G—6a,

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF NATIVE RESERVES NORTH ISLAND FROM 1ST JULY, 1877, TO 30TH JUNE, 1878.

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

Mr. Charles Heaphy to Under Secretary Native Department, August, 22nd, 1878. Memo. —My Report as Commissioner of Native Reserves of the North Island is herewith forwarded. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Charles Heaphy. Wellington. AUCKLAND. The long standing difficulty at Waiuku, caused by the hastily created and erroneous trusts may now beconsidered at an end. Twenty out of 23 of the necessary Crown grants in partial individualization of the land, having been issued, the Natives have, mostly, let the land on 21 years' leases, to the neighbouring settlers, and gone to new land, more fitting for their mode of cultivation. I have inquired into the claim of Wirimu Waikare, who petitioned the Legislature last year, alleging that he had been unjustly depiived of land, while living in Victoria, by the operation of the New Zealand Settlements Acts, and reported that it is desirable he should receive 50 acres of good land.. The detail and evidence in this case has already been furnished. The Under Secretary Native Department, Wellington. WELLINGTON. At Wellington, a Royal Commission has been issued to the Commissioner of Native Reserves,, directing him to enquire into and report upon the claims of certain Natives who profess to own, or be beneficially interested in the reserves called the New Zealand Company's " tenths," and into the proper application of their rents and profits. The investigation is now taking place. As in the Waiuku case Legislation will probably be required to give final effect to the Report that will be made. I have arranged a lease between Hohaii Pokaitara, of Porirua, and Mr. James Floyd, for the Reserve called Onepoto, containing 64 acres, and belonging to Hohaia, for 14 years' from Ist April, 1876, at £20 a year. Mr. Floyd had a previous lease of this land at £10 a year. I have also arranged a lease between the Hon. Wi Tako and other natives of Te Aro, and Mr. John Fitchett, for one rood and thirty-two perches, in section No. 43, Wordsworth Street, at £14 a year for ten years, and £19 a year for remainder of a term of 21 years. Dr. Johnston, the lessee of Nos. 972 to 989 Adelaide Road, Te Aro, having represented that by " The Native Reserves Act, 1873," not having been brought into operation, he was debarred from the possibility of obtaining an extension for building purposes of the term of 21 years, of which had the Act been in operation, he would have had a reasonable expectation, and there appearing to be grounds for his. complaint, he was allowed to surrender his lease, which had run six years, and to receive a new one for 21 years' from Ist January, 1878, paying an average of £19 more, per annum, for the 12 years' at the end of the term —a rate fixed by a professional valuator, mutually appointed. In the same mannei' Dr. Johnston and the executors of the late Mr. Adam Burns, were allowed to surrender their lease, which had run three and a half years, of sections Nos. 995 to 1005, Rintoul Street, Te Aro, and to receive a new lease for 21 yeais' from Ist January, 1878, paying in same manner £10 per annum, more for the last three years of the term. The accounts of the Native Reserve Fund are now kept as follows : — In the North Island, all monies derived from Reserves in which any particular native is interested, are payable into the " Wellington," "Taranaki," or "Auckland," account, respectively, and the account can be operated on for payment to the Natives interested. All monies derived from Reserves of a more general character, such as Hostelry maintenance, Reserves and Native Reserves, not appropriated to any particular person or Hapu, are paid over the ■ whole Island into a " General purposes Account," which can be operated on for expenses of Hostehies, surveys of reserves, commissioner's salary, and other similar expenses The accounts appended have been drawn out in a manner to show the receipts and expenditure in each of the above accounts, and the balances now remaining to their credit. Charles Heaphy, Wellington, 19th August, 1878. Commissioner Native Reserves.