L—6.

48. You are aware that there are four lines spoken of in connection with this railway ? — L CS» 49. Do I understand that on the plan which is being prepared you will mark out the Native lands in respect of each of these lines ?—Yes; the Government lands. Thursday, 25th Septembee, 1884. Mr. E. J. Gill, Under-Secretary, Native Land Purchase Department, further examined. 50. The Chairman.'] You have furnished a map [produced] to the Committee, and when yon were examined before you asked to be called later on, with a view of explaining the tenure of the various tracts of land coloured on the map ?—I have prepared schedules of the lands, which may be put in evidence. 51. Does the schedule refer to this map as submitted? —As far as my judgment goes of what land would be affected by the different routes. I also produce another map containing a little more information than the one submitted to the Committee. It shows more clearly what lands have been purchased, as well as those which are under negotiation for purchase. But still the map is not perfect, and I would ask to be allowed to take it back to the office to complete it. On the Napicr-Waikato line are shown the blocks of land contiguous to the line which the Government have purchased, and the area of the land that has been purchased. I may be wrong in fixing some of the blocks of land that might be affected by the railway; I have put them in the schedule as far as my own knowledge of what lands I believe would be affected enables me to do. [Schedule produced, vide Appendix.] 52. Have you got a similar one in reference to the Marton line ?—I have. [Schedule produced, vide Appendix.] 53. And one in reference to the Stratford line ? —-Yes. That schedule shows that 192,950 acres have been purchased by the Government, and that there are still 82,400 acres under negotiation for purchase. I have also shown the money that has been expended on the blocks, and I would like to draw your attention to the fact, that in fixing the value of any particular block, I have only given my own opinion. [Schedule produced, vide Appendix.] 54. Mr. Larnach.] You do not give any value of the lands ?—No; only what they cost. 55. And the acreage ?—Yes; and the money they have cost the Government. 56. The Chairman.] Now, with regard to the schedule of the Marton line that has been produced?— That shows 325,375 acres purchased, and 129,148 acres under lease. 57. Mr. Larnach.] Is that the Murimotu Block ?—Yes. 58. Mr. Bryce spoke of it as being 140,000 acres ?—We acquired it through the Land Court as 129,148 acres. 59. That is Native land that may be acquired by the Crown ?—Yes. 60. The Chairman.] How does the Act of last year, which prohibits dealings with Native lands before the titles are ascertained in Court, operate in these cases ? Are Government transactions excepted ?—Yes.

Marton-Waikato Route. Incomplete Transactions.—Blocks of Land still under Purchase.

3

Name of Block. Estimated Area. Payments to Date. 84 85 86 88 90 92 98 99 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 120 126 Ngarakauwhakaraha Kauautahi... Maketu Otaira No. 5 Otaira No. 6 Maungakaretu Tunapara ... Te Wharau Mangaetoroa Tataramoa Ngatukumaru Taipohatu ... Tuawhatea Apamatua ... Kupurangi... Paipaiaka ... Okehu Otaranoho... Papahawa ... Pukeariki ... Eaikohua ... Hautawa ... Omata ... Whataroa ... Parekawou Wairau Acres. 4,995 9,000 5,000 59,000 50,000 63,000 5,000 3,000 12,000 5,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 4,000 2,000 5,000 6,928 1,361 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 4,000 492 2,000 1,000 £ s. d. 70 5 6 438 2 2 77 13 4 925 0 0 2,530 0 0 3,730 11 10 39 19 2 1,300 0 0 1,137 0 0 800 0 0 170 0 0 71 0 0 400 0 0 306 13 4 26 13 4 1,006 2 6 2,307 11 8 729 16 9 105 0 0 75 0 0 44 0 0 58 6 0 145 1 7 161 10 10 783 10 10 25 0 0 Total 259,776 17,463 18 10