G.—l

10

allocated, so as to make their occupation effective. The absolute impossibility of allocating the interest of each owner is evident when the following facts are realised. In Mohaka and Whareraurakau there are, roughly, two hundred individual owners. The interests vary from 15 to 800 acres. The land being of uneven quality, partitions were made on the principle of giving each owner or family a portion of first-class with a proportion of second- or third-class land—the scheme necessitating the severance of parcels, several miles intervening between a parcel of first-class land held by a family and their holding of second-class land. Already, as the result of thirty-five years' litigation, the Mohaka Block has been partitioned into fifty-five subdivisions, the cost of surveying which and of laying off roads will, we estimate, on an ordinary scale of charges, absorb five or six years' rent. A continuance of the process on the same lines would result in the purchase two or three times over of the freehold of their lands by the present descendants of the aboriginal owners. In Tutaekuri there are about one hundred individual owners, in some subdivisions of Tutuotekaha two hundred and eighty, in Nuhaka over four hundred. In the last-named block subdivision became a mania with the Native owners. One block (2c No. 2) of 1,200 acres, all sand-hills, has been cut up into twenty sections. The land is almost valueless. The purpose of subdivision has been defeated by the inclusion of members of the same family or hapu in half a dozen different subdivisions scattered all over the block. The Maori owners appear to us to have an honest desire to utilise their lands properly, and are willing to conform to any reasonable scheme insuring to them fair working titles. We found the bulk of these lands eminently suitable for Maori farms, and believe that with a little care in the selection of Maori tenants, who, in the majority of cases, would themselves be owners, and with assistance, the Maori owners can occupy these large areas with profit to themselves and to the State. We summarise the wishes of the Maori owners as follows : — (1.) To lease to some of themselves, the majority of the lessees being heads of families or large owners, or connected by marriage with some of the owners. Some of these required the addition by leases of the interests of some of the other owners to make up holdings of fair areas ranging from 150 to 1,200 acres. (2.) In some cases where the interest of a small family was ascertained and allocated, the members of the family asked that they retain for their use and occupation as farms such areas. (3.) In a few cases the owners desired their interests to be leased to the highest bidder. (4.) Small areas to be reserved as papakaingas for residence and cultivations, or to enclose existing kaingas. It may be noted that many of those proposed as lessees are already in occupation of the lands they desire to farm. The specific proposals made by the owners of these blocks, so far as we approve of them, are embodied in schedules hereto attached. We may modify them if the report of the surveyors shows that modification is required. Legislation is necessary to carry them into effect. Meantime, it is desirable to complete the orders made by the Native Land Court by proper surveys, further subdivisions in some cases being necessary in order to carry out the proposals for leasing or farming. We therefore recommend that a staff of surveyors should as soon as possible be detailed for this work, which should include the laying-off of roads and the valuation of the various subdivisions. The surveyors' reports will complete the information on which the Legislature may act on sanctioning our recommendations. We reserve for the general report our observations on the apportionment of survey charges, of county rates and the land-tax, on the liability for checking the spread of rabbits and noxious weeds, on the terms and conditions of leases, subleases, or transfers, and the disbursement of rents. Summary of Titles and Position of various Blocks. (1.) Whareraurakau. The area of this block is 3,310 acres. It lies to the north of the Mohaka River, nine or ten miles from the mouth of the river, and adjoins the Mohaka Block to the north-west.