3

G.—s.

Excellency, been granted to the Ngatitamaahuroa hapu. The rest of the block is almost without population, except a very small number (about twenty-five adults) of a tribe called Titahi, formerly invaders from Tamaki, near Auckland, who fought their way through the Ngatimaru Tribe on the Upper Waitara River and thence down to Patea, whence they turned northwards up the coast and finally settled on this block, which belonged by hereditary right to the Taranaki Tribe, who do not seem to have disputed their occupation, and there they have remained ever since. My survey staff had already traversed the greater part of the external boundaries ; and Mr. Humphries, with the Government surveyors, has now nearly completed the sectional survey of a large part of the block. Major Parris has arranged with the Natives the question of their reserves, which only awaits my confirmation to enable me to recommend the issue of these Crown grants, which I hope very shortly to do. Immediately north of the Titahi is the Opunake Block, of nearly 44,000 acres. On its sea-frontage there is a very available harbour for coasters; and around it the Government, with the consent of the Natives, formerly laid off 1,400 acres for a town and suburban holdings; but with that exception the whole of the block was practically exempted from the confiscation of 1865, and the Native ownership has ever since been recognized by successive governments. The exemption was made on account of the presumed loyalty of the tribe, and in recognition of the friendship towards Europeans of the principal chief, William King, and of services rendered by him at the wreck of the "Lord Worsley," when, by his intervention, it was believed, the lives of many passengers were saved. No Crown grant thereof has ever been issued to the tribe; and when Sir Dillon Bell and myself first visited the district, great anxiety was expressed as to the intentions of the Government in reference to these lands. We assured them that it was our intention to recommend the issue of grants to them, notwithstanding that many of the tribe at that time were sympathizers with Te Whiti, and that William King had himself been arrested for supposed complicity with Te Whiti's ploughmen—facts which seemed to us neither in law nor in equity to justify the resumption, or practically the re-confiscation, of their lands. At the request of the resident Natives I have for some months past had a survey of the external boundaries in progress, and have now practically subdivided and arranged the boundaries of subdivision among the hapus to which the block belongs. Major Parris has nearly completed the compilation of the names of the gfantees, and as soon as the surveys are completed, I hope to recommend the grants to your Excellency. Beyond this comes the Parihaka Block. The reduction by 5,000 acres of the reserve of 25,000 acres recommended by Sir Dillon Bell and myself in our reports of 1880 has been effected by your Excellency's Government; and I hope the time is not far distant when I shall be able to subdivide the reserve and recommend the issue of grants for the hapus. I have not, however, yet commenced the work. But in the portion of the Parihaka Block seaward of the main road, which has been surveyed into sections and much of it sold by the Government, I have, with the concurrence of the late Native Minister, the Hon. Mr. Rolleston, then also Minister of Lands, decided to recommend a few grants for special services rendered by certain individual Natives which seem to entitle them to something more than a mere tribal share of the large reserve. These recommendations I have forwarded to your Excellency through the usual official channels. Adjoining the Parihaka Block is the Stony River Block, containing about 18,000 acres of excellent open and bush land. This block is in the same category as the Opunake one; it has been practically relieved from the confiscation. The resident tribe, the Ngamahanga, took part in the earlier portion of the Taranaki war, but were induced by Major Parris (who followed them into the bush at considerable personal risk) to submit and return to their homes, where they have since remained loyal and have never shown any sympathy with Te Whiti. Some months ago they expressed a desire to have their lands subdivided and Crowngranted, and as soon as I was in a position to do so I put two survey parties on the block, which have now completed the external survey and are far advanced with the hapu subdivisions, which have all been satisfactorily arranged, and for which I hope shortly to recommend Crown grants. Major Parris has, in addition