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ments are recent, having been effected during the last four or five years. The leading men have employed working-bees composed of owners and others. On partition it may be necessary to adjust the value of improvements as between owners contributing labour. But if our proposals for incorporation are carried out, such adjustment will not be required. In the Ahuahu district and at Whakanekeneke the Maoris have succeeded in bringing a good deal of land under cultivation. At the latter place they have commenced dairying. Inclusive of papakaingas, burial reserves, and landing-places we recommend an area of 68,574 acres 1 rood 22 perches to be reserved for Maori occupation, or an average of 26f acres per head. Our detailed recommendations are set forth in the accompanying schedules. The following is a summary : — A. R. P. A. R. P. Lands leased ... _ 9-377 228 Lands for Maori occupation — 1. Papakaingas, &c. ... ... ... 45,137 310 2. Leases to Maoris ... ... ... 844 0 0 3. To be incorporated ... ... 22,592 2 12 . 68,574 1 22 Lands for general settlement — 1. For leasing 41,889 0 19 2. For sale .'5,052 2 25 3. Vested in Board ... ... ... 45,115 0 0 90,056 2 34 Lands not dealt with — 1. Papatupu ... ... •■■ 57,668 2 15 2. Other lands 3,060 0 30 60,728 3 5 Total 228,737 2 19 The area we recommend for general settlement by lease and sale is 44,941 acres 3 roods 4 perches, scheduled so as to indicate the tenure favoured by the owners. To this mav be added the area vested in the Maori Land Board, 45,115 acres, making a total of 90,056 acres 2 roods 34 perches. We have made a special report to the Native Minister on Motatau No. 2, one of the blocks vested in the Board (see Appendix III). The area of papatupu land, 57,668 acres, is very large. We understand that a number of blocks comprising this area were dealt with by Block Committees, confirmed by the Maori Land Board, but were referred back to the Native Land Court by the Native Appellate Court. Included in this area is the valuable Tautoro Subdivision of Motatau, called Motatau No. 5, lying to the south of Kaikohe, and a number of small but very valuable blocks near Kaikohe. Exclusive of papatupu, the area of land not dealt with by the Commission or as to which further information is required is 3,060 acres and 30 perches. A copy of our recommendations to Your Excellency for_ the issue of an Order in Council under section 10 of " The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907," prohibiting private alienation in respect of certain lands in this county will be found in Appendix II of this report. A special report was made to the Hon. the Native Minister as in the case of certain Hokianga lands, and will be found in Appendix I. 4. Whangaroa County. The area of lands of all kinds in this county is 100,200 acres. The approximate area of Native lands is 34,958 acres. Of this area part is papatupu land. There are already leased or under negotiation for lease to Europeans 3,446 acres. This leaves a balance of Maori lands to be dealt with of 31,492 acres, but of this area, 5,688 acres are papatupu land. The balance open for investigation by us therefore is 25,804 acres. The land is mainly unimproved, and consists for the most part of low steep hills, with small valleys in between. It is mostly in teatree scrub, and the remains of bush from which the milling-timber has been cut. None of the land can be termed first-class land. Part of it may be termed second-
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