NATIVE LANDS AND NATIVE-LAND TENURE: INTERIM REPORT OF NATIVE LAND COMMISSION, ON NATIVE LANDS IN THE COUNTY OF ROTORUA.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1908 Session I, G-01e

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1908. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LANDS AND NATIVE-LAND TENURE: INTERIM REPORT OF NATIVE LAND COMMISSION, ON NATIVE LANDS IN THE COUNTY OF ROTORUA.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Native Land Commission, Rotorua, 10th March, 1908. To His Excellency the Governor. May it please Your Excellency,— We have the honour to submit for your consideration the following report on some of the Native lands in the Bay of Plenty District. The report deals with lands in Rotorua County owned by the Arawa Tribe of Rotorua and surrounding district. Rotorua County. The area of Rotorua County is 629,760 acres, of which 358,512 acres have been acquired by the Crown and Europeans, but chiefly by the Crown, and 271,248 acres approximately are owned by the Maoris. This area belongs to the Arawa Tribe and hapus connected with it. Some of the Arawa lands (belonging chiefly to the Ngati-Rangitihi Hapu of Matata) are in Whakatane County, some are in the County of Tauranga, and some in East Taupo. These have not yet been inquired into. We hope to complete the inquiries later. ■ Practically the whole of the lands in the Rotorua County and a large area of the East Taupo County are subject to " The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881," and its amendments. The lands subject to this special Act are excluded from the operation of " The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907." We have accordingly scheduled the lands in the Rotorua County so as to distinguish those within the Thermal-Springs District, and subject to the special Act (First Schedule) from those outside such district (Second Schedule.) " The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881." The Governor was empowered by Proclamation to bring under the Act localities in which, there were " hot or mineral springs, lakes, or waters," and after publication of such Proclamation it was " not lawful for any person other than Her Majesty to acquire any estate or interest in Native land " in the proclaimed district, " except by virtue of or through the means prescribed or permitted by " the Act. The Act does not prescribe or permit any mode of private alienation. The Native owners could sell only to the Crown. If they desired to lease they could do so only through the agency of the Crown. The Governor was empowered to act as agent for the Native proprietors in dealing with intending lessees, and with their assent

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could manage and administer the letting, Dut always by public auction or tender. In this connection we quote in full section 12 of the Act:— If the terms of any arrangement with the Native proprietors are such that the land for the use of settlers is to be disposed of by lease, the Governor may with the assent of the Native proprietors, to be ascertained as he may think fit, do the following things : — (1.) Manage and administer such letting or disposal by public auction or tender. (2.) By writing under his hand authorise any person to sign deeds on behalf of the Native proprietors, or a Native tribe, found by the Native Land Court to be owners of the land dealt with ; and his execution of any deed on behalf of such proprietors or tribe shall vest in the lessee the estate described in his deed. Deeds shall be translated into Maori before execution, and a copy given to the Native proprietors or one of them. (3.) For the convenience of lessees, appoint one or more receivers of rents, whose receipts shall be effective discharges. (4.) Make regulations for the payment of the expenses of the management of the property and the collection of the rents, and for the payment or division of such rents, and for the places, times, and manner of payment to the Native proprietors. (5.) Do any other thing necessary for conferring a valid and peaceful title upon a lessee in conformity with the terms of his lease. By virtue of this Act the Crown has purchased in all the blocks containing hot or mineral springs. The only springs of any importance remaining in the hands of the Maoris are those at Tikitere on the Whakapoungakau-Pukepoto Block. The leasing provisions of the Act were put into operation in respect of one block only, the Pukeroa-Oruawhata, on which is the present township of Rotorua, The experience of the Arawa Tribe, more particularly of the Ngati-Whakaue Hapu, seems to have been a bitter one. The memorandum placed by us in the Appendix, and afterwards referred to by us, will show the views of the Ngati-Whakaue on the leasing of their lands by the Government. The experience did not popularise the system of leasing provided by the Act. This and the prohibition of private alienation largely account in our opinion for the present unproductive state of the Native lands in the district. The Maoris have long since spent the purchase-money of the lands sold to the Crown. They have no lands under lease to Europeans, and are cultivating very little of the land they hold. To show how the special Act affects the Native lands in the Rotorua County we have ascertained that of such lands the area subject to the Act is 248,151 acres approximately, while 23,097 acres are not so subject. The area investigated by the Commission was 89,674 acres, and the particulars are set out in the Schedules, together with our recommendations. To explain these it is necessary for us to give a general description of the lands, to indicate some of the problems arising from the peculiar circumstances of the district, and to state the wishes of the Native owners. The quality of the lands in most of the open fern blocks, particularly in the Rotomahana-Parekarangi Blocks, is not inviting to the pastoralist and grazier, although we are informed and believe that much of this land is suitable for pastoral runs. With the exception of the lands in the neighbourhood of Rotorua itself, where there may be a demand for residential sites, the fern land cannot be classed in our opinion as suitable for close settlement. Timber Areas. The forest land, on the other hand, is of good quality. Some of it contains milling-timber, which is probably the most valuable crop the land will ever grow. The Maori owners who appeared before us at Rotorua attached great importance to the timber, and insisted upon its disposal on the most favourable terms before the land itself is leased or otherwise dealt with. It appears that, notwithstanding the provisions of the Act of 1881, agreements to lease timber areas in two blocks, Okoheriki 2c and Waiteti 2, were entered into between the Rotorua Mountain Rimu Company and some of the Maori owners. The company has been operating for some time, and has paid certain sums by way of royalty to the owners, and erected a mill, and constructed tramways. The agreements and certain differences between the parties were submitted for our consideration. We expressed the opinion that the agreements were void and barred by the Act of 1881. At the same time, we thought that if a fair bargain were made between the parties we should undertake to recommend Your Excellency to use the provisions

