14

G.-i

5. Hurakia (area. 9,450 acres). —Most of the surrounding land is under European occupation. The land is almost entirely bush, and, like the last block, is splendid pastoral country. In 1906 some of the claimants cleared and grassed 400 acres, and last year 710 acres were brought under cultivation, making a total of 1,100 acres in two years, and representing the efforts of six families. The Maoris desire to retain the whole, block for their use as farms. We are assured that a larger area would ere now have been felled and grassed if the title had been ascertained. 6. Tangihanga (5,424 acres). —Good pastoral bush country, proposed to be vested in the Board for the purpose of leasing to the general public under " The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905." We understand that the Board has already arranged the cutting-up of the block, and the leasing awaits the completion of the Board's title. 7. Tikitiki (6,079 acres). —There is one main settlement on the block and five smaller ones. It is expected that when the title is finally ascertained there will be about five hundred owners. The land has been worked under the management of a committee for many years, but until recently lack of funds prevented any extensive improvements being made. But within the last two years over 1,100 acres of bush land have been cleared and partly grassed, so that the area now under cultivation is a little over 2,200 acres. There are 3,000 sheep, 200 head of cattle, and innumerable horses. There is a large up-to-date woolshed. The land lies well, and in the Poroporo Valley there is a good deal of arable land. When the title is ascertained the greater part of the land is proposed to be worked as a co-operative farm, while some families will take up (and are already doing so on well-recognised subdivisions) sections, while not a few small sections will be leased to the younger men amongst the owners. The claimants desire the whole land to be reserved for their use. 8. Pohoterangi (area, 1,316 acres). —This block has been for many generations under the occupation of the Maori claimants. On the arable land, last generation, wheat was cultivated, but after the Hauhau troubles the land was allowed to go back, and was overrun with manuka and sweotbriar. It is now being brought under cultivation again. Over one-half is improved, and there are six small flocks of sheep, totalling 1,450, on the block. The delay in the ascertainment of title has retarded the progress of the improvements, the claimants being in a much more favourable position now to finance. There are some small kaingas on the block. The day will come when the flats will be cultivated and ploughed for maize and other cereals. The whole block should be reserved for Maori occupation. 9. llahau 1 and 2 (780 acres). 10. Potikitangata (143 „ ). 11. Hinetiraha (346 „ ). 12. Whakaari (128 „ ). 13. Waitapu-a-kowhai (114 „ ). 1,511 „ These small blocks are and have been under tin: occupation of the Maoris for generations, and may be regarded as the papakainga blocks of this particular section of the Ngati-Porou. There are six kaingas. There are several small flocks, totalling 2,700 sheep, with cattle and horses. All but small areas are under grass. The land is almost wholly arable flats. They will be required for the use and occupation of the Maoris, partly as papakaingas and partly as farms. 14. Marangairoa No. 2 (4,776 acres). —This is almost entirely bush land, and is a rich pastoral area. Two small farms were begun at the north end of the block seven or eight years ago, but made little progress owing to the disputes about the title. There have been cleared and grassed 1,050 acres, and recently cleared and burnt and about to be grassed 450 acres, making a total of 1,500 acres. There are nearly 2,000 sheep on the block, likely to be increased to more than 3,000 this winter. The land is desired, and should, when the title is ascertained, be reserved for Maori occupation. 15. Poroporo (10,597 acres). —This is one of the best of the virgin areas of the county. With the exception of a kainga with small cultivations round it at the south-east end of the block and a little area cleared at the north-east end, this block is unimproved and unoccupied. We understand that the disputes as to title are very serious—so serious as to have deterred the hapus claiming from entering into-occupation as they have done in other cases. The land adjoining it on the west, Tangihanga, has been offered for general settlement, and it may be found necessary to include a portion of the Poroporo Block in the area to be leased when the title is ascertained. 16. Herupara No. lis a small block of heavy-bush land, 429 acres. There is milling-timber on it, some of which has been cut out and used for building purposes in the locality. The claimants desire it to be retained for their use when the title is ascertained. It is almost surrounded by lands which have been improved by the owners. 17. Marangairoa No. 1 (41,555 acres). —This large block lies near the East Cape. It is broken land in parts. By Native custom the block is divided into four parts as follows : — (a.) Whakararanui (or No. Iα) (about 8,000 acres). —There are three small settlements on this subdivision, and farming has been commenced on a small scale, chiefly within the last two years. There are 330 acres cleared, with 700 sheep. The Natives desire to retain portions for farms, but cannot indicate the areas or location of these portions. They are willing that a proportion be made available for general settlement. The latter is estimated at about one-half of the block. (b.) Horoera (or No. 16). —The area of this is estimated at 16,000 acres. There are small clearings at the north end of the block now carrying 600 sheep, and at the south end 200 acres of bush have,been cleared and are about to be grassed. The chief claimants recognise that, though portions of the block can. be farmed by the owners, a large portion of the block must be opened for genera! settlement. We estimate that the portion to be so opened will be at least 7,000 acres, and will be so located as to adjoin the portion of No. Iα that will be set apart for general settlement. The balance will be readily taken up by the Maoris themselves as communal and individual farms.