3

G.— lj

The Maori population of this county at the last census was 2,769. We were favourably impressed with their prospects as farmers. There are the nuclei of healthy Maori farming communities at Waihou Lower, Whakarapa, Waimamaku, Whirinaki, Waima, Utakura, and Mangamuka. As shown in the accompanying schedules, the Maoris of these places have brought under cultivation a considerable area of land. We do not think that the area we have recommended to be reserved for Maori occupation—namely, 81,073 acres —is excessive. It does not amount to 30 acres per head, or, deducting burial reserves and what are proposed as forest reserves, to 28 acres per head. The area for farming purposes will not amount to 25 acres per head if the papakaingas are deducted. Our detailed recommendations are set forth in the schedules hereto. The following is a summary : — A. E. P. A. R. P. Lands leased ... ... ... ... ... ... 14,729 0 0 Lands for Maori occupation— 1. Papakaingas, cfcc. ... ... ... 66,112 1 15 2. Lease to Maoris ... ... ... 11,593 225 3. To be incorporated ... ... 3,367 1 15 81,073 1 15 Lands for general settlement — 1. For leasing - ... ... ... 48,995 1 5 2. For sale ... ... ... ... 5,792 0 33 3. Vested in Board ... ... ... 19,536 0 0 74,323 1 38 Lands not dealt with— 1. Papatupu ... ... ... 48,804 0 0 2. Other lands ... ... ... 2,926 2 13 . 51,730 2 13 Special recommendation ... ... ... ... .. 1,859 0 0 Total 223,715 1 26 The area proposed for general settlement by these recommendations is 54,787 acres. The blocks are scheduled so as to show the tenure favoured by the Maori owners. Less than 6,000 acres is offered for sale. To the area recommended by us may'be added Te Karae Block of nearly 20,000 acres, making a total available for general settlement of 74,323 acres. To facilitate the definition of boundaries we have asked the Native Department to instruct surveyors to report on some of the larger blocks. Our letter to the Hon. the Native Minister on the subject is given as Appendix Ito this report. We have already recommended Your Excellency by memoranda dated respectively the 11 th and 15th days of May, 1908 (copies of which are given in Appendix II to this report) that certain blocks in Hokianga County be brought under section 10 of " The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907," so that private alienation may be prohibited for a period sufficient to cover the completion of the preliminaries necessary before the lands concerned are properly brought under the provisions of the said Act. Our special remarks on certain blocks in this county will be found in Appendix I. A special report to the Native Minister on Te Karae Block will be found in Appendix 111. 3. Bay of Islands County. The area of Native lands in this county is 228,737 acres, inclusive of 57,668 acres (approximately) of papatupu land. The land is of uneven quality. The best of it may be found in the neighbourhood of Kaikohe, in the Motatau series of blocks, running in patches intermixed with poor gum land. Portions of the Rawhiti Blocks to the south of Cape Brett are reported to be good pastoral and agricultural land. The timber problem does not affect the Bay of Islands lands to the same extent as the Hokianga lands. The most valuable timber area is on the Motatau No. 2, now vested in the Board. The Maori population of the county at the last census was 2,571. The largest area of land under Maori cultivation is on. the Motatau Blocks, which comprise two-fifths of the Native lands in the county. Most of the improve-