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of the Act so far as the same are applicable, and to authorise us, or the Waiariki Maori Land Board, to execute proper deeds on behalf of the Native proprietors. We have asked the solicitor for the company to prepare for our perusal a draft agreement, and we propose then to submit all the facts and the draft deed for Your Excellency's consideration and approval. There was also brought under our notice a proposal to lease timber areas on the Tautara and Rotoma Blocks to three Maoris, themselves owners in the blocks. The owners were unanimous in asking that the proposal be given effect to. We inquired into all the circumstances, and are satisfied that the transaction should be approved and carried into effect. The lessees have some capital to invest in the erection of the necessary plant and the construction of tramways and roads. The lease will affect the timber area only, estimated at 7,000 acres. The timber will be cut in sections, so as to allow the utilisation of the land for pastoral purposes as early as possible. The parties will submit to us a draft agreement containing the detailed proposals, which will then be available for Your Excellency's consideration. The area of land affected by these timber agreements is as follows :— A. B. P. Waiteti No 2, Section Iα .. .. .. .. .. 455 016 parts Sections Iβ and 2a .. .. . . .. 2,094 0 0 Okoheriki 2c (part) .' .. .. .. .. .. 4,078 0 0 Rotoma and Tautara .. .. .. .. .. .. *7,000 0 0 13,627 0 16 There are other blocks containing valuable milling-timber in this district. We give a list of some of them here : — Rotoiti Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 .. .. .. .. .. Portions. Te Haumingi .. .. .. .. .. .. About one-third. Kaitao .. . . . . . . .. .. . . About one-fourth. Rotohokahoka C and D .. . . .. . . .. About 800 acres. The Maori owners ask that they be permitted to dispose of the timber before these lands are cut up into farms for lease or Maori occupation. We think that their wishes should have due consideration, and that some method should be devised under the Act of 1881 by which this valuable timber may be made available to the general public on terms most advantageous to the owners, and permitting to them a measure of control over the arrangements. Our suggestions at the end of this report have been framed in this direction. To either sell or lease the timber lands for settlement purposes, making the destruction of the timber a necessity, as has been done on so much land of the Dominion, would in our opinion be an act of criminal waste. The lands on which timber suitable for milling grows are yearly decreasing, and at no distant date such lands near to population will be unknown. There is, therefore, much need of conserving the limited timber land, and of seeing that it is properly utilised. Even if settlement has to wait, it is better that it should wait than that valuable timber, worth in some cases from £5 to £10 per acre, should be cut down and burnt to afford feed after grassing for one or two sheep per acre. The waste of such a procedure does not require to be pointed out. The lands owned by the Ngati-Pikiao Tribe, situated generally to the north and south of the Rotoiti, Rotoehu, and Rotoma Lakes, are perhaps the most valuable of the Rotorua lands, and the most suitable in our opinion for pastoral purposes. But the titles to many of them are in an unsatisfactory position. There are few blocks which have taken up so much of the time of the Court as Rotoiti and Taheke upon investigation of title. The subdivisions are not yet complete, and expensive surveys will be necessary to complete the titles. Incorporation. The Ngati-Pikiao have made up their minds to adopt incorporation, and have asked us in almost every case to recommend that their lands be incorporated under section 28 of " The Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1907." They are willing to throw open their lands for settlement through com-

* Approximate, out of 11,719 acres.

