G—9

1. Surplus-land Claims After hearing preliminary submissions in Auckland in November. 1946, and February, 1947, the Commission adjourned, and the principal hearing took place in Kaikohe in October last. At the close of the year under review the final hearing had not taken place. The time within which the Commission is required to report its findings has been extended to the 30th June, 1948. 2. Mokau (Manginangina) Block This block, comprising 7,224 acres, was purchased by the Crown from the Maoris in 1859. The claimants contend that the Maoris who sold the land were not the true owners, that the purchase-price was inadequate in view of the quantity of timber on the land, and that the boundaries incorrectly included a neighbouring block. These claims were referred to the Royal Commission in August, 1947, and were inquired into at Kaikohe in October last. The Commission's report has now been completed (see parliamentary paper Gr-2, 1948). 3. West Coast Settlement Reserves These claims relate to large areas of Maori reserves in Taranaki which are administered by the Maori Trustee and which are subject to renewable leases, principally to European settlers. In 1934 some doubt arose as to the method of calculating the value of the owners' interests in the land for the purpose of assessing the rental on renewal of the leases, and in 1935 an amendment was made to the law. The Maori beneficiaries claimed that this amendment has resulted in a considerable loss of income to them by giving xrise to great reductions in the rent payable under renewed leases, and petitions have been presented to Parliament praying for the repeal of the amending legislation. These claims were referred to the Royal Commission in August, 1947, and were investigated at a sitting in Hawera in November last. The report of the Commission has now been completed (see parliamentary paper Gr-1, 1948). 4. Pukeroa Oruawhata Block For some years prior to 1889 this land was administered by the Crown under agreement with the Maori owners. During that time the town of Rotorua was laid out on the block, and numerous leases were granted to settlers. In 1889 the Crown purchased the land from the Maoris. The Maoris have claimed that, owing to the faulty administration of the land by the Crown, they sustained considerable financial losses, and also that the price paid for the land was inadequate. These claims were referred to the Royal Commission in August, 1947, and were investigated in Rotorua in February of this year. The time within which the Commission is to report has been extended to the 30th September, 1948. 5. Mahia Block It is claimed that when the Mahia Block was purchased by the Crown in 1864 the boundaries fixed by survey differed from those agreed upon and included an area of 2,270 acres which had not been sold. This claim was referred to the Royal Commission in August, 1947, and was investigated at Wairoa in March, 1948. The time within which the Commission is to report has been extended to the 30th September, 1948.

3