G.—9

2

General. The estimated area of Native land held by Maoris in the North Island on Acres. 31st March, 1924, was .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,319,384 This has been further reduced by — Acres. Sales to the Crown .. .. .. .. .. .. 29,527 Sales to private individuals .. .. .. .. .. 32,864 62,391 Leaving the balance still held by the Maoris estimated at .. .. 4,256,993 The funds held by the various Maori Land Boards at the 31st March, 1925, amount to £717,088 18s. lid., of which the sum of £493,163 4s. is deposited with the Native Trustee, and £173,109 12s. Id. is invested in mortgages on behalf of the beneficial owners ; the balance represents amounts in current account and on imprest with the Post Office to cover amounts in course of payment to individual Maoris. These funds will be reduced this year by a sum of £90,000, which has, under last year's legislation, been set apart out of accumulated interest as a fund for the benefit of the Maori race under the title of " The Maori Purposes Fund." Regulations have been framed and a Board has been set up for the purpose of administering this fund in the interest of the social, moral, and physical welfare of the Maoris. The members of the Board consist of the Hon. Native Minister, the members of Parliament for the Maori constituencies, the Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, the Director of Education, Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P., Dr. P. H. Buck (Te Rangihiroa), the Venerable Archdeacon H. W. Williams, and the Rev. F. A. Bennett. Two Maoris have been declared to be Europeans under the legislation in that behalf. The total number of persons who have been so declared Europeans is now sixty-two. Seven applications for Native Interpreters' licenses were received, but all the applicants failed to pass the required qualifying examination. One person had his license taken away during the year. R. N. Jones, Under-Secretary.

TABLE A. -NATIVE LAND COURTS. Return of Business and Fees foe the Year ended 31st March, 1925. Native Land Court. Number of sittings .. .. .. . . .. .. 122 Number of oases notified .. .. .. .. .. 16,708 Number of cases for which orders were made .. .. .. 6,607 Number of cases dismissed .. .. .. .. .. 2,253 Number of cases adjourned sine die ... .. .. 8,009 Number of partitions made . . .. .. .. .. 755 Area affected (acres) .. .. .. .. .. 159,876 Number of investigations of title .. .. .. .. 8 Area affected (acres .. .. .. .. .. 19 Number of succession orders made . . . . . . .. 5,139 Number of other orders made .. .. .. .. 2,338 Court Fees. £ s. d. Fees received .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,486 6 9 Fees outstanding for period .. .. .. .. .. 41 2 0 Native Appellate Court. Number of sittings .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Number of cases notified .. .. .. .. .. 94 Native Land Court decisions varied .. .. .. .. 12 Native Land Court decisions affirmed .. .. .. . . 12 Native Land Court decisions referred back to Native Land Court 12 Native Land Court decisions annulled .. .. .. .. 3 Appeals dismissed or withdrawn .. .. .. .. 35 Appeals adjourned sine die .. ... ~ 23 Applications under section 208 ordered .. . : ~ 1 Application under section 208 dismissed Applications under section 208 adjourned sine die .. . . 4 Court Fees. t a d. Fees received .. .. . . .. ~ 76 10 0 Fees outstanding for period ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~