15

G.—i,

(o.) Te Pahihi (or No. lc). —The area is estimated at 8,000 acres. There are three farms on this block, and nearly 1,350 acres improved, of bush land and scrub. There are three flocks, totalling 2,100 sheep. We are informed that this block is the only land of any extent owned by the Natives claiming, who desire to retain the whole area for their use and occupation. One family is able to manage and improve nearly 3,000 acres. (d.) Te Kautuku (or No. Id), being the balance of the Marangairoa No. 1 Block. —The land is under Maori occupation, and small portions have been cultivated for some years past. There is one main kainga, and three small detached kaingas. Six families have recently taken up sections of the block under a tribal arrangement, which guarantees the improvements should they bo prejudiced when the title is finally ascertained. The area of bush and scrub cleared is 2,350 acres, of which 750 acres were felled last season. The Natives are confident that they can work the whole block, and plead that as a people they have only 2,000 acres other land ; they are not interested in any lands under lease to Europeans, except a small block of between 400 and 500 acres. We see no reason why the wishes of these people should not be given effect to when the title to their land is determined. 18. Tihiomanono (2,958 acres. —The whole of this is bush land, in the neighbourhood of Te Araroa, and is excellent pastoral land. The owners, or, rather, the claimants, have commenced farming, and have cleared 300 acres of the bush and scrub. The people are of a quarrelsome disposition, and do not seem to have had the capacity of their fellow-tribesmen in the middle and southern portions of the county in making amicable arrangements to facilitate the proper occupation of their lands. Until the title is ascertained no satisfactory arrangements can be made for the settlement of the Maoris on this land. They ask that the land be reserved for Maori farming. 19. Whetumatarau (5,346 acres). —The Te Araroa Township is on this block. About one-seventh may be deducted from the area fit for farming purposes as being occupied by the township, and not fit for any but scenic purposes. There are at present two communal farms, representing an improved area of about 900 acres, with 1,400 sheep. These have been carried on under very adverse conditions, and amid constant quarrelling ; but we iu\\y anticipate that with the settlement of the title Maori farming on this and adjoining lands will proceed more satisfactorily. We understand that the Maoris who will be found entitled to these two blocks have parted with the freehold of 26,000 acres in the neighbourhood to Europeans and to the Crown. 20. Kairapirapi is a small block of 392 acres adjoining Whetumatarau, is unoccupied, and will come into the system of blocks in this part of the district that is suitable for Maori farming. 21. Tapatu (8,400 acres). —This is reported to be excellent pastoral bush land, and is wholly unoccupied. We are of opinion that when the title is ascertained a portion of this block should be made available for general settlement. 22. Wha,rekahika, or Hicks Bay (approximate area, 42,000 acres). —There are two main kaingas at Hicks Bay, and two smaller kaingas. There are two small farms established during the last six or seven years, and small clearings have been made during the last two years. The area under cultivation and cleared of bush and manuka is about 700 acres, and there are 1,000 sheep. At least one-half of this block should, when the title is ascertained be made available for general settlement. The balance will be worked as communal farms by some of the families or leased to young Maoris from the southern end of the county, who are anxious to get farms of their own. Summary. The area of these papatupu blocks is 149,285 acres, approximately. Of this area and in the different blocks the Maoris ask and propose that 103,261 acres be reserved for their own use and for leasing to Maoris. We estimate that an area of 46,024 acres will be available for general settlement. This will probably be found to be an underestimate. Of the area claimed for Maori occupation, over 16,000 acres have been actually cleared, and will after the autumn sowing be all under grass and carrying 24,000 sheep. Most of the improvements have been effected during the last four years. APPENDIX I. ADDRESS BY MR. NGATA ON OPENING OF COMMISSION AT WAIOMATATINI. Before the Commission formally opens I wish, member of the Ngati-Porou myself, and as having a close intimacy with the land dealings in the district, to give a brief historical sketch of the position of the lands since the " 705." I take it that, with regard to this district, you, sir, will have to exercise your independent judgment of the work that is being done in it and of the future disposition of its lands. I have great diffidence myself, as one mainly responsible for a good deal of the industrial progress of the last ten years, in expressing my own views as to what should be done in the future. Commencing with the Native Land Act of 1865, I may say that that Act was not in operation long enough to enable the Courts to exercise jurisdiction under it so far as this district was concerned. For the same reason the amending Act of 1867 had no operation here. It was not until the Act of 1873 was passed that the Court sat in exercise of its jurisdiction in this district. You will recall that under that