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Taupo covered by agreements with timber-milling companies. The latter include the following lands : — Waihaha 3, 42,915 acres; Mauhungaroa, 55,398 acres; Waituhi-Kuratau, 16,234 acres; Puketapu and Hohotaha, Whangaipeke, Ruamata, Pukepoto and Waione, 61,250 acres : total, 175,797 acres. It will be seen, therefore, that in the Urewera country and adjoining districts and in the Taupo district are the largest areas of Native lands, amounting approximately to 1,908,078 acres, or nearly two million acres. Those, therefore, that speak of the huge areas of unoccupied Native lands will do well to remember that of these unoccupied lands nearly two-thirds are massed in a part of the North Island generally regarded as unfit for settlement, except in large areas, as small grazing-runs or pastoral runs. (3.) North of Auckland the total area of Native lands is 771,939 acres. Of this area, the total under lease at the 31st March, 1911 (including lands leased for milling purposes), was 181,275 acres 1 rood 12 perches, including 73,271 acres 3 roods 16 perches of vested lands leased by the Maori Land Board. Allowing an area of 85,000 acres to be in profitable occupation of the Native owners, the balance of unoccupied lands is 505,664 acres 1 rood 22 perches. Of this, it is estimated that the area unfit for settlement is between 60,000 and 70,000 acres, leaving approximately 435,664 acres unoccupied and fit for settlement. Of this latter area, 44,278 acres are still unclothed with title. Much of the land is reported to be broken, and fit only for settlement in large areas; while, however, there are many tracts of first-class land, particularly in the neighbourhood of Kaikohe and in the Mangakahia Valley. (4.) The East Cape to Opotiki territory is the only other than requires special mention here. Part of this extends into the Hawke's Bay Land District. Taking the Waiapu River on the east, and the Opape Reserve, near Opotiki, on the south-west of this territory, the area of Native land stretching along the coast in one almost unbroken block is approximately 477,800 acres. Until six years ago there were nearly 300,000 acres of this area that had not passed the Native Land Court. This has since been surveyed into tribal subdivisions, and, with the exception of about 90,000 acres, has passed the Native Land Court. The settlement of the occupied portion of the territory is recent. The present position is : — Acres. Acres. Area leased ... ... ... ... ... 141,607 Area under negotiation for lease with approval of Board (approximately) ... ... ... 22,000 Area profitably occupied by Maori owners (approximately) 67,628 231,235 Unoccupied— Unsuitable for settlement (estimated) ... ... 25,000 Suitable for settlement (including areas to be reserved for Native owners and areas that have not passed the Native Land Court) ... ... ... 221,565 246,565 477,800 How the Unoccupied Lands are held. The following figures will show how the unoccupied lands were held at the 31st March, 1911 : — (1.) Held by trustees for settlement — Acres. Aores. (a.) Public Trustee ... ... ... ... 37,612 (6.) East Coast Trust Lands Commissioner ... 93,855 (c.) Vested in Trustees under the Native Land Laws Amendment Act, 1897 ... ... 66,166 {d.) Vested in Maori Land Boards and undisposed of ... ... ... ... ... 673,962 871,595 (2.) Under negotiation direct or by meeting of assembled owners for purchase by the Crown ... ... 430,560 (3.) Subject to Urewera District Native Reserve Act (balance) ... ... ... ... 600,000 (4.) Uninvestigated papatupu lands ... ... ... 190,792 (5.) Other lands ... ... ... ... 987,916 3,080,863 This sets out the position as far as can be ascertained of Native lands. As to the working of the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards for the past year, this will be found in the report of the 25th May last, dealing with administration generally. THOS. W. FIBHER, Native Department, 24th October, 1911. Under-Secretary.

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