G.—6d.

"D2." [Copy.] Ohinemutu, 24th April, 1877. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, Wellington. Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that in accordance with your letter of instructions (18th December, 1876) I proceeded to Taupo for the purpose of preparing the Natives in that District for the contemplated opening of the Native Lands Court, and to arrange the claims of succession, subdivision and new claims necessary for the completion of the Government land purchases and leases there. My arrival at Taupo was delayed in consequence of the Hon. Native Minister's visit in January to the Awara tribe at Tauranga, but I reached Topuaoharuru in February and in the month of March I was joined by Captain Mair, the District Officer of the Native Land Court, and we then took advantage of a general meeting of the Taupo Natives at Taupo (caused by the Hon. Dr. Follen's interview with Bewi Maniapoto) to complete the various matters demanding our attention, so far as we could. The blocks thus prepared for the first sitting of the Court consist of the following : — (1) Oruarua, sale and lease, Succession claim (2 blocks). (2) Tauhara Middle lease ditto and excision of minors interests and appointment of guardian. (3) Bunanga No. 2 lease. Excision of one grantee's interest. (4) Mangatainoko purchase, new clause. (5) Mohaka purchase, new clause. (6) Taharua purchase, new clause. (7) Tauhara Middle purchase is also hampered with the minors difficulty which is not, as is the case with the lease, surmountable by the appointment of a guardian. Mr. Davies and myself recommended, in a previous report, that a special Act be prepared for the purpose of legalising this purchase, but in the absence of that course being adopted the only other alternative seems to be the excision of the NX. Court of the Minors interests which may be found to exist in the portion of the Tauhara Middle Block purchases etc. (Sgd.) Henry Mitchell. Blocks 1, 2 and 3 have been already before the Native Land Court. All that is wanted to complete the Crown's Title can be done at the next sitting. Subdivision orders and successors claims —Mr. Mitchell should see that the Reserves promised in these blocks are duly made. (Sgd.) B. J. Gill.

30,000.

96,000.

41,000.

60,000.

10,000.

" D 3." [Copy.] Tauhaka Middle Block, Taupo, 106080 Acres. Foe Native Minister, — The " Tauhara " Block purchase and lease has been under reference many times, its present position has little altered since 1873. The land passed the Courts in March 1869 and was awarded to six Grantees. In 1873 Messrs. Mitchell and Davies for the Government purchased 11,594 acres and leased 93,871 acres, four of the six Grantees signing the deeds, the other two Grantees being dead. Tho : accession orders were applied for. The Court ordered the interests of Hapiurana to Meri Hapi and the interest Maniapoto to one Adult and nine others (minors). The deeds have since been signed by Meri Hapi and the Trustees of the minors. The deed of Lease recited " Tenancy to begin so soon as the Grantees complete legal lease." No mention is made of any reserves. The money paid on account of purchase has been £1590 and on account of rent £195. The balance due to July 1878 supporting the fixed rent to be paid is £305. The reserves to be made are not arranged for, either in the purchased or leased portion of the Block. I submit it would be a bad precedent to pay further rents on this until the Crowns title is perfect, probably if it were known to the Grantees that on the settlement of the Beserves question and the completion of the Title, the Government would pay all the back rent due from the date of Agreement to lease (July 1873) to the present time ; they would exert themselves to have the deeds of purchase and lease at once completed. (Sgd.) Bich'd John Gill. 22/2/79.

18