MAORI LAND PURCHASE OPERATIONS: REPORT UNDER "THE MAORI LAND SETTLEMENT ACT, 1905," FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1909.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909 Session II, G-03a

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L 909. NEW ZEALAND

MAORI LAND PURCHASE OPERATIONS: REPORT UNDER "THE MAORI LAND SETTLEMENT ACT, 1905," FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1909.

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

Sir, — Department of Lands, Wellington, Bth June, 1909. In pursuance of the provisions of " The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905," I append a statement of the limited land-purchase operations carried out under my supervision during the past financial year, together with a statement of accounts. I have, &c, William C. Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands. Hon. J. Carroll, Minister of Native Affairs, Wellington. REPORT. In the report for 1907-8 a summary was given of the completed transactions up to that date, and also a summary of the average price paid to the Native owners in each hind district. This year, owing to the small vote appropriated for Native-land purchases last session, our purchases have necessarily been of a very limited area, the total for the year being only 6,935 acres 3 roods 8 perches, some of which were areas the purchase of which was not completed dining the previous year. To complete this area a total sum of £3,995 19s. 7d. was paid during the year. Summarised, the purchases completed are as follow : — a. b. p. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 6,588 28, costing 3,544 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. 347 1 0 .., 2,430 Totals .. .. .. . . 6,935 3 8 5,974 The area purchased in the Auckland District averaged about lis. per acre, whilst that in Hawke's Bay cost £7 per acre ; but, as the latter area was situated near Dannevirke, adjoining the railway-line and main coach-road, the pricewas not excessive. CONTINUANCE OF LAND-PURCHASE OPERATIONS. Should Parliament provide the necessary authorities, it is proposed to continue the purchase of Maori lands where the owners are willing to sell, and place their lands in the hands of the various Maori Land Boards for that purpose. This can be done under the machinery at present existing. In very many cases Maori owners are anxious to sell to the Crown odd areas which cut into Crown awards and are of no use to the owners, having, perhaps, no road of access, or are of such awkward shapes as to be unsuitable for their own use, though falling into line with the Crown areas, and suitable for settlement purposes when amalgamated with such Crown areas. The Maori Land' Boards would receive the pur-chase-moneys, and be responsible for their division amongst the Maori sellers. It is also hoped to acquire during the coming year a considerable area of land suitable for close settlement out of the Moerangi Block, on the Raglan and Aotea watershed, and also to acquire an additional area out of Te Akau Block, Raglan County, to supplement the area of 15,000 acres already purchased and now subdivided into suitable areas for close settlement, the opening of which, under the optional clauses of " The Land Act, 1908," has been deferred until early in next spring, so as to allow the formation of roads of access to be well advanced before the selectors are given possession.

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Land-purchase Officers. Tin' only purchasing-officer employed continuously throughout the past year has been Mr. W. 11. Grace. His work has been completed, and his services are therefore no longer required, and he severs his connection with the Department, after having rendered very valuable service in a wholehearted manner, for which the Department renders its thanks. Mr. W. H. Grace has submitted his report, which is printed and attached. Statement of Maori Land Settlement Account. Receipts. \i ». d. Expe.ndilitr, £ s. d. Balance in account at Ist April, Salary .. ■ .. 365 0 0 1908 .. .. .. 1,328 2 5 Administration and other expenses 467 6 2 Proportion of survey hens repaid.. 67 7 'J Purchase-moneys .. .. 615 7 1 Proportion of purchase-money on Balance at 31st March, 1909 .. 4,737 11 4 account reserves made .. 1,789 II 5 To- .. £6,185 I 7 Totals .. .. £6,185 4 7 Pi in iiasf.s (in Hand at the :ilsr March, 1908, completed during the Year. Auckland District, — a. k. p. a. b. r. Ilurukia B, Section 1 .. .. .. * .. .. 125 130 Kopuaiahi No. 1a .. .. .. .. .. 545 1 32 Makumaku No. 3a .. ..... .. .. .. 37 324 Maraeroa B :i.\ .. .. .. 947 2 37 Maraeroa A :1a .. .. .. .. .. 3,282 317 Marokopa No. 5a .. .. .. .. .. .. 178 028 Puhanga te (Jru In .. .. .. 201 0 0 5,318 2 8 Auckland District BW Purchases completed during the Year. Waitakaruru 5b No. 8 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,270 0 0 Total District .. .. 6,588 2 8 Hawke's Bay District, — Manawatu 2b South .. .. .. .. .. .. 347 1 0 Total completed during the year .. .. .. .. (i.'.):s"> 3 8 PtJBI HASE-MONEYB PAID DURING THE YEAR. £ s. d. To completion of purchases on hand, Ist April, L9OB .. .. .. .. 565 19 7 On new purchases completed .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,430 0 0 On purchases incomplete at 31st March, 1909 .. .. .. .. .. 686 17 5 Total purchase-moneys paid during the year.. .. .. 4,682 17 0 Purchase-money provided. Out of Maori Land Settlement Account.. .. .. .. .. .. 615 7 1 vote. Lands and Survey. .Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. 4,067 911 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,682 17 0 Purchases on Hand incompleted at 31st March, 1909. Auckland District. Copua Is, Section 2b ; Moerangi; Puhanga-te-uru 3b ; Rangitoto A No. 3b ; Rangitoto A 18a, Section 2 ; Rangitoto A 22 ; Rangitoto-Tuhua 77f. ; Taharoa A ; Te Akau B and D ; Waitakaruru sc. About 30,000 acres will be completed out of above-mentioned blocks. APPENDIX. Sir,— Department of Lands, Kihikihi, 6th May, 1909. U, the pun has.' of Maori lands in my district, I have the honour to report as follows : — Since my last report sent you and dated 30th May, 1908, I have to state that no further purchases have been made, owing to the vote set apart for the purpose having become exhausted ; in consequence of which you advise me to close further operations, and to proceed in the Native Land Court for the cutting-out of all interests in the various blocks acquired by the Crown, with the object of having the same defined, and vested in the name of His Majesty the King. The above was done as set out in my report sent you on the 30th May last, from which it will be seen that at that date 164,403 acres were dealt with in the Native Land Court, and vested in the name of the Crown, there being only a few blocks not dealt with, the names of which I give as follows: Hurakia B; Maraeroa A No. 3; Maraeroa B No. 3 ; Rangitoto-Tuhua No. 77e ; Marokopa No. 5 ; Taharoa A ; Rangitoto A No. 22 ; Kopua No. Is, Section 2b. The interests of the Crown in the blocks have since been dealt with by the Native Land Court, and vested in the name of His Majesty.