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mittees elected by themselves with the sanction of the Court. We are of opinion that, although the lands within the Thermal-Springs District may be incorporated under the section referred to, the Committees when elected have no power of disposal. But we think that these committees should occupy an important position in the scheme of settlement of the Rotorua lands. They should be authorised by Your Excellency,— (1.) Te set aside and define the areas to be reserved for papakaingas and Maori farms. (2.) To specify the areas for leasing. The committee will in each case indicate the terms and covenants that would be agreeable to the Native proprietors to be comprised in the leases. The committees will make the arrangements and give the assent contemplated by section 12 of the Act of 1881. In fact, in the matter of leasing, the committees should be allowed to make the necessary arrangements subject to Your Excellency's consent. And we propose that the President of the Waiariki Maori Land Board be authorised under subsection (2) of the said section 12 to execute the necessary deeds. The leases are required to be by public auction or tender, and the terms, conditions, and covenants can no doubt be framed so as to conform to the system of leasing Native lands in districts outside the Thermal-Springs District. We have set out in the Schedules the lands recommended for incorporation, amounting to a little over 40,000 acres. We believe that a much larger area will be dealt with in this manner when the titles are properly ascertained. The owners of Taheke and Okataina Blocks made tentative proposals for incorporation of subdivisions of these blocks, but as the matters are sub judice we have reserved our recommendations in respect of them. For the purpose of sale the Act of 1881 restricts the market. The sole purchaser is the Crown. We think that in justice to the Maoris of this district, so long as the special Act is in force, the committees of incorporated blocks desirous of selling to the Crown should be advised and allowed to call in the services of an independent valuer to assist them in bargaining with the Crown, and in no instance should the Crown purchase until such a valuation has been made. This will remove the greatest objection to the existing system of Crown purchase, and encourage the Maori owners to enter into negotiations with the Crown for the acquisition of some of their surplus lands. The Ngati-Pikiao are in a position from the extent of their land-holdings to part with a proportion thereof without injury to themselves or their descendants ; but they do not forget that other Native lands in the Thermal-Springs District have been acquired from them and their neighbours at very low prices. The Rotorua hapus, except Ngati-Pikiao, cannot in our opinion be fairly said to have surplus lands for sale. They have not a large,area available for lease, and the lands they now hold are the least suitable for pastoral purposes. In respect of the lands within the Thermal-Springs District covered by this report we make the following recommendations :— (1.) That lands reserved for Maori occupation be not purchased by the Crown, except in the ordinary course of the administration of the Public Works Act. (2.) That, in regard to lands recommended to be leased (exclusive of incorporated blocks), the Board be empowered to carry out the provisions of section 12 of " The Thermal Springs Act, 1881," and to act as the agent (in Your Excellency's name) for the Native proprietors. Where lands are recommended to be leased to Maoris, we think that the provisions of Part II of " The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907," be applied mutatis mutandis. (3.) That, in regard to lands recommended for incorporation, the Native Minister make the necessary application to the Court. We have already indicated the method of dealing with lands of this character. (4.) That lands offered for sale be acquired by the Crown after the price has been fixed by proper valuation. The Second Schedule contains lands within Rotorua County, but outside the Thermal-Springs District, which have been inquired into. " The Native Land

