G. —i

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APPENDIX 11. Sir, — Native Land Commission, Rotorua, 6th January, 1908. During our investigations into the position of lands in the Waiapu County the Native owners of certain large areas, now held under lease to Europeans and known as the Waipiro and Tuparoa leaseholds, made strong representations to us to recommend a system of exchanges whereby the interests of families could be grouped and consolidated. The blocks included in the Tuparoa leasehold, and which are desired to become subject to the proposed exchanges, are shown in the First Schedule. Though there are many different blocks, the owners, with a few exceptions, belong to the same hapu composed of a number of families, and exchanges on an equitable basis can, in our opinion, be easily arranged amongst them. The blocks composing the Waipiro leasehold are shown in the Second Schedule, to which is added Waipiro 2, a block under Native occupation. The owners are more compact even than in the case of the Tuparoa Blocks. We ourselves have not the time at our disposal for the detailed inquiry necessary. We therefore recommend that an officer of the Native Department —say, the Registrar of the Native Land Court, Gisborne —or a Judge, and an officer of the Lands or Valuation Department, be instructed to make the investigations. We can, if you desire it, draft the reference indicating the lines on which in our opinion the exchanges and consolidation of interest shall proceed. The report should be sent to us, so as to form the basis of recommendations for legislation. We have, &c, Robert Stout, A. T. Ngata, Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister. Commissioners. SCHEDULE 1 TO APPENDIX TT. Blocks. Areas - A. R. P Reporua No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3GO 0 0 Tokaroa Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ... ... ... ... ... ... 707 3 11 Waitekaha Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,336 239 Rahui A, C, Dl, D 2, D 3, D 4, D 5, D 6, D 7, and E ... ... ... ... 462 3 1 Matarau lα, Iβ, lc, sa, sb, sc, sd, sb, sp, sg, sh, sk, 51, sm, sn, 50, sp, and 5r ... 679 1 28 Mangaroa Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ... ... ... ... ... ... 642 3 12 Ngawhakatutu Nos. 1 and 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,619 3 20 Manutahi Nos. 1 and 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 692 3 0 Mangaharei Nos. 1 and 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 679 1 0 Ngamoe Nos. 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b ... ... ... ... ... 7,680 0 0 Waitangi Nos. 2a and 2b ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 461 2 0 Waitangi No. 1 (and not in leasehold, but occupied by Maoris as sheep-farms, and fully improved) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 555 0 0 Totals ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18,877 331 SCHEDULE 2 TO APPENDIX 11. Waipiro Leasehold. Blocks. AreM - A. E. P. A. R. P. Waipiro No. 1 ... ... ... ... ... ... 8,825 2 20 ' „ No. 3 ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,149 0 0 No. 4 ... ... ... ... ... ... 9,926 0 0 No. 5 ... ... ... ... ... . 3,026 0 0 24,926 2 20 Rangikohua No. 4 ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 2,483 3 14 Kaupeka-a-Haumia ... .. ... ... ... ... ... fl(iO 1 0 Waipiro No. 2 (not in leasehold. The exchanges will exclude the township area and small subdivisions already made of the block.) (Original area) ... ... 2,950 0 0 Totals ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 31,320 231 Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,500 copies), £12 6s. By Authority : John Mackat, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oB. Price 9d.\