G—6E.

In the Native Land Court of New Zealand, Waiariki District. \ iA. tiJe matter of the Native Purposes Act, 1934, and in the matter of Petition No. 113/1934, of Violet Newdick, referred to the Court for inquiry and report. /At a sitting of the Court held at Rotorua on the 16th day of August, 1935, before Harold Carr, Esquire, Judge. The Court begs to report : — The petitioner was represented by Counsel —she also appeared in person and gave evidence, copies of which are appended. Briefly, petitioner claims £4,000 compensation for delays incidental to the completion of her titles to interests in land at the Maketu Peninsula. Maketu is a very historical locality and at one time supported a large Maori population, with the result that when titles were investigated hundreds of small areas, ranging from 3 perches to 200 acres, became separate titles and without any provision being made for access. As the population thinned and drifted elsewhere purchasers became active —the petitioner amongst others ; but, unfortunately, her financial resources were limited and she could not compete with others more favourably situated. She eventually found herself with a lot of dealings on her hands and which she was in danger of losing because of her inability to complete the transactions. The advantages of consolidation then became apparent, and were availed of by petitioner and others to straighten out the Maketu tangle of old and faulty titles, overlapping titles, incomplete titles, want of access, European interests defined and undefined, and absentee owners. The petitioner had interests in eight separate blocks and which she was able to consolidate into three holdings. It is noted that the interests in the eight blocks referred to were valued at £146 lis. Bd., and after allowing for costs of old survey and sales to the Arawa Trust Board the petitioner had a consolidated value for location of £62 6s. Id. and for which she received land valued at £157 75., the difference being borne by the Arawa Trust Board, which also assisted the petitioner in financing her incompleted transactions. Instead of complaining of delays the petitioner should be appreciative that her scattered and undefined interests were brought together in compact areas, all roaded and clothed with clear and registerable titles. With regard to the allegations that members of the (Maori Land) Board aided and assisted others as against the petitioner in the acquisition of interests in land the Court can find no justification whatever for these statements. Taking all the circumstances into consideration and the difficulties met with by the officers dealing with the scheme of consolidation the Court is satisfied that no undue delays have occurred, and the Court has no recommendation to make in the matter. For the Court, The Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Wellington. H. Care, Judge.

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