3

G.— s.

Mungaroa, Hutt. Section No. 132, Mungaroa, containing about 100 acres, has been let by tender for 21 years to Mr. Cruikshank, at £10 per annum. Pakuratahi, Upper Hutt. The sections Nos. 3, 4, and 7, containing about 335 acres, have been let by tender to the following persons, viz. :— Section No. 3, to H. Whightman and J. Sennex, for the term of 21 years, at £30 a year; tenants to clear 50 acres of land. Section No. 4, to J. Sennex, for 21 years, at £50 a year for the first ten (10) years, and an increase of £20 a year for remainder of term; tenant to clear 80 acres. Section No. 7, to H. Whightman, for 21 years, at £50 a year for the first ten (10) years, and £80 a year for remainder of term; tenant to clear 80 acres. Makara. Five acres of section No. 22 have been let by Parata te Kiore, the Native beneficially interested, with the approval of the Commissioner of Native Reserves, to the Rev. J. B. PetitJean, for a Roman Catholic church site, on a term of 21 years, at a rental of £1 a year. A court of inquiry, consisting of the Commissioner of Native Reserves and the Hon. Wi Tako Ngatata, recommended that Pirinara Tutawhia should receive an inalienable grant for 60 acres in section 39, Makara. The recommendation has been approved. In previous reports I have stated that the Wellington Natives have voluntarily intrusted to my management certain of their reserves at Polhill's Gully, Wellington City, and in other places. Of these I have this year let the following:— Section No. 23, Aro Street, Te Aro, containing 1 acre, to Mr. Robert Lyon, for 21 years from Ist January, 1874, at £15 a year. Section 45, Te Aro, containing 1 acre, to Mr. Joe Dransfield, for 21 years from the Ist December, 1875, at £13 a year; this being an increase of £1 a year upon the old lease, which expires on the 30th November, 1875. Section 49, Te Aro, containing 1 acre, to Mr. W. Cornor, for 21 years from Ist June, 1875, at a yearly rental of £14. The Natives beneficially interested have approved of each of these arrangements. The collective proceeds of all the Wellington lands so intrusted to me by the owners to let, I divide periodically amongst the people interested. I have induced the chiefs, who generally have other sources of income, to share alike with the inferior people in the division. Manawatu. The sections Nos. 203, 204, 205, 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 228, 238, and 239, comprising 62 acres, in the suburbs of Palmerston, have been let by tender for 21 years to Mr. H. S. Palmerson, at a rental of £25 os. 4d., first seven years; £32 12s. 7^d., second seven years; and £41 6s. Bd., third seven years. Half-year's rent in advance has been received. Wanganui and West Coast. Leases have been executed as follow in respect to lauds let last year:— Per Annum. Wbcnuakura, Section 88, 130 acres, J. Sheehan .. .. .. £45 10 0 28, 95 „ C. andD. Symes .. .. 21 7 6 „ 94, 70 „ P. J. Stewart .. .. .. 19 5 0 Patea „ 488, 29 „ G. B. Worgan .. .. .. 5 16 „ 489, 43 „ J. S. McCarthy. . .. .. 11 16 6 ~ „ 503, 66 acres 2 roods 6 perches, Gane Brothers .. 16 12 6 „ „ 547, 67 acres 0 roods 14 perches, Napier and Mitchell 8 7 6 During the last session of the General Assembly a petition was received from Mr. Charles Vincent, of Waiau, near Waitotara, the owner of a mill built on land held under a promise of a lease, in accordance with the prescribed Plax Regulations for confiscated lands. The petition stated that the growiug flax upon which the mill depended had been improperly burned off by the chief Major Kemp, and prayed redress. I had the honor of receiving your directions to endeavour to settle the matter in an equitable manner. On inquiry on the ground it appeared that Kemp had been a principal owner of the Okotuku block, within which Waiau is situated; that, on the cession of the block, he had abstained from participating in the payment, and that in consideration of this, and in recognition of his military services, the Government had promised him a grant of 400 acres, to include an eel-fishing creek. The Waiau Creek, with 600 acres on its margin, had been promised by Mr. Commissioner Pharazyn to Mr. Vincent, for a flax lease, and the latter had erected a mill and made other improvements thereon. At a subsequent period Mr. G. B. Worgan was intrusted by the Government with the allocation of the 400 acres to Kemp. The latter selected the Waiau Creek, and 400 out of the 600 acres allowed to Vincent. Mr. Worgan seems to have failed to make Kemp