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1919. NEW ZEALAND

NATIVE LAND COURTS, MAORI LAND BOARDS, AND NATIVE LAND PURCHASE BOARD (REPORT FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY, NATIVE DEPARTMENT, ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1919.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Sir, — Native Department, Wellington, 31st July, 1919. I have the honour to submit the annual report on the work of the Native Land Courts, Maori Land Boards, and the Native Land Purchase Board for the year ended 31st March, 1919. ANNUAL EEPOET. Native Land Court and Native Appellate Court. The Native Land Court held 1.07 sittings during the year, the total number of cases notified for hearing being 18,744. The titles to 23,595 acres of customary lands were investigated during the year. Native Freehold Land. —1,119 partition orders, affecting 321,534 acres, were made, and 7,421 other orders affecting Native lands were made. The Native Appellate Court held six sittings during the year, the total number of cases scheduled being forty-one. Revenue. —The revenue received by way of Court fees amounted to £4,208 12s. 9d. Details will be found in Table A attached hereto. Maori Land Boards. Vested Lands. —The area of land vested in and administered by the various Maori Land Boards at 31st March, 1919, was 935,094 acres. During the year 1,024 acres were alienated by way of lease and 4,733 acres by way of sale. Native Freehold Lands. —During the year the Boards have approved of 385 leases, comprising 42,442 acres, and have confirmed 895 transfers (apart from sales to the Crown), affecting 92,026 acres. The Boards have also confirmed thirty-five mortgages, affecting 5,270 acres, the total area of land affected being 139,738 acres. The total receipts of the Boards for the year amounted to £395,509 lis., and the disbursements to £387,480 Is. 2d. The total amount of the funds held at credit by the various Boards on 31st March, 1919, was £506,916 3s. sd. Of this sum £378,694 12s. 9d. is held on deposit with the Public Trustee in separate accounts in the names of the respective Boards, the interest accruing thereon being payable to the Natives entitled in terms of subsection (5) of section 35 of the Native Land Amendment Act, 1913. The balance represents the amount held at credit of the current accounts of the Boards. The revenue received by the Boards amounted to £7,635 ss. 10d., £2,596 Bs. being amount received by way of fees and £5,038 17s, lOd. for commission. Details of the operations of the various Boards will be found in Table B.

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