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Settlement Act, 1907," will apply, and our recommendations are made in accordance therewith. Altogether the area inquired into, and subject to our recommendations, is 89,674 acres. We have asked to be referred to the Native Land Court the further subdivisions of some blocks of the total area of 61,861 acres. There are also papatupu blocks of the area of 6,716 acres. The total area of lands to be investigated, including papatupu lands and lands referred to the Court, is 181,574 acres. General Matters. We have placed in an appendix to this report a memorandum signed by the chiefs and some of the members of the Ngati-Whakaue Hapu. It was read to us at the sitting of the Commission, and expressed the views of the hapu. The allegations made in the memorandum, especially those affecting the acquisition of the Township of Rotorua by the Crown, are such that they deserve explanation or denial by the Native Land Purchase Department. The truth or falsity of the charges must be known to that Department. If it be a fact that, whilst acting as trustee for the Native owners, the Crown ,having prohibited the Natives from selling their lands, bought them at an inadequate price, the action of the Crown cannot be defended. A transaction of that character would, if it took place between an ordinary trustee and a beneficiary, be set aside by any Court of justice before whom the transaction came for decision. If it be found, therefore, that the statements in the memorandum "cannot be disputed by the Department, then certainly the NgatiWhakaue Hapu should now receive from the Crown beneficent consideration. This is a matter in our opinion that deserves the careful inquiry and consideration of Your Excellency's Advisers. It hardly comes within our province perhaps to deal with a grievance of which the Arawas make great complaint. The matter, however, was brought before us, and we think it to be our duty to represent it to Your Excellency. The indigenous fish in the streams and lakes of their district have been almost wholly destroyed by the trout that have been placed in these streams and lakes. The trout were placed there as a great attraction to tourists and others visiting the Thermal-Springs District. That the Maoris have suffered a grievous loss by the destruction of the indigenous fish cannot be denied. These fish were a great part of their food-supply. They are not allowed to fish for trout unless they pay the license fee demanded by the Tourist Department. The bitterness felt at the destruction of their indigenous fish, and at the punishment inflicted on them if they fish for trout in their own streams, is very great. We think that the Tourist Department could allay this feeling, and remedy a real injustice that has been inflicted on the Maori landowners of this district if they issued licenses free of charge to the heads of families, permitting them at stated times to catch trout for food and not for sale. Were such a concession granted, no injury would result to the trout-fishing in the district, and the Maoris would feel that the Government had attempted, at all events, to remedy their grievance. Maori Farming. The Arawas as a people are active and intelligent, and under supervision are capable and energetic workmen. They have given satisfaction to the Public Works and Forestry Departments, and to the late Rotorua Town Board. These employers speak in high terms of their intelligence, capacity, and assiduity. There is amongst them splendid material awaiting organization and development on industrial lines, and we are of opinion that it is the duty of the State to undertake such organization and development. For this purpose we suggest—and the Natives, we are happy to say, are in favour of the scheme—that there should be a communal farm, of from two to three thousand acres in area, set apart for each of the following hapus:— Ngati-Whakaue, Tuhourangi, and • Ngati-Uenukukopako, and two communal farms for the Ngati-Pikiao.

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There should be a separate incorporation and a separate committee for each farm, and the manager would consult his committee on all general matters. The land set apart would be sufficient security to the State for the necessary advances. The Maori owners would supply the labour at fair wages. We are of opinion that these farms should be utilised as experimental farms, and the managers should be able to act as agricultural instructors, so that the farms could be utilised as schools of agriculture for the younger Maoris. At first the State should find a proportion of the instructors' salaries, but the farms should bear all other expenses. The expense to the State of such an experiment would be a mere bagatelle compared with the money expended by the Department of Agriculture for the benefit of the farming community generally. We have in our general report, G.-lc, of 1907 referred to what has been done in other countries for agricultural education, and in our opinion there is greater necessity for the Government under- taking this experiment than there is in older countries for the great expenditure incurred in agricultural education and supervision. A supplementary report on this district will be made later, when the Court has dealt with the matters referred to it by us. We have the honour to be Your Excellency's humble and obedient servants, Robert Stout, A. T. Ngata, Commissioners.

APPENDIX.

