19

G.—lc

disposition, ascertainment of owners or beneficiaries, and adjustment of disputed tribal boundaries. Court may partition on application of Board. 10. Exchanges : Law requires amendment to permit of exchanges on large scale, so as to secure the consolidation of individual and family holdings. We have not as yet made full inquiry into the procedure and judicial functions of the Native Land Court, but we have obtained the opinions of the Judges and Eegistrars of the Court, which we shall submit in a later report. We are strongly of opinion that the statutes dealing with the procedure of the Court and its functions in regard to the ascertainment of title, succession, wills, adoption, and appeals should be codified, so that the law as it is at present should be embodied in one Act: and sections dealing with special matters, and the force of which is spent, should be repealed. Then, there is urgent necessity for the codification of Native customs so far as they have been adopted and adapted by the Native Land Court. During our inquiry in the different districts we felt the need of something in the nature of a Domesday Book, which would reveal after a brief search the extent of ascertained land owned by each Maori in a district. Such a record is absolutely necessary in view of any legislation based upon the assumption of surplus lands for sale, &c, and recognising the advantage of consolidating as far as possible the interests of individual Maoris or of families. It is a large undertaking, but should be done in fairness to the Maoris and for the satisfaction of the country. It will entail expense, but we think that special officers of the Native Land Court should be detailed for such work. It may be necessary to call in the assistance of Maoris in each district. Surveys. We have already pointed out in our interim reports the necessity for expedition in the survey of Native lands, and the vast amount of work now pending before titles can be completed and put on the Register. The matter deserves the earnest attention of the Government and of Parliament. Summary of Native Lands dealt with by the Commission. The following is a summary of the area investigated by the Commission up to the present, and already reported on : — . T ,_. . . n For aon , Available for Available for Name of District. Occupation and Leasj Sale Fanning. ° 1. Hawke's Bay — Acres. Acres. Acres. (a.) Waimarama Estate and Poukawa ... 26,380 4,680 2,300 (b.) Mohaka and other blocks... ... 48,623 10,147 2. Whanganui ... ... ... ... 49,964 92,443 3. Bohe-Potae or King-country ... ... 92,148 163,769 34,522 219,115 271,039 36,822 Total ... ... ... 5267977 Area to be dealt with in Acres. (1.) Whanganui District ... ... ... ... ... 90,485 (2.) Bohe-Potae ... ... ... ... ... ... 559,290 Total ... .. ... ... ... 649,775 Supplementary reports dealing with about 150,000 acres of this area will be presented during the session. The area estimated to be acquired by purchase beyond the amount above stated may be put down at .150,000 acres. It is interesting also to know what areas have been made and are now available for settlement in the various districts we have visited, by sale to the Crown or by vesting in the Boards.