a.—ij

46

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I. Sih, — Native Land Commission, Auckland, 11th May, 1908. We have the honour to submit for your consideration a few matters in connection with Native lands in the Counties of Hokianga and the Bay of Islands. At present we are able to make only tentative proposals with regard to some of the blocks, because of the position of some of the titles and of the surveys. We are of opinion that, to enable us to recommend to the Governor satisfactory proposals, competent surveyors should be instructed to visit the blocks named in the schedule, and report on the schemes of settlement we outline in such schedule. We understand that there are three surveyors engaged at the present time in the Hokianga County —Mr. Edgecumbe, surveying Te Karae Block for the Tokerau Board; Mr. Percy Ward, surveying for the Natives in Waima North and other blocks; and another surveyor recently authorised or asked to be authorised to survey Whakarapa and Waihou Lower (North Hokianga) Blocks. These three can spare a few weeks to run over the blocks we name and gather sufficient data for a report upon which we can finally base our recommendations. In the Bay of Islands County we are informed that the Board is employing a surveyor in Motatau No. 2. The Department will know if this is true. We are of opinion that at least three surveyors will be required for two or three weeks to run over some of the blocks in the county. We give a list of the blocks in question, together with a rough outline of scheme of settlement in a schedule attached. We are recommending the Governor to issue an Order in Council under section 10 of "The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907," prohibiting private alienation in respect of some of the blocks. We have, &c, Robert Stout, A. T. Ngata, Commissioners. Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, Wellington.

Hokianga County. 1. Mangamuka East and Subdivisions. —Estimated area, 7,949 acres, excluding Subdivisions A Ia and A Ib. Mangamuka West and Subdivisions. —Estimated area, 12,520 acres. The scheme is to reserve for the use and occupation of the owners, — Part of East A.—600 acres. Area, 722 acres, of which 122 acres we propose should be cut out to adjoin East C, so as to give access from the latter to the Mangamuka Stream. Balance, 600 acres, to be incorporated for hapu farm. East B, D, E, and F Ib 1 and Ib 2.—Area, 1,317 acres. Part East G and H.—934 acres at north end of block adjoining State forest reserve, if land suitable only for forest reserve. Part of East Ib 3.—1,500 acres. Area, 2,154 acres, of which 654 acres we propose should be cut out to adjoin East la, and made available for general settlement. East 2.—391 acres. West 1.—327J acres. Part West 2.—1,735| acres. Area, 3,235£ acres, of which 1,500 acres are to be cut out for general settlement in such a position as to fit in with scheme of general settlement in rest of Mangamuka West; of the reserve, about 235J acres are for a " bird reserve." Part West 3.-3,000 acres. Area, 8,957 acres, of which 5,957 acres are to be cut out for general settlement. Total proposed to be reserved for Maori settlement, 9,805 acres, approximately. The balance of these blocks we propose for general settlement: — Part of East A. 122 acres. Location as indicated above. East C. 391 „ East G (part). 700 „ }At south end of block. Small papakainga to be cut out East H (part). 700 „ J on G. East Ib 3 (part). 654 „ To be cut out to adjoin East la. East 3b. 1,640 „ West 2 (part). 1.500 „ ) To be cut out g0 as to nave p ro p e r frontage to road. West 3 (part). 5,957 „ j 11,010 „ This block adjoins Te Karae, vested in the Board. Mr. Edgecumbe should be instructed to go over it and report as to whether our proposals are feasible, how the block may be subdivided for settlement, accessibility of various sections, valuation of land and timber, and location of portions to be reserved to the Natives.