G.—l

2

We were informed that Taingakawa and his people were given to understand, either at the meeting at Waharoa above referred to or at the subsequent meeting at the same place with the Native Minister, that they would not be compelled to sell any of the lands left to them, but that they would be permitted to lease their lands not required for immediate use. The lists of lands they handed in to the Commission were based on this understanding. It will be seen from the schedules that, of the lands we dealt with in Piako County, more than one-half is at present leased or under negotiation for lease to Europeans. The balance does not appear to us to be too large to be reserved for the use and occupation of the Native owners. A considerable area of the land held by them is not used, and it is only of late that they have taken to any extensive farming. There seems now, however, to be aroused among them a spirit of enthusiasm for farming operations, and during the last twelve months a considerable area has been cleared and made ready for agriculture. We were impressed, however, throughout the Waikato with the necessity of agricultural instructors being sent to the hapus if it is desired that they should become efficient farmers. We have in various reports brought this matter before Your Excellency, but as yet we have not heard of any instructors being appointed. It is, in our opinion, vain to expect that the Maoris can become efficient settlers if they do not receive agricultural instruction and guidance. Large sums of money are being spent to educate and direct European farmers in their farming operations : there is much less need of such expenditure being incurred than of taking steps to train the Maoris to become industrial and agricultural settlers. We have the honour to be Your Excellency's most humble and obedient servants, Bobert Stout, ) ~, . . A. T. Noata, t Gormmssioners - SCHEDULES.

PIAKO COUNTY. Schedule 1. Lands leased or under Negotiations for Lease.

Name of Block. Owners. Area. Remarks. 'e Au-o-Waikato A B 2 (part) 'e Au-o-Waikato — Maungatapu No. 3 (part) No. 4 No. A No. B No. C [iwitahi 3a 1 3a2 ... liro, Te luri-o-puhirua B 'akarau Pa A ... B ... F ,, j. . . ... ... G ... 'ae-o-turawaru 2b 'uketutu 1b 1 ... 1b2 , .. Unga, Te, No. 4a Uupa, Te 'ahuroa No. Id... Jrenui (Te Karangi) 'e Aroha Survey District, Block XII, Section 29 69 3 8,560 600 B. P. 0 0 0 0 y 12 4 8 17 1 6 J 4 1,220 775 1,042 3,606 95 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,668 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 8 1,742 336 328 330 333 333 1,494 1,059 1,059 137 6 645 138 50 0 0 0 0 0 28 2 0 3 28 3 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 2