A.—No. 13.

Maps of the district were received this morning from New Plymouth, which I have handed into your office. I have, &c, E. Pabbis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. Enclosure to No. 4. Statement relative to the measures adopted for the settlement out of Coxirt of Claims of Friendly Natives to land at Taranaki and Waitara. The claims to the Oakura had been investigated by the Compensation Court and seventy-six claimants admitted, and at this stage of the proceedings it was deemed necessary to communicate with the Government before taking further action. The Honorable the Native Minister went to New Plymouth, and, after consulting with the Judges of the Compensation Court, it was recommended that if possible the matter should be settled out of Court. The proportion the seventy-six claimants admitted by the Court bore to the claimants who have been in rebellion was found to be about two-fifths, and the estimated area of the block of land was about 27,000 acres ; out of this quantity 18,930 acres had been taken for Military Settlers' Settlements and Government Reserves, and in consequence of only very inadequate provision having been made for the friendly Natives, the whole of the remaining portion of the block of land not allotted to Military Settlers including the Government Eeserves (excepting 46 acres in different parts, set apart as sites for places of worship, schools, aud other public purposes) was offered to the friendly Natives as full compensation for all their claims within the said block of Oakura, which offer was accepted by them, agreeing, at the same time, to leave the sub-division and apportionment of the land returned to them, which is over 10,000 acres, to myself, which sub-division and apportionment they were not to be charged with the expense of, only the expense of the Crown Grants which they expressed a wish to have. The investigation by the Compensation Court of the claims to the Waitara South had »ot proceeded so far as in the Oakura when it was recommended that the claims of the friendly Natives to that block should also, if possible, bo settled out of Court, which was effected in the following terms: Seaward of the Military Settlers' Settlements, Huirangi and Mataitawa, there was a valuable block of land (exclusive of that part of the Waitara Township south of the Waitara Biver), estimated at 8000 acres. About 6000 acres of this was awarded to the Puketapu tribe, reserving the right to about 1000 acres thereof for the location of returning rebels, between the Mangoraka and Mangaranoa. The remaining 2000 acres was awarded to the Pukerangiora and Ngatirahiri claimants, subject to a claim preferred by some Otarara Natives, which it was agreed to refer to the Land Court for settlement. In the Waitara Township (south of the river), which is about 2000 acres, the Waitara Natives were awarded 125 town sections. The site of the Hurirapa Village, extending to the Mangaiti Stream, said to contain about three acres (the streets through the same to be opened), and 500 acres of the Town Belt and reserves was awarded to the Waitara Natives. There was also about 100 acres of the belt on the south-west side of the township awarded to the Puketapu Natives. In addition there is about 1000 acres of reserves within the lines of the Military Settlers' Settlements to be awarded to the different sections of the claimants. The estimated area of the Waitara South Block is about 25,000 acres, over 14,000 acres of this is included in the Military Settlers' Settlements. The proportion of friendly claimants to this block is larger than in the Oakura Block, but the difference of the value of the land awarded to them and the land taken for Military Settlers' Settlements, is very considerable. E. Pabbis, Wellington, Bth August, 1866. Civil Commissioner.

19

COMPENSATION COURT AT NEW PLYMOUTH.