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I.—3a

Interest is fgr five years at 5 per cent, per annum in terms of section 66 of the Native Land Court Act, 1894, under which Act the survey and charging orders Were made. Messrs. Findlay, Dalziell, and Co. deposited the full amount —viz., £1,469 Bs. 3d.—on the 16th August last, and this has been paid into the Receiver-General's Deposit Account pending final decision in the matter. A. C. Turhbull, For Chief Accountant.

No. 93. Department of Lands, Wellington, 21st September, 1911. Sir, — Re Railway Routes, Taranaki District. In accordance with the promise made by me to the Native Affairs Committee yesterday morning, I forward herewith a lithograph [Exhibit No. 93a] showing the position of the North Island Main Trunk Railway line, and the various alternative railway routes which have been explored or surveyed in the Taranaki District, and which tap the Main trunk line. These include the route up the Ohura Valley and the Waitewhenua Valley. I have, &c, Wμ. C. Kensington, Under-Secretary. The Chairman, Native Affairs Committee, Wellington.

No. 94. Native Department. Wellington, 7th April, 1911. Memorandum for the Hon. the Native Minister. Mokau-Mohakativo If, Ig, In, lj. I have received from the President of the Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Land Board an agreement which it is proposed should be executed in connection with the transfer of the above blocks. At the interview Mr. Dalziell had with you in connection with these sales it was understood the Public Trustee was to be the holder of the fee-simple in trust for Mr. Herrman Lewis, or his assignees, and I presumed the parties had made their arrangements accordingly. In the present case, howere, the position is varied, and I note the agreement (page 4, clause 5) states the feesimple is to be transferred to W. H. Bowler, the President of the Board, the Public Trustee being erased. I am not very clear as to how this is going to work. The Board is. under the arrangements, the intermediary between the vendors and the purchasers, and it also has to see to the further carrying out of the arrangements implied—namely, settlement of this block under the limitation of area, as set out in the Native Land Act, 1909. Therefore, it might mean that difficulties would arise if the President of the Board held the fee-simple. Of course, the trust sets out that he holds it on trust under the Board's action, who are enabled to execute and do necessary work, but I think the position is one that should be carefully looked into before final arrangements are made. Probably it would be advisable for the Solicitor-General to comment thereon. Thos. W. Fisher, Under-Secretary. The Solicitor-General. The Hon. the Native Minister asks you will express opinion on the agreement attached and position •-•enerallv. Thor. W. Fisher. U.S. 8/4/11. The Solicitor-General for opinion.— J. C. The Under-Secretary for Native Affairs. I see no objection to the appointment of Mr. Bowler as trustee. John W. Salmons, Solicitor-General. 20/4/11. No. 95. Same as Exhibit No. 28.

No. 96. Native Department, Wellington, 27th April. 1911. Memorandum for the Hon. the Native Minister Referring to my memo, of the 7th instant, which you minuted to be referred to the SolicitorGeneral for opinion : He has now had the papers before him, and Mr. Dalziell, solicitor for the company, has also interviewed him. The file has now been returned with minute : " I see no objection to the appointment of Mr. Bowler as trustee."