a—4b,

5

Of the 517,000 acres at the disposal of the Government it is calculated that— 1-lOth = 51,000 acres :is good soil, level, or wooded and hilly. l-10th = 51,000 acres :is fair average soil, with level patches. 3-10ths = 153,000 acres : is only medium soil, hilly and broken. 3-10ths = 153,000 acres : is but poor soil. 2-10ths = 102,000 acres : is swamp. Of the 124,000 acres granted to military settlers a very large portion remains unoccupied, and the greater part of it has passed into the hands of non-residents. Tauranga. In August, 1864, the Ngaiterangi tribe, who had surrendered after the defeat they experienced at Te Ranga, ceded to the Governor the whole of their lands, roughly estimated at 212,000 acres. In consideration of the humane manner in which they had carried on their warfare, His Excellency Sir George Grey returned to them three-fourths of the land thus ceded; and it was at the same time agreed that the lands north of Te Puna (included in the three-fourths given back) should be sold at the rate of three shillings per acre to the Government. A provision was also made that the cultivable lands on the Rangiwaea-Matakana Island, and those at Ohuki and in its neighbourhood, should be made inalienable so as to preserve to the Tauranga Natives a sufficiency of land for their own use. The total amount paid altogether for this block, estimated at 80,000 acres, was £11,700. By an order in Council of the 18th May, 1865, the Tauranga lands were brought within the provisions of the New Zealand Settlements' Act, 1863, the quantity promised by the Governor being set aside for such persons of tho tribe Ngaiterangi as should be determined by the Governor after duo enquiry had been made. The amount to be kept by the Government was subsequently fixed at 50,000 acres. In accordance with the order in Council, enquiry was made; and doubts having arisen on the subject of the effect of the order in Council, an Act was passed on the 10th October, 1867, validating any grants of land, ifcc, made in pursuance of tho order by persons holding the enquiry. It appeared further that the lands in the schedule of the Order, and to the Act of 1867, did not include the whole of the lands of the Ngaiterangi intended to be taken, and an Act was passed on 16th October, 1868, amending the schedule. The enquiry respecting these lands is still in progress. The Tauranga lands thus consist of: — Ist. —A confiscated block of 50,000 acres. 2nd.—A purchased block of about 80,000 acres. Below is a return shewing the state of the 50,000 acres confiscated block. Return of state of 50,000 Acres Confiscated Block at Tauranga. acres. Military Awards ... ... ... ... ... 13,567 Native Awards ... ... ... ... ... ... 7768 Proclaimed Reserves ... ... ... ... ... 487 Sold ... ... ... ... ... . . ... 1990 Roads, and unavailable ... ... ... ... ... 6547 Iv hands of Government ... ... ... ... ... 19,641 50,000 Of the 19,000 acres available in Tauranga a fair proportion, chiefly that lying along the edge of the bush, is land of a very good character. A large quantity, however, consists of condemned military settlers' lots, ravines, swamps, &c. All Native reserves within it have been laid off. In the Te Puna and Kati Kati purchase a small portion has been taken up for military settlers. The land available consists of a strip lying between the inland waters of tho Tauranga harbour and the ranges at tho back ; it is fertile, well-watered, and possesses fair timber. At least 30,000 acres will be found in it available for settlement. Within this purchase lies a proposed University reserve of 10,000 acres. Bay of Plenty. On the 17th January, 1866, an order in Council brought tho Bay of Plenty district under the New Zealand Settlements' Act, 1863. The boundaries defined by the order in Council comprised a large portion of land belonging to tho friendly tribe of the Arawa ; this was accordingly restored. In 1867, a Compensation Court was held at which were investigated claims of friendly Natives as well as of Europeans; and awards were made by the Commissioners. The unsettled state of the district prevented, for a length of time, tho completion of any arrangements touching these compensation awards, or the lands given back to surrendered rebels. In 1872, they were brought to a close. Tho following is a return of the lands in the Bay of Plenty. Return of Confiscated Lands in the Bay of Plenty. No. acres. 1. Compensation to 1074 loyal Natives ... ... ... ... 96,261 2. Lands to 1717 surrendered rebels, being at 61 acres for each ... 104,952 3. Given back to the Arawa ... ... ... ... ... 87,000 4. Lands surrendered ... ... ... ... ... 40,832 5. Military settlers ... ... ... ... ... 23,461 6. University endowment, <Sic, ... ... ... .. 10,325 7. Old land claims ... ... ... ... ... 3832 8. Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,930