7

G.— lj

The area recommended for Maori occupation—23,236 acres —would appear small for a Maori population of 2,053 (at the last census). The area offered by the Maoris for general settlement is 7,801 acres, and there are 6,980 acres already under lease to Europeans. Exclusive of papatupu lands the area not dealt with by the Commission or as to which further information is required amounts to 13,778 acres. As in the case of Whangaroa so here we may observe that compliance with the provisions of section 11 of " The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907," should not be pressed in regard to the area offered by the Maoris and recommended by us for general settlement. We have already recommended Your Excellency (see Appendix III) to prohibit private alienation in regard to Manukau Block, a large and valuable block south of Ahipara. In our opinion the title to Ahipara Block adjoining it on the north should be first decided, and the two could be dealt with together. General Remarks. The following general summary will show the position of the Native lands in the five northern counties covered by this report: —

General Summary.

Recapitulation. A. R. P. A. E. 1. Leased ... ... ... ... ... ... 32,659 0 14 2. For Maori occupation ... ... ... ... 201,706 3 21 3. For general settlement — (a.) By lease ... ... ... 119,038 010 (6.) By sale ... ... ... 12,389 3 18 (c.) Vested in Board ... ... 121,957 0 0 253,384 3 28 4. Title unascertained ... ... ... ... ... 124,564 2 15 5. Not dealt with (title ascertained) ... ... ... 41,152 123 6. Special recommendations ... ... ... ... 1,859 0 0 Grand total ... ... ... ... ... 655,326 3 21 It is to be noted that in these five counties, out of a total of 655,326 acres, only 32,659 have been leased or are under negotiation for lease to Europeans. This is quite exceptional when compared with the position further south, where the leasing of Native lands has been very keen and active since 1905. It is partly explained by the fact that until recently a very large area, which we estimate at 101,642 acres and 26 perches, was papatupu land not clothed with any title. In some cases, especially in Hokianga County, the existence of timber options, not always legal yet sufficiently binding on Maori vendors, have prevented the pastoralist from negotiating for the grazing-rights. We further direct attention to the large area of papatupu land and land the title of which has not been properly ascertained. Of the papatupu blocks about one-half has been partially investigated by Block Committees, whose findings were affirmed by the Maori Land Board. On appeal to the Native Appellate

Lands. I Whangarei. Hokianga. Bay of Islands. Whangaroa. Mangonui. 1. Leased 2. Maori occupation,— (a.) Papakaingas, &c. .. i (6.) Lease to Maoris .. > (c.) Incorporation 3. General settlement, — (a.) By lease (6.) By sale (c.) Vested in Board 4. Title unascertained 5. Not dealt with where title ascertained 6. Special recommendation A. B. P. 4,406 0 2 A. E. P. 14,729 2 21 9,377 2 28 A. R. P. 3,466 0 3 A. B. P. 679 3 0 15,674 0 19 ( 66,112 1 15 \ 11,593 2 25 { 3,367 1 15 45,137 3 10 844 0 0 22,592 2 12 [13,148 1 22 23,236 2 23 12,131 3 26 966 2 0 48,995 1 5 5,792 0 33 19,536 0 0 48,804 0 0 2,926 2 13 1,859 0 0 41,889 0 19 3,052 2 25 45,115 0 0 57,668 2 15 3,060 0 30 9,202 1 6 1,596 2 1 6,819 1 34 982 0 0 57,306 0 0 6,904 0 0 13,778 2 35 5,500 0 0 19,529 1 21 5,688 0 0 1,857 2 4 Totals 58,207 3 28 223,715 1 26 228,737 2 19 34,958 2 35 109,706 2 12