G.—3

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF NATIVE RESERVES, FROM 1ST JULY, 1876, TO 30TH JUNE, 1877.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency, AUCKLAND. The lot No. 176, at Eemuera, containing 8 acres, has been let on lease to Mr. Garrett Barry, for twenty-one years, from Ist January, 1877, at £10 a year, and £5 paid in advance. This land is the property of Eaiha Puaha, of Porirua, having been purchased as an investment for her late father, Eawiri Puaha. Lot No. 8, of section 16, Eemuera, containing 5 acres, has been let by the year to Mr. Thomas Morrin, at a rent of £5. This land was purchased as an investment for the late chief Te Wharepu, of Waikato, and is the property of Ponui te Wharepu. WAIUKU. Preparatory to the issue of new grants for 37 reserves, under the provisions of " The Waiuku Native Grants Act, 1876," several surveys have been made by the Commissioner, of subdivisional boundaries, roads, and burial-places. The old grants were, pursuant to the Act, cancelled by Order in Council on the Ist June, 1877, and new grants in the terms of the Act are in course of preparation. Several surveys of small reserves, in fulfilment of old promises, have also been made by the Commissioner, preparatory to the confiscated block being handed over to the local administration. In conformity with the provisions of " The Waiuku Church of England Site Crown Grant Act, 1876," a Crown grant has been prepared for trustees for 1 acre 2 roods 20 perches of the Native Eeserve at the dragging-place, in the village of Waiuku. WELLINGTON. Otari. At the desire of the Public Petitions Committee of the House of Eepresentatives on the petition of J. and E. Kilmister, and at the direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, I purchased from Eaniera Pokowaenga aud others, of the Ngatitama, at Taranaki, 50 acres of the Otari Eeserve, situate between Kaiwhara and Makara, for the sum of £150. The Messrs. Kilmister had by mistake built a house on and improved about 50 acres of the reserve, believing it to be their own land. The sum, which was a reasonable one, was supplied by Mr. J. Kilmister, to whom a conveyance of the fee-simple of the land has been made by the Natives. The reserve is one entirely in the management of the Natives. The Civil Commissioner (Major Brown) gave valuable assistance in arranging the payment. Hutt. I have purchased for the sum of £6 18s. the railroad site, comprising 1 acre 1 rood 27 perches of land in section 121, Upper Hutt, a private estate of Hemi Parae and others. Petoni. A block of 6 acres 2 roods 20 perches, in sections 1, 2, and 3, at Petoni, was necessary to the purposes of the Wellington and Masterton railroad, for workshop sites, &c. The negotiation was very protracted ; eventually the sum of £662 10s. was accepted, and a conveyance executed by Henare Epuni and others to the Queen for the land. The above purchases are all on lands over which the Natives have entire control. The Natives have sold the following reserves, also in their own management, to private parties:— Ohariu. No. 16, subdivision of block 113, containing 60 acres, for £30, to E. C. Cook, on the 22nd May, 1876 ; and No. 10, of 60 acres, to Messrs. Cook, for £55, on the 7th September, 1870. The land, which is poor and precipitous, is near Opau Bay. I—G. 3.