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Hurakia B. (Area, 1,895 acres.) Vested in Crown, 125 acres 1 rood 30 perches, called " Hurakia B, Section 1." Residue for nonsellers, called " Hurakia P.. Section 2." Maraeroa A No. 3. (Area, 5,87:5 acres.) Vested in Crown, 3,282 acres 3 roods 17 perches, called " Maraeroa A, Section 3a." Residue for non-sellers, called " Maraeroa A, Section 3b." Maraeroa B, Section 3. (Area, 4,056 acres.) Nested in Crown, 947 acres 2 roods 37 perches, called " Maraeroa B, Section 3a." Residue for non-sellers, called " Maraeroa B, Section 3b." Rangitoto-Tuhua 77e Block. The Crown's interest in this block still remains undefined. In April. 1908, this case, with many others, was set down for hearing by the Native Land Court, but had to be adjourned. When the rase again came before the Native Land Court, in October last, His Honour Judge Palmer presiding, ihe case had to lie again adjourned indefinitely. Ivopua No. Is, Section 2b, Block. The interest of the Crown in this block still stands undefined. The area has to be adjusted, and I understand the same is now being attended to. I may state that the area of block on which I purchased is correct, and therefore the Crown will lose nothing, the area required being 50 acres. Marakopa No. 5 Block. The interest of the Crown in this block amounts to 178 acres and 28 perches ; but, owing to an error in the Court subdivisions of this block being made in the absence of any one representing tin < 'rown. only 133 acres 2 roods 21 perches were awarded to His Majesty. The matter has since Ween rectified by an amendment of the order l>v the Chief Judge, under section 39 of" The Native Land Court Act, 1894." Taharoa A Bloi c. You will remember this block was subdivided by Judge Uilfedder in Kawhia about the Ist February, 1908, without tin' (town being represented. The case was set down for hearing at Otorohanga, not Kawhia, with the result that you appealed against the award, as the Crown's interest was cut out in a very had part of the block. Your appeal come before the Appellate Court at Otorohanga in August last, the Crown being awarded IH.'l acres 1 rood, to which will have to lie added hereafter another 44 acres, lint this cannot lie done until the orders have been drawn up and matters adjusted. When in Auckland the other day 1 found that up to the present the Appellate Court has lieen tillable to make any linal orders. Rangitoto A No. •!•! Block. This block is a very small one. containing IT acres. The Crown has acquired one interest, representing 11 acres 3 roods. This block was held over at the time the Court sat in October last, with the view of buying out the remaining interests, held by two persons, which represent 35 acres 1 rood; but nothing has been done, as the interests unacquired are held by minors, and the trustees would not sell, and, to make matters worse, both trustees have lately died, so that nothing can be done until newtrustees are appointed. Rangitoto-Tuhua No. 35i, Block. To the area already purchased, and vested in His Majesty, another 240 acres will have to be added, which have recently been acquired, which can be done at a future sitting of the Native Land Court in this district. Before concluding I may state that the Maoris in my district--that is. a large number of them— are still desirous of selling more land to the Crown. I receive letters continuously asking whether it is intended to resume the purchase of Native land or not. As my services as Land Purchase Officer terminate at the end of next month, I wish to convey tq,you my sincere thanks for the kindness and courtesy shown me by you and other members of your staff during the term I have worked under you. Heoi ra tena ktiulu katoa. I have, &c, W. H. Graci Native Land Purchase Officer. Wm. C. Kensington, Esq., Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,500 copies), £2 3s.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o9.

Price 3d.]

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