Gr, —7.

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITTEES. NORTH AUCKLAND SURVEY LIENS COMPROMISE : REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE. The total amount involved in this compromise is £50,056 3s. 3d., being—Principal, £31,451 18s. : interest, £18,604 ss. 3d. This amount is owing over the following districts

Owing to special features peculiar to the Kaipara area the compromise for that part has been dealt with separately, the balance of the area being taken in toto. Kaipara Area. —Principal, £2,084 12s. lid. ; interest, £1,352 Bs. 7d. : total, £3,437 os, 6d, Kaipara Consolidation Scheme. (Comprising Counties of Hobson, Otamatea, Rodney, Waitemata, and Great Barrier.) This scheme is peculiar in that the area per head of Maori population is smaller than in any other northern scheme, being about 11 acres per head. Consequently there is greater difficulty to find a quid pro quo in spare land for awarding to Crown in settlement of charges (surveys, rates, &c.) without encroaching unduly upon areas urgently required for their maintenance and betterment, the area of good land remaining being little —chiefly small village holdings. Selling in the past brought this position about, thus leaving with Natives now a residue barely sufficient. The major part of this residue is of poor value, being mostly gum lands not able to stand heavy charges. County Councils have compromised rates on the low basis of one-sixth and one-seventh of amount. Development of the areas will require additional overhead finance in way of assistance to Natives. Natives are also a tribe difficult to handle, making development more difficult. The Chief Surveyor considers Is. 3d. per acre not an unreasonable burden, but as there is so little available spare land for the quid pro quo, and, as it is desired that no charges should be carried on to the Natives' sections, under the special circumstances an offer is made for Crown to accept one-quarter (£5ll 10s.) of the principal of survey lien, which is approximately 7fd. per acre, and which involves the writing-off of the whole of the interest (£1,329 Bs. 4d.) and three-quarters of the principal (£1,534 lis.).

8

Lien Due. County. Consolidation Scheme. — ~ " Principal. Interest» Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Mangonui .. ■■ ■ f 3.881 0 2 2,241 2 8 6,122 2 10 Whangaroa .. .. J Man g onm •• 2,458 17 2 1,435 4 11 3,894 2 1 6,339 17 4 3,676 7 7 10,016 4 11 Hokianga .. . . Hokianga .. .. 9,463 0 8 4,602 5 10 14,065 6 6 Bay of Islands.. .. \t> * "Monrk / 9,202 18 0 5,880 0 1 15,082 18 1 Wliangarei .. .. f 7 islands 4,361 10 0 3,093 3 3 7,454 13 3 13,564 8 0 8,973 4 4 22,537 11 4 Hobson .. • ■ "1 f 705 17 6 482 11 11 1,188 9 5 Otamatea .... j 728 4 5 477 17 1 1,206 1 6 Rodney .. .. >Kaipara .. 158 19 8 97 16 6 256 16 2 Waitemata .... | 145 4 10 87 7 2 232 12 0 Great- Barrier .. .. 346 6 6 206 14 11 553 1 5 2,084 12 11 1,352 8 7 3,437 0 6 Totals.. .. .. 31,451 18 0 18,604 5 3 50,056 3 3 I