'THE NATIVE FRAUDS ACT, 1870".

G.—No. 7.

15

sth July. This day Peti te Owai called at the office, and consented to the sale, and was willing to receive Mr. M'Lem's promissory note for the balance owing her on the account produced in full settlement. Mr. Maddock handed me promissory notes of Mr. M'Lean for balance of purchase money. I was satisfied that the Natives had power to alienate the land. Certificate issued. Hanson Turton, Trust Commissioner. 15th July, 1871. Te Meihana Takihi had this day signed the conveyance. He appeared and consented to the deed, and said he knew it to be an absolute conveyance. Accounts produced and explained to and approved of by him. He admitted that £78 Is. was the amount due by him, and he agreed to accept Mr. M'Lean's promissory note in full payment. I explained the legal effect of his signing the conveyance and accepting the promissory note in payment of the balance, and he was satisfied. Mr. M'Lean, through Mr. Maddock, voluntarily agreed to allow Meihana the use and occupation of 100 acres for his life. Meihana stated that he had other lands to live upon. 12th July, 1871. A conveyance by Turuhira Rangahua of her interest in the above block to Mr. M'Lean produced, The deed is dated 11th July, 1871, and the consideration is £150. Mi\ H. Campbell, sheepfarmer, stated that ho was present with Hirini Takamoana, at Ngawhakatatara, about 34 miles from Napier, on the 11th instant, when Turuhira admitted the sale of her interest in the block to Mr. M'Lean, She was too infirm to travel, being about CO or 70 years old. 13th July, 1871. Hirini Takamoana appeared, and stated that Turuhira was his aunt, and that she had authorised him to appear before me as her agent. He stated that he saw her sign the deed, that she knew it to be an absolute sale, and that she acknowledges to have received most of the money due to her, a balance remaining iu her favor, as she admitted, of £47 Gs Od. She consented, he said, to receive Mr. M'Lean's promissory note for the balance in full payment. Promissory note handed me for Turuhira. Certificate granted. Hanson Turton, Trust Commissioner. Ngatarawa Block No. 4, 5,328 Acrel. 4th July, 1871. Mr. Maddock, solicitor, produced deed of release of equity of redemption, dated Bth June, 1871, between Te Hapuku, Ropata Te Hoahakari, Paora Nonoi, and Ihaka Kapo, of the one part, and Donald M'Lean, of Wellington, gentleman, of the other part. By this deed the Natives release their estate in the blo3k above mentioned to Mr. M'Lean. The land was mortgaged to Mr. M'Lean on the 12th November, 18C9, to secure ,£4OO and advances. By agreement of 13th February, 1871 (registered in the Deeds Registry Office, Napier), the Natives had agreed to sell the whole of the block to Mr. M'Lean for £1,500, such sum to include all moneys advanced on the mortgage of the land. The proportion which the four Native vendors would receive of the £1,500 was £857 2s. lid. Te Hapuku and Ropata te Hoahakari appeared and acknowledged the sale and that £529 18s. lOd. had been received by them, including Paora Nonoi and Ihaka Kapo, who were away ill and could not attend. Accounts prodiiced and explained to and approved of by the Natives. There was due on the statement of accounts £327 4s. Id., or £81 10s. Id to Te Hapuku, and £81 16s. to each of the other three Native vendors. The Natives stated that they were perfectly willing to take the promissory notes of Mr. M'Lean in full payment of the balance. I explained to them the legal effect of their taking the promissory notes. The promissory notes were handed to me on behalf of the Natives. The Natives have other lands to live upon, and they have power to alienate the land. Mr. M'Lean has allowed the Natives the use and occupation of 700 acres of the above block for their lives. Agreements in that behalf produced and left with me. Certificate granted. Hanson Turton, Trust Commissioner. Mangateretere West 810ck.—1,253 Acres. 9th July, 1871. Agreement for sale and purchase, dated Bth July, 1871, between Tareha and Donald M'Lean, of Napier, gentleman, produced. By the document Tareha agreed to sell his interest in the above block as formerly agreed. If Tareha's interest in the block be an equal ninth, or less than an equal ninth, he was to receive £300 ; but if his interest be more than a ninth he was to be paid by Mr. M'Lean for his estate in excess of the one-ninth according to the same rate he was being pud for his interest if an equal or less than an equal ninth. The land i3 subject to two leases—the one dated 29th April, 18G7, to Messrs. Williams and M'Lean (now vested in Mr. Williams), for twenty-one years, at yearly rental for first eleven years of £450, and for last ten years of £540 ; and the other, dated 10th July, 18G7, to Messrs. Cashmore and M'Leod, of Hawke's Bay, steam saw mill owners, for fifteen years, at yearly rental of £37 10s. Certain portions of the block are reserves. I examined Tareha respecting the agreement, and he acknowledged it. He stated, as expressed by