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Maori Rehabilitation: Return of Properties (Freehold and Leasehold) Purchased from 1st April, 1947, to 31st March, 1948

PART VI.—EAST COAST MAORI TRUST LANDS During the year ended 31st March, 1948, the portions of East Coast Maori Trust lands which reverted to the control of the Commissioner last year, amounting to approximately 24,000 acres, have been stocked and are now settling down to normal farming-operations. As is usual on resuming occupation of land which has been subject to lease for a long period, a large programme of work lies ahead for the restoration of improvements over the majority of these properties. This work is seriously hampered at present owing to shortage of materials, and progress in this direction must, of necessity, be slow. A rearrangement of the stations comprising the Mangapoike blocks has been carried out so that the whole of the land may be handled to greater advantage, having regard to its topography. This arrangement accounts for certain variations in areas shown in the following statistical table as compared with those appearing in last year's report. In the Mangaheia 2d Block, Waipuna Station has been merged with Paroa Station and these are now carried on under one management. A progressive programme of development work is being carried out on this block which will result in the reclamation of a large area of first-class flat land. As an initial step in this programme a large watercourse has been excavated which will drain a considerable area of flat country which previously has been waterlogged each winter. Through successive stages of ploughing and cropping, this land will ultimately be laid down in permanent pasture and the carrying-capacity of the block will be increased to a very great extent. Two Maori returned servicemen have been placed on farms on parts of the Mangaheia 2d Block, one on a mixed farm of 263 acres and the other on a dairy-farm of approximately 60 acres. Both of these sections, which will be subject to registered leases, have good houses and outbuildings thereon. One further dairy-farm of approximately 60 acres on which another serviceman will be settled is to be cut out of this block. The Whaitiri No. 2 Block, an area of 410 acres situated near Te Karaka, has also been made available to two Maori returned servicemen, who will farm it under a registered lease. Under the provisions of the Maori Purposes Act, 1947, the Mangatu Nos. 1, 3, and 4 Blocks were incorporated as a body corporate, and the management of the affairs of these blocks has passed from the East Coast Commissioner to the committee of management appointed under the Act. This incorporation is the largest yet to be effected, and the owners of this fine block of land, containing 108,000 acres, are to be congratulated on the status to which they have attained.

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Property. Location. 1 Area. Amount. A. R. P. £ Waiwhakaata 1a and 3b 2, Section 2 Pirongia 174 3 14-8 2,457 Omahu 2d 1b (part) Hastings 5 0 9 45 Lots 1 and 2, Part Kaitara 2d and 2b Blocks Kaiwaka 163 0 0 1,140 Rotoiti 3m, 3t, 3k, 3l, and 3n Rotoiti 3,445 1 28 22,823 Maungatautari 4h 4b 2b .. .. .. \ Maungatautari 4h 5b 2 .. .. .. J Te A-vvamutu .. 905 1 26 2,250 Lot 1, D.P. 5327, and Lots 2 and 3, D.P. 5328, being Wairoa 1,433 1 6 11,551 Part Aranui and Part Matuku Blocks, situated in Blocks XVI and XXI, Taramarama Survey District Lot 1, D.P. 4256, being Part Matuku Block, situated Wairoa 363 2 18 5,525 in Blocks XVI and XXI, Taramarama Survey District Part Kohatutaka 2 and Part 6a Blocks Taheke 1,533 3 35 12,000 Totals 8,024 2 16-8 57,791