Rotorua, 16th January, 1908. Memorandum on General Matters affecting the Akawa Tribe for the Information and Consideration of the Native Land Commission, now sitting at Rotorua. We are compelled to bring under the notice of the Native Land Commission, in connection with your inquiry into the position of Native lands in this district, certain matters of a general nature, and of great importance to our tribe. The district, as you are aware, has been endowed by nature with assets that attract people from all parts of the world. The thermal springs, the beautiful lakes and rivers, the historic spots, and the charming scenery have conspired to make of our district the cynosure of every eye. They have conspired further to attract the special attention of those concerned in the development of the natural resources of this part of the Dominion, and to make them available to the public of New Zealand and of the world at large. And in the course of the statement that we desire to make to the Commission it will be seen how special legislation and acts of administration have prejudiced our interests and disregarded the rights we have been taught to regard as sacred and guaranteed by the solemn promises of the Crown and its responsible Advisers. With your indulgence we of Te Arawa will lay before you the grievances and sorrows we have suffered and under which we are labouring. But first we must say that our tribe has ever been the loyal and loving friend of the pakeha. In the troublous times of the Waikato " King " movement, we, by our consistent abstention from and opposition to this movement and labouring ever in the direction of peace, earned for ourselves the distinction of " the Loyal Arawas.". When, in the year 1864, some of the tribes south of the Arawa country attempted to cross our boundary and join the Waikato, we of our own initiative and at our own cost collected a war-party, and, meeting them, forced them to return. For these services we received no recompense, but, secure in the faith that this adhesion to our mother, Queen Victoria, would meet recognition in her own good time, we, her children, waited in patience and fealty until such time should appear. When, therefore, in the year 1880 Judge Penton assisted us to establish a township, and the Government agreed to become our trustee and agent, we were comforted with the conviction that all the benefits predicted, and at the time so alluringly held forth and sure to accrue from a pakeha population in our midst, were the long-awaited compensations arrived at last, we heartily acceded to every proposal submitted for our adoption. In the year 1880 Judge Fenton asked that a township be established in Rotorua, so that travellers visiting our hot springs and other wonders might do so in comfort and be suitably housed and entertained. This was agreed to, and after further negotiations about 3,020 acres were given, surveyed, and divided into sections for this pprpose. The Government undertook to be our agent for the purpose of leasing, and undertook also the collection of the rents. Our prospective prosperity so enlarged our hearts with gratitude that we gave the Pukeroa Reserve of 30 acres, also the Sanatorium grounds, the Kuiiau Reserve, the Arikikapakapa Reserve, and sites for public buildings for both races for ever.

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All these negotiations were confirmed by Parliament by an Act called " The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881," and the amending Act of 1883. Thus far, then, all matters were arranged to our mutual satisfaction. The sections were advertised and leased by public auction, and the lessees entered into possession. But from henceforth a change came over the spirit of the Administration. The benevolent intentions which formed the basis of the arrangements were clouded over. After the first payments, from which survey, advertising, and auctioneers' expenses were rigidly deducted, rents fell into arrears ; the Government neglected to collect them. When the Ngati-Whakaue saw that not only were written agreements left unfulfilled but verbal promises valued by us as sacred and as valuable as the gifts we had donated to the public use were disregarded or repudiated, our previous filial respectful faith wavered and engendered suspicion that all was not well. The Government came down with proposals to purchase the township land. They proposed to buy from us that which had been expressly covenanted should only be leased for our benefit for a term of ninety-nine years. The proposal found us in a position of despair and disgust. There were back rents owing and not accounted for by our trustee and agent; and there were rents which were apparently not collected and possibly not collectable. We estimate that at the time of the negotiations for the purchase of the township land there were payable to us about £13,000 rent-moneys. But the price offered and paid for the freehold of the township land was only about £7,500. On the day that the leases of the township sections were offered there was paid to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland District, one half-years' rent, amounting to £1,353 55., or at the rate of £2,700 a year. This was due, of course, to the splendid administration of our trusted agent and administrator, and fully justified the hopes originally held out to us. But the freehold, when acquired by our all-powerful trustee, was only worth the net rental for three years. Not being versed in the mysteries of arithmetic, we could not allege as against our benevolent agent that it had taken advantage of our ignorance and confidence. During the year 1881 the Thames Valley Railway Company asked us for an endowment of land for their railway, and because we thought that such a work would enhance the value of the town we donated 20,000 acres of land of what was known as the Rotorua-Patetere Block. Later the Government bought out that company and its endowment, and a few of our chiefs thereupon insisted that, since the original compact had collapsed, the 20,000 acres should be paid for at the rate of 7s. 6d. per acre. The Ngati-Whakaue, who owned the land, received ss. 6d. per acre, 2s. per acre beingdeducted, so it was said, as a consideration for the railway being brought to the town. This land, we understand, is now loaded with £1 ss. per acre for timber rights alone, and has been withdrawn from selection perhaps because of this valuable timber. We were taught to regard " The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881," as the Magna Charta of our liberties, and as the declaration of the respective position of ourselves as the landowners, and as having vested interests in all that pertained to our ancestors from times past, and the Government which stood for the mana and dignity of the Crown. Subsection (3) of section sof that Act empowered the Government, among other things, to " treat and agree with the Native proprietors for the use and enjoyment by the public of all mineral or other springs, lakes, rivers, and waters." This assumed in us a right to the properties enumerated, for which the Government had to treat with us. We are not aware that we have ever parted with our rights to any of our main lakes. In these lakes, streams, and waters we have from the old times drawn a large part of our food-supply. There were our relish preserves of fish, inanga, toitoi, koura, and kakahi, which we had been accustomed to draw upon. The koura was used by us in barter with the Maoris of the outlying districts in exchange for sea-fish and valuable mats, &c. In order to make more attractive to tourists and the public at large the lakes and waters of our district, the fish of the pakeha was introduced, and after years throve and multiplied, so much so that the indigenous fish have been almost destroyed. In the lakes and waters which we assume were thoes referred to in the Act above quoted, and which are generally referred to in the Treaty of Waitangi, where we were accustomed to fish at will, and where our native fresh-water-fish supply has been destroyed by imported fish, we are compelled by the Crown to pay a heavy license fee for the privilege of taking food. We do not fish for pleasure. It is not the custom of our people to go long distances for the mere pleasure of catching fish which we do not eat. If the foreign fish have supplanted our native fish in the waters we have not ceased to regard as belonging to our Native domain, we claim the rightperhaps we should say we throw ourselves on the " mercy " of our one-time trustee and agent, who has not treated with us for the aforesaid lakes, streams, and rivers, except over lands we have deliberately sold to the Crown—we appeal for the due and sympathetic recognition of our claim to take fish for food in these lakes and rivers. It is not a privilege we have any desire to abuse by the indiscriminate taking of fish. You have come amongst us to inquire into the position of our lands. You have not found us easy to deal with, because we have grown suspicious of the pakeha law and justice. We have grown very suspicious of schemes emanating from the Government, and we have shown why. What guarantee have we that in the future our lands that we may offer to you for settlement may not be dealt with as the Rotorua Township land was, as the Whakarewarewa land is reported to have been dealt with ? If it is the aim of the Government to secure for us as against the designing pakeha the highest price for our land, why should that Government be allowed to dictate to us whatever terms they choose for the very valuable lands and other natural resources that we hold % In giving us compensation for any springs or lands that may be taken for public purposes, why should the element of contempt be imported into the consideration of the fair value to be given for the land ? Why should land belonging to a Maori and needed for a railway-siding—land which in the hands of a European the Crown would have to pay through the nose for—why should this land be contemptuously assessed at its value for, say, carrying sheep, when other considerations usual with the pakeha in such cases should weigh with the' Crown ? Is it because we are weak ? Is it because we have been accustomed to take the ill deeds of the Government lying down \

