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Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

EAST COAST NATIVE TRUST LANDS (REPORT, BALANCE-SHEET, AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS IN RESPECT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 13 of the East Coast Native Trust Lands Act. 1902.

REPORT BY THE EAST COAST COMMISSIONER. Sir,— Gisbome, 23rd October, 1912. I have the honour to submit the following report of the transactions of the Trust, together with the balance-sheet, statement of receipts and payments, and statements of accounts of the several blocks as at the 31st March, 1912 :— Rents and Purchase-moneys. —During the year £4,165 15s. 6d. has been received, and £2,200 6s. 9d. paid out on account of rents. The greater part of the difference between the amounts received and paid out has been applied in reduction of old liabilities on the blocks. Purchase-moneys to the amount of £2,848 2s. 7d. have been paid to beneficiaries in the Maraetaha No. 2a, Moutere No. 2, and Tawapata North Blocks. There is still a sum of £1,189 15s. lid. at credit of the Maraetaha No. 2a (Sections 2 and 3) Blocks, being balance of proceeds of sale of these blocks, which I am holding pending the settlement of legal proceedings taken by their solicitor against the beneficiaries for recovery of a considerable sum for law-costs claimed to be payable by them in respect of the Supreme Court action Rikirangi v. The East Coast Commissioner in 1908. Unclaimed rents and purchase-moneys amount to £2,218 15s. Lands sold. — During the year the Whangawehi No. 1a Block, comprising 980 acres 1 rood 8 perches, has been sold for the sum of £6,617 Os. 6d. After payment of the liabilities on the block, which at 31st March, 1911, amounted to £846 ss. 5d., the balance will be available for distribution amongst the beneficiaries. Lands for Sale or Lease. —The subdivisional survey of the greater part of the Mangatu No. 5 and 6 Blocks is now completed, and a pack-track from the Motu Bridge to the boundary of the Mangatu No. 6 Block, a distance of between eighteen and nineteen miles has been formed to within some two or three miles of the No. 6 Block. lam in negotiation with the trustees of the Mangatu No. I Block for opening out this track and forming it into a permanent road, which would give a very large area of unoccupied good bush-land access to the railway near Motu. Farms. —Sales of wool, live-stock, and frozen meat amount to £8,467 lis. Id., as against £5,799 12s. sd. for the previous year, and purchases of sheep, cattle, and horses amount to £5,369 15s. 4d., as against £1,517 lis. lid. Prices of wool and frozen meat have been satisfactory. Further areas of bush are being cleared this year. Freehold lands stand at £292,490 in the balance-sheet, as against £283,565 last year. 1 have, &c, T. A. Coleman, East Coast Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister of Native Affairs, Wellington.

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