G-.—IB

2

As to No. 3b No. 1, an area of only 19 acres 3 roods 25 perches, no owner was present, and we can get no information in reference to this small area. The owners have, however, sufficient other lands, and the subdivision, from its position, should be administered and disposed of in connection with the subdivisions adjoining, and next referred to. As to No. 3b No. 2, No. 3b 3a, and No. 3b 3b, amounting altogether to 225 acres 2 roods 13 perches, we find that these subdivisions have been occupied by arrangement with the Native owners by Mr. Prescott, who has been paying ss. per acre rent. We recommend that this land should be put up to auction for lease and given to the highest bidder. As recommended in our General Report, the leasing should be done through the Maori District Land Board without the land being vested in the Board. Regarding No. Ig, which consists of 468 acres and 25 perches, and belongs to six original owners, of whom one was Wi Teroikuku, it has been asked that the interest of Wi Teroikuku, amounting to 134 acres 3 roods 27 perches, should be partitioned from the rest of the block, and set aside for two landless Maoris for their lives, the Natives being Ngareta Rautao and Ruru Terangi. These two Native women are first cousins of the successors of Wi Teroikuku, and have no land. The Board could be authorised to make them a lease at a nominal rent. We found, on questioning the owners of the block, that they had not paid the county rates, though they were well able to do so. There seems to have been some case heard by a Magistrate in which the local body sued the Natives, and was unsuccessful. The Natives in occupation are well able to pay, and they promised that in future they would pay the rates. They will be in a better position to do so when they get leases as suggested in our recommendations. Summary of Our Recommendations. A. B. P. For lease by auction ... ... ... ... ... 3,469 3 12 For landless Maoris ... ... ... ... ... 134 3 27 For Maori farms ... ... ... .... ... ... 5,904 2 11 Already leased ... ... ... ... ... ... 485 0 0 9,994 1 10 Otawhao A. This block is a block of 9,689 acres and 16 perches, most of which is leased to Europeans. A few of the owners of the block have land elsewhere—namely, the owners of Nos. 10, 11, 2, and 8. The other owners have small areas outside this block. Those owners who have no land elsewhere are exceedingly anxious that the block should be preserved as Maori land for themselves and their children. Of the block, 3,595 acres are leased to Mr. W. Nelson (subleased to Mr. Potts), which lease expires in 1913; 3,037 acres are leased to Mr. Prescott, which lease expires in 1915; 478 acres 34 poles have been sold to a European. There are also leases of other parts of the block—namely, Nos. 10 and 11, which are leased to Mr. Hobson, but the Maori Land Board has the question of this lease still under consideration. At present it has refused to assent to it, but the matter is to be reopened. The other leases are, — Part of No. 1, to W. Hobson, for twenty-one years from February, 1906; approved by Board as to lessors who have signed. 151 acres not acquired, being chiefly interests of deceased persons to which no successors have been appointed. No. 7, to W. Hobson. Part of No. 4, to Mrs. Hobson; approved by Board. 261 acres not acquired—belong to owners who do not wish to lease. There are 100 acres in No. 3a that the Natives are anxious should be made a Native township. They are also desirous that there should be a partition made amongst the owners of this area of 100 acres, so that some of them may get land on which to reside, and they have a scheme of partition ready to submit to the Native Land Court. The balance of the 100 acres not required for their occupation they are willing to deal with as a Native township, giving renewable leases on what is called the Glasgow system of leasing.