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We have been liberal enough in the past in parting with our lands to the Crown for settlement than one-half of the lands in our district have been acquired at prices that we in the after-wisdom of experience are convinced were inadequate. We are holding now to the remnant. We ask that you deal leniently with us and with the remnant of our lands ; we ask that you take into your consideration our treatment in the past. We ask that you take into consideration the trammels which prevented our having in our midst pakehas of our choice that could have taught us the art of farming. You find us now ignorant and suspicious and tenacious of our lands. We want to see our way very clear before us this time, because we have no other lands. We cannot give as freely as formerly we did out of our abundance. But we ask that the bulk of our lands be reserved for our use, we ask that we be assisted to utilise them properly, and we are confident that the same alertness we showed in the fighting-days gone by will be shown in these times of peace, when the taiaha must give way to the Jco. He oi ano. Na Ngati-whakaue. Akapita H. Pango. Winiata Matia. his Eotorua. Te Naera te Houkotuku. Ketireti x Tapibana. H. Te Wheoro Poni. Bangi-tauira-whenu. mark Korowhiti Iwingaro. Ngatai Hamuera. Tamihana Korokai. Araina Karaka Hutuha. Taekata te Tokoihi. his Henare Werahiko. Te Wiremu Matene. Akuhata x Kihai-oa. Mapunui E. Tiriraupeka. Matiu Whareure. mark Tuianekai Takurua. F. A. Bennett. Hemi Kokiri Wharepurangi. Hohepa te Kaki. Taiporutu te Mapu.

SCHEDULES.

FIRST SCHEDULE. Lands within Rotorua County and Thermal-Springs District. A. Lands recommended for Maori Occupation.

