GK—9.

1903. NEW ZEALAND.

EAST COAST NATIVE TRUST LANDS BOARD (INTERIM REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 13 of " The Hast Coast Native Trust Lands Act, 1902."

Ebpobt of the East Coast Native Tbust Lands Board. Sib,— . Gisborne, 31st October, 1903. Herewith I have the honour to hand you an interim report of the transactions of the East Coast Native Trust Lands Board for presentation to Parliament. I have, &c, J. Macfablane, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Wellington.

Sib, — Gisborne, 29th October, 1903. Under " The East Coast Native Trust Lands Act, 1902," the Board is required to make up as at the 31st day of March in each year a statement of the accounts and a report of the transactions of the Board for presentation to Parliament. It was not practicable to furnish such statement and report at the 31st March last, as the appointment of the Board only dated from the 19th of that month. The Board have now the honour to submit the following interim report of the transactions of the Board to this date. The lands which passed to the Board by virtue of that Act comprise a total area of 244,985 acres, and are divisible into three classes—viz., (1) lands which (with live-stock) form the " principal security" to the bank for advances made in respect of what is known as the " general debt "; (2) lands which form the " specific securities " to the bank, with charges limited to specific amounts fixed by the Validation Court; and (3) lands not under mortgage to the bank, but which, in common with those mentioned in (1) and (2), are subject to the liabilities and claims incurred by the trustees for the general purposes of their trust. (1.) Blocks forming the "Principal Security." A. B. P. Mangatu No. 5 ... ... 20,075 0 0 Unoccupied and unimproved. Mangatu No. 6 ... ... 20,075 0 0 Motu No. 1 ... ... 2,000 0 0 Mangaokura No. 1 ... 2,027 0 0 „ Okahuatiu No. 2 ... ... 15,190 0 0 Occupied by Estates Company, partly improved. Pakowhai (part) ... ... 5,013 2 9 Ditto. Whataupoko E7 (part) ... 2 2 31 Held by Estates Company. Matawhero Bor 5 (part) ... 33 1 12 Matawhero No. 1 (part) ... 182 138 Whataupoko, Section 20 .. 3 130

64,602 2 0 In addition to these lands the bank holds live-stock valued at £22,000 to secure the " general debt."