27

I.—3b

The company has no desire to interfere with the applications before the Court, except as regards the portion of land described in the agreement with the Native owners of 20th February, 1885. I am also in possession of a memorandum dated the 25th April, 1887, by which Te Huia and others of the principal owners of this land signify their consent to the granting of a lease on terms therein specified to the Mokau Coal Company. It is only necessary to add that since February, 1885, the company has been steadily prosecuting its mining operations on the land in question without disturbance or interference from any one, and has punctually paid to the Native owners the royalty specified in the first agreement with them. Under the circumstances, if it should be within the power of the Court to apportion a certificate and grant one to the company I represent as the assigns of George Stockman in respect of the piece surrendered to Messrs. Boswell and others, this would be the most satisfactory course for my clients; but if this cannot be arranged, I must leave the interests of the company to be protected asjihe Court think best. I have, &c, H. B. Eichmond, Solicitor for the Mokau Coal Company (Limited). His Honour the Chief Judge, Native Land Court, New Plymouth.

"Native Land Administration Act, 1886."—Notification under Section 24. I, George Stockman, of Tikorangi, Waitara, hereby notify to the Commissioner under the said Act, and to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court of New Zealand respectively, that I claim to have, before the first day of January, 1887, purchased or leased the share or interest of some out of several owners of the block of land known as (1) Mangoira, (2) Mangapapa, (3) Eatapoike, (4) Mangaawakino. Particulars. —The title to the land is Native Land Court. The area of the land is unknown acres. No survey. The shares claimed by me are all in number. I claim to have acquired them by promised lease. Dated this fourteenth day of March, 1887. If delivered by post, one copy to be directed to the Commissioner, Native Land Administration, Wellington, and one to the Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Auckland. Form A.—Notification, section 24.] To the Chief Judge : I request that any certificates granted on the above notification may be granted to my appointee, Mr. Nevill S. Walker. —George Stockman.

" Native Land Administration Act, 1886."—Notification under Section 24. I, Nevil Septimus Walker, of Alexandra, hereby notify to the Commissioner under the said Act, and to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court of New Zealand respectively, that I claim to have, before the first day of January, 1887, purchased or leased the share or interest of some out of several owners of the block of land known as Mangapapa, situate at Mokau. Particulars. —The title to the land is Native Land Court title. The area of the land is 9,000 acres. The shares claimed by me are six in number. I claim to have acquired them by lease. Dated this fourteenth day of January, 1887. Nevil Septimus Walker. If delivered by post, one copy to be directed to the Commissioner, Native Land Administration, Wellington, and one to the Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Auckland. Form A. —Notification, section 24.]

In the Native Land Coubt op New Zealand.—ln the matter of " The Native Land Administration Act, 1886," and of the notifications made under section 24 thereof by George Stockman and Nevil Septimus Walker, in relation to land known as I, John Edwin Macdonald, a Judge of the said Court, do hereby give my certificate as follows : (1.) George Stockman and Nevil Septimus Walker respectively did, within three months after the first day of January, 1887, notify to a Commissioner under the said Act, and to the Chief Judge of the said Court, that they claimed to have severally agreed to lease the share or interest of some out of several owners of land mentioned in the said notification, and being a block of land known as Mangapapa containing 9,000 acres. (2.) I have inquired into the circumstances of the alleged agreement. (3.) The title of the said land was not, at the time of the alleged agreement, subject to any restriction precluding such alleged agreement for lease. (4.) lam satisfied that there had been an agreement as alleged, that the transaction was bond fide, and that a fair rent was agreed for. As witness my hand, this fifteenth day of June, 1887. J. E. Macdonald, Judge. Form Bl.—Judge's Certificate, section 24,]

"Native Land Administration Act, 1886."—Notice under Subsection (d), Section 25, by a Lessee. I, Nevil Septimus Walker, of Alexandra, sheepfarmer, being the person named in a certificate given to me by John Edwin Macdonald, Esquire, a Judge of the Native Land Court of New Zealand, bearing date the fifteenth day of June, 1887, and certifying as therein mentioned, do hereby give notice to the Commissioner under the said Act that I am desirous of obtaining a lease from all or some of the owners of the block of land called or known as Mangapapa, and being the land mentioned in the said certificate. Dated this fifteenth day of June, 1887. Nevil S. Walker. Form E.—Notice under subsection (d), section 25.]