Name of Block. Owners. Owners. Area. Area. Remarks. i i Waiteti 2a No. 1 . . „ No. 2 .. „ No. 3 .. „ No. 4 .. „ No. 5 .. „ No. 6 .. „ No. 7 .. Parawai No. 1 Waikuta Kawaha No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 Tβ Koutu No. Iα No. Iβ . . No. 2 No. 2a .. No. 3a . . No. 3b .. Ngapuna No. L . . No. 2 No. 3 Koutu Owhatiura Iα Iβ 2 Okoheriki No. Id 6b „ No. 1h North No. Ik North Kaitao No. 2c „ No. 2n Rotohokahoka CI . . C2 .. E .. 1 262 57 60 23 5 2 2 116 . "32\ 17 109' 169 177 ! 5 2 5 121 66 62 2 28 31 125 ! 10 1 246 28 161 196 37 98 31 38 50 49 16 15 A. B. P. 281 0 0 11 0 0 12 0 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 140 0 0 257 0 0 706 0 0 90 2 17 28 0 2 10 0 0 0 0 20 20 0 0 33 0 24 166 3 8 17 0 0 20 0 32 J 10 3 31 55 3 0 126 2 0 167 2 0 338 0 0 467 1 31 162 1 38 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0

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A. Lands recommended for Maori Occupation —continued.

B. Lands recommended to be incorporated under Section 28 of " The Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1907," with Power to dispose of Timber, to set aside Areas for Maori Occupation, to lease in terms of Section 12 of " The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881," or to treat with Crown for Sale.

Name of Block. Owners. Area. Remarks. Pahinahina-Manupirua Tapuaekura Te Rimu-Horohoro ... Rotomahana-Parekarangi— No. 3a, Section Iα „ 2a No. 6a, Section 2, No. 6b .. No. 6a,- Section 2, No. 6b (Tumunui 2) No. 6g 3b 232 A. R. P. 856 0 0 500 0 0 114 0 0 34 6 5 27 27 775 2 19 740 3 20 137 0 0 3,297 0 0 Part taken for scenic reserve. Papakainga known as Waitaruna. No. 6l 2b No. 2 No. 6o 2b , No. 6q 2b No. 6l 2b 1 Whakapoungakau-Pukepoto 6b >> » ' » 17 Whakarewarewa — No. 1, Section 2b No. 2b No. 3b Iβ Lots 9 to 89 Ohinewairua Nos. 1 to 8 Tarewa Nos. 1 to 12 Tarewa East Nos. 1 to 3 Whakapoungakau-Pukepoto — No. 2 No. 3b .. No. 4 .. No. 5b .. Rotomahana-Parekarangi— No. 6a, Section 2, No. Iβ .. 60 1 63 34 32 68 57 49 187 2 0 7 0 0 625 0 0 624 0 0 89 0 0 621 0 0 60 0 0 192 0 0 Reserve. Dead buried by Tarawera eruption. Papakainga. Reserve. Dead buried by Tarawera eruption. Ditto. Papakainga. 23 214 191 27 3 22 52 2 0 4 15 33 2 2 4 1 23 14 0 23 28 0 20 137 88 160 186 200 0 0 453 0 0 3,610 0 0 1,031 0 0 12 1,497 0 0 Papakaingas to be cut out; balance for farming. Subject to flax-cutting rights. The block is 4,135 acres in area, of which 2,000 acres is for lease by auction. No. 6a, Section 2, No. 3b (part) 17 2,135 0 0 Patetere South Iβ 1 1 1 0 0 Total .. 21,502 1 17

Name of Block. Owners. Area. Remarks. Fe Haumingi IVaione No. 1 No. 1 „ No. 3 Hingarae .. IVaione A.. Rotoma No. 1 103 185 131 164 - 48 5 207 2,584 6,780 K. 0 0 p. 0 0 Appeal pending. Relative interests not ascertained. 6,662 0 0 Timber subject to arrangements now pending. Ditto. „ No. 2 No. 3 Pautara . . Rotomahana-Parekarangi — No. 6b No. 2~:(Tumunui) No. lc, 1 to 17 .. 122 . 31 206 125 150 4,782 0 0 0 0 0 0 jj j> 71 158 293 6,255 4,453 0 0 0 0 0 0 Papakaingas to be reserved. All subdivisions to be incorporated under one committee. 2_G. 1e. t

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B. Lands recommended to be incorporated under Section 28 of " The Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1907," &c. —continued.

