G.—9

2

The Natives are taking a great interest in the Ethnological Board, constituted under last year's Act, and. are anxious to lend assistance in collating and recording the arts, customs, and traditions of their race. The Arawa Trust Board, which was constituted to administer the funds set apart in connection with the settlement of the claims to the Rotorua lakes, and other claims against the Government by the Arawa Tribe, is now functioning. The Board consists wholly of Natives, who conduct its affairs in businesslike method. The Maori members take their responsibilities very seriously, and the present indications are that the confidence in them will not be misplaced. Besides giving the Maoris concerned encouragement in habits of self-help and self-reliance, it will prove a useful experiment in testing how far the present education system has been efficient so far as the Maori is concerned. Four Maoris were declared to be Europeans under the law for that purpose, making a total to 31st March last of sixty persons. Only one Native Interpreter (a Maori) was licensed during the year. Unfortunately, four of those already licensed had to be disciplined for various offences. R. N. JONES, Under-Secretary.

TABLE A—NATIVE LAND COURTS. Return of Business and Fees for the Year ended 31st March, 1924. Native Land Court. Number of sittings .. .. .. .. .. .. 117 Number of cases notified .. .. .. .. .. 17,744 Number of cases for which orders were made .. .. .. 6,268 Number of cases dismissed .. .. .. .. .. 2,328 Number of cases adjourned sine die .. .. .. .. 9,967 Number of partitions made .. .. .. .. .. 701 Area affected (acres) .. .. .. .. .. 311,828 Number of investigations of title .. .. .. .. 16 Area affected (acres) .. .. .. .. .. 13,070 Number of succession orders made .. .. .. .. 6,218 Number of other orders made .. .. .. .. .. 1,774 Court Fees. £ s. d. Fees received. . .. .. .. .. .. 6,352 11 II Fees outstanding for period .. .. .. .. .. 251 13 4 Native Appellate Court. Number of sittings .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Number of cases notified . . .. .. .. .. ■ 181 Native Land Court decisions varied .. .. .. .. 30 Native Land. Court decisions affirmed .. .. .. .. 17 Native Land Court decisions referred back to Native Land Court .. 7 Native Land Court decisions annulled. . . . . .. . . 7 Appeals dismissed or withdrawn .. .. .. .. 60 Appeals adjourned sine die .. .. .. .. .. 21 Applications under section 208 ordered .. .. .. .. 2 Application under section 208 dismissed .. .. .. .. 2 Applications under section 208 adjourned sine die Court Fees. £ K . d. Fees received .. .. .. .. .. .. 155 1(1 ('< Fees outstanding for period .. .. .. .. .. 10 0

TABLE B.—MAORI LAND BOARDS. Areas of Native Land vested in and administered by Maori Land Boards.

Hoard. As at 31st March, 1923. Vested during Year. As at 31st March, 1924. Lands subject to Pi irt XIV of the Nat )e Land Act, 1909. ! Land Act, 1909. A. B. P. *114 0 10 *387 0 17 A. R. P. 16,187 2 26 14,345 0 28 2,824 3 36 18,710 1 i 197,637 3 3 50,505 3 7 "karoa Votea L'airawhiti iVaiariki .. iVaikato-Maniapoto rokerau .. A. R. P. 16,301 2 36 14,345 0 28 2,824 3 36 18,710 1 4 197,637 3 3 50,892 3 24 A. B. P. *J14 0 10 *387 0 17 300,712 3 11 501 0 27 300,211 2 24 * Revested in Native owners during the year.