I—G. 7,

REPOET. To His Excellency the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand. May it please Your Excellency. We, the undersigned, being two of the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency's Commission, bearing date the 31st January, 1902, under and by virtue of the provisions of section 18 of " The Native Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1901," to hear and determine disputes respecting ownership and boundaries of the Awanui-Haparapara Block, the Maraehako Block, the Tunapahore Block, and the subdivisions of the Kapuarangi Block known as Kapuarangi West, Kapuarangi No. la, Kapuarangi No. Ib, and Kapuarangi No. 3, have the honour to report as follows : — 1. We held sittings at Opotiki from the 16th April to the 17th June, 1902, and from the 20th May to the 12th August, 1903, to hear the evidence and arguments of the parties claiming interests in the several blocks. 2. We have had before us the records of the proceedings in the Native Land Court and Native Appellate Court with reference to the title to these blocks, and also with reference to the title to the adjacent blocks known as Mangatu, Takaputahi, Puketauhinu, Whitikau, and some others. Awanui Haparapara. 3. This block of land, containing 1,887 acres, is situate in the Araparera Survey District, and is delineated in the plan numbered 6484. 4. The claimants to this block were — (a) Whanau a Rongomai, Whanau a Hinekakaho, Whanau a Unukawa, Whanau a Pupuni, Whanau a Mahutahuta, Whanau a Rutaia (represented by Timutimu Tawhai, who claimed the whole block by right of ancestry, occupation, and mana, the ancestors being Takapukapakapa, Takioterangi, and Matekitatahi) ; (b) Whanau a Te Ehutu and Whanau a Hinetekahu (represented by Raureti Mokonui a Rangi, who claimed the whole block by right of ancestry, occupation, conquest, and mana, the ancestors being Tukaki and Te Rangihori) ; (o) a portion of the Whanau a Hinetekahu Hapu (represented by Ngara Hare) set up a separate claim, although their right to a share was admitted by Raureti Mokonuiarangi. 5. The following witnesses were called and examined on oath : For the Whanau a Rongomai and the associated hapus, Tamati Ru, Eru Monita, Paora Ngamoki; for the Whanau aTe Ehutu and Whanau a Hinetekahu, Hairama Haweti, Makarita te Hau ; for Ngara Hare's section of the Whanau a Hinetekahu, Hotene Tuaiwa. At the request of the Commissioners Te Hata Hokopaura (alias Moutara) attended and gave evidence. 6. The case for the Whanau a Rongomai and the associated hapus was that this land formed part of a gift made to Apanui, who subsequently presented it to his brother Takapukapakapa, with whom

Laid on the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

a—7.

1904. NEW ZEALAND.

"THE NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT AND LAWS AMENDMENT ACT, 1901" (REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED UNDER SECTION 18 OF).