sections of the trust estate to the Natives, it has never been considered that the Natives had more than a life interest in the land, and it is thought Mr. Spain exceeded his authority m making this award, and his action in the matter is looked on as a contravention of the original scheme.

No. of ' Section. Area in Acres. Where situate. Block or No. of Acres Section as appropriated out of granted. each Section. Total Appropriation. 6 22 137 138 145 146 147 157 159 160 161 162 163 164 181 218 219 220 221 222 223 240 241 242 243 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 Motueka 6 22 A. 50 50 B. P. 0 0 0 0 A. 50 50 B. P. 0 0 0 0 „ ... • • • ! i . „ I 100 0 0 100 0 0 M 29 0 32 29 0 32 ( I K 4 7 2 29 0 0 ) 11 2 29 it • • • F 102 0 0 102 0 0 H 41 0 0 41 0 0 L 34 0 24 34 0 24 „ 500 0 0 500 0 0 it Total Area appropriated 918 0 5 918 0 5