C. Lands for Settlement by Maoris or Europeans.

Name of Block. Owners. Area. Remarks. A. E. P. Whakapoungahau-Pukepoto— No. 10b No. 11b No. 13b No. 14 .. Waerenga East West .. Rotomahana - Parekarangi 5b (Onuku) Ruawahia No. 2 .. 165 56 189 70 92 130 66 315 0 0 473 0 0 258 0 0 250 0 0 1,240 0 0 1,240 0 0 1,080 0 0 With powej to lease to Europeans. s> >» >> )> »> J» 92 4,164 0 0 Reserve to be made for dead buried by Tarawera eruption. Total 41,104 0 0

Name of Block. Owners. Area. Remarks. Puketawhero B Wharenui B Okoheriki No. 1 East 2 No. 2c .. 166 169 105 184 A. K. P. 344 1 21 2,290 0 0 139 3 17 5,034 0 0 For lease by auction. >) Subject to arrangements now pending for lease of timber. For lease by auction. No. 2d 2 No. 2d 3 Waiteti'No. 2, Section Iα .. Iβ 1 .. Iβ 2.. Iβ 3 .. Iβ 4.. „ 2a 1.. 2a 2.. 2b .. 2 7 49 9 11 2 81 4 29 22 7 120 0 0 487 0 0 455 0 16 126 0 0 128 0 0 31 0 0 759 3 24 194 0 0 1,844 0 0 1,262 0 0 19 1 7 )> Subject to arrangements for timber-lease now pending. Te Tuporo Iβ 2 Botomahana-Parekarangi 6a 2 No. 3b (part) 2 17 1 1 0 2,000 0 0 To be cut up and leased as buildingsites. Ditto. For lease by auction; 2,135 acres of original block reserved for Maori occupation. For lease by auction. Rotomahana-Parekarangi 6a 2 No. 6b No. (Te Kotuku-o-Tamawhakaara) Rotomahana-Parekarangi 6a 2 No. 6b No. (Peka) Patetere South Iβ 3 Waiwherowhero 3 767 0 0 14 2,660 0 0 For lease by auction (100 acres for papakainga). For sale by public auction. To be leased to Wiremu Katene for fruitfarm. To be leased to Maoris. 89 36 1,572 1 0 54 0 24 Rotomahana-Parekarangi 6j 2b 6k 2b Whakapoungakau-Pukepoto— No. 8 No. 9b .. No. 12b No. 15b No. 16, Section 2b 50 25 103 103 63 117 128 344 0 0 80 0 0 555 0 0 100 0 0 164 0 0 317 2 0 536 0 0 3> >> To be leased to Maoris, subject to papakainga on lake side of road. Ditto. No. 16, Section 2 . 19 49 0 0 Total 22,434 2 29

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D. Lands not dealt with. (1.) Referred to the Native Land Court. a. b. p. Puketawhero A .. .. .. .. .. .. 830 0 0 Owhatiura South .. .. .. .. .. .. 344 1 31 Kaitao 2a 4,095 0 0 „ 2b 6,270 0 0 Rotohokahoka C 2,372 0 0 D 3,300 0 0 F 1,652 0 0 FNo. 1 50 0 0 F No. 2 50 0 0 Tihiotonga 1,950 0 0 Taheke 19,000 0 0 Mangorewa-Kaharoa .. .. .. .. .. 14,293 339 Whakapoungakau-Pukepoto No. 3 or TiMtere .. .. .. 453 0 0 Rotomahana-Parekarangi 6a 2, No. 5b .. .. .. .. 7,200 3 0 Total 61,861 0 30 E. Papatwpu Lands. a. r. p. Haroharo-Oihoeka 5,326 0 0 Waitangi-Oihoeka ..- 390 0 0 Owhata 300 0 0 Mokoia Island .. .. .. .. .. .. 700 0 0 Total 6,716 0 0 F. Other Lands not investigated or only 'partially investigated. Total area .. .. .. .. .. 94,533 acres and 39 perches.

SECOND SCHEDULE. A. To be reserved for Maori Occupation under Part II of " The Native Land Settlement Act, 1907."

B. Other Lands not dealt with, or only partially investigated. Total area .. .. .. .. .. .. ■ • 18,464 acres.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,500 copies), £b 9e. 6d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oB. Friee 6d.)

Name of Block. Owners. Area. Remarks. 'e Haehaenga No. 1 VTiakamaru-Maungaiti CI .. Total 5 3,560 0 1,073 0 p. 0 0 To be incorporated under Section 61. 800 acres timber land. Timber to be 3old. 4,633 0 0