I.—3a,

170

No. 28. Native Department, Wellington, 26th April, 1911. Memorandum for the President, Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Land Board, Auckland. Mokau-Mohakatino Block. Herewith I return you the draft copy of agreement forwarded to me on the 25th ultimo. In connection therewith I have no further suggestions to make. The file has, under instructions from the Hon. the Native Minister, been before the Solicitor-General, particularly as to the fee-simple being transferred to yourself in place of the Public Trustee. He (the Solicitor-General) sees no objection to your holding the land under the conditions set out in the trust. One thing, however, seems to me necessary —that is, that some remuneration should be paid by the company to the person holding that position. Under the Civil Service Regulations clause 4 makes the President responsible, but this must be considered as the Board, as no doubt the President has been selected owing to the difficulties of the Board accepting a trust which they could only do in an official position. Therefore, the remuneration should be a credit for the Board's work, and I am sure the Government would fully recognize the additional responsibility placed upon the President over the transaction. Cabinet would also probably view the position favourably and reimburse the officer accordingly. What the amount should be fixed at is somewhat difficult to assess, but as all direct expenses, travelling, &c, would no doubt be charged to the block, an amount of, say, £75 or £100 per annum might be considered equitable. However, this is a matter which you could discuss with the company so that the position may be defined before final acceptance. I quite understand that proceedings would work more smoothly if the Board had actual control of the trust, which, although it is vested, as I said before, in the President, it is only in the nominal sense as leader of the Board. The only reason lam against the position is that if litigation should occur in any way it would cause a considerable amount of trouble to an officer who would have no pecuniary benefit in the proceedings. However, you have had a fair insight into the dealings generally, and, although the Hon. the Native Minister has not yet had the Solicitor-General's opinion before him, I anticipate no objection from him as to the carrying-out of the proposals. I am returning the copy of the agreement you forwarded me, and if the matter is completed it would be advisable that a copy of each agreement be sent to this office for record. When I sent you the telegram on the 20th the file was with the Solicitor-General, who, I understood, saw no objection to MokauMohakatino proposal. I note the opinion on the file since returned reads, " I see no objection to the appointment of Mr. Bowler as trustee." I will place the position before the Minister on the first opportunity. No doubt you will take the necessary action to see that you are fully indemnified in case litigation should follow in connection herewith. Thos. W. Fisher, Under-Secretary.

Office of the Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Land Board, Auckland, 25th March, 1911. Memorandum for the Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Mokau-Mohakatino Blocks If, lα, Ih, Ij. I have to report that at the recent meeting of the Board, which concluded yesterday, it was decided to confirm the resolutions passed by the meetings of assembled owners in regard to the proposed sale to Mr. Lewis. The confirmation is, of course, subject to the purchaser's solicitors being able to produce satisfactory evidence as to the other lands of the Native owners, and also as to the Order in Council now being issued under section 203/09. I enclose a copy of the agreement to be executed in the case of one of the blocks. This will serve to indicate the nature of the arrangements proposed in regard to the land. The agreements in regard to the other three blocks are identical in form. I have been carefully through the and in their present form cannot see that any amendment is required, but you may probably consider some alteration necessary, in which ease I shall welcome any suggestion. Matters in regard to the Mokau Estate are thus approaching finality, but I am afraid that a good deal of detail work, both on my own part and on the part of the Board, will require to be performed before this consummation is reached. W. H. 8., President. No. 29. Agreement between the Waikato-Maniapoto Land Boari> and Mr. Herrman Lewis. An Agreement made this eleventh day of April one thousand nine hundred and eleven between the Maori Land Board of the Waikato-Maniapoto Land District (hereinafter called " the Board ") as agent for the Native owners hereinafter referred to of the one part and Herrman Lewis of the City of Wellington settler (hereinafter called " the purchaser ") of the other part Whereas at a meeting of the Native owners of Subdivision Number If of the Mokau-Mohakatino Block in the Provincial District of Taranaki containing twenty-six thousand four hundred and eighty acres more or less assembled under the provisions of Part XVIII of the Native Land Act 1909 (hereinafter called " the Act ") at Te Kuiti on the twenty-second day of March one thousand nine hundred and eleven such Native owners (hereinafter save when the context requires a different construction together with their successors and assigns referred to as " the said Native owners ") resolved as follows namely " That the proposal of Herrman Lewis be accepted namely that the Native owners should sell to him