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I.—3a

Ordinary Shareholders. Atkinson, E. T., solicitor, Wellington; Fell, W., M.D., Wellington; Collins, W.E., M.D., Wellington ; Fulton, James E., civil engineer, Wellington; Miles, A. H., merchant, Wellington; Pharazyn, C. B.; Lysaght, B. C, runholder, Hawera; Findlay and Dalziell, solicitors, Wellington; Atkinson, A. C, dentist, Hawera; Price, Thomas, timber-merchant, Petone; Lysaght, runholder, Hawera; Simpson, B. M., General Manager, Phoenix Assurance Company, Wellington ; Nolan, B. H., runholder, Hawera; Hoby, A., dentist, Wellington; Fell, A., London; Atkinson, H. D., clerk, Wellington; Fell, Charles, solicitor, Nelson; Warren, Holmes, Tiraumea, Alfredton ; Hall, Henry, solicitor, Wellington; Atkinson, S. A., solicitor, Wellington; Swan, J. S., architect, Wellington; Empson, W., headmaster, Wanganui College ; Pease, J. F., runholder, Hawera; Barton, E. L., runholder, Hawera; Atkinson, Lady, Wellington; Stocker, B. E. S., clerk, Wellington; Halliwell, H., solicitor, Hawera; Fantham, A. A., auctioneer, Hawera; Atkinson, Mrs. E. F., Wellington ; Dalston, N. H. M., Manager, New Zealand Midland Bailway Company, Wellington.

Sir, — Piriaka, King-country, 28th October, 1903. Noticing by paper report of parliamentary proceedings that a Bill is before the House—the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill—which if passed will cause us considerable expense, I now write you to explain our position, hoping you will help us if you can. We have negotiated with the Natives for the right of cutting the timber now standing or otherwise on a block of land called Waimarino No. 6, of about 1,360 acres, of which about one-third is fair milling-bush of mixed timber—kahikatea, rimu, matai, and totara—the rest fern-scrub and valueless trees. We are to pay the owners a royalty of 2s. per 100 ft. for first class of any sort, Is. for second class, and 6d. for third class, all any sort of timber, and to pay for leasehold of mill-site a rent of £15 per acre per annum, which the Native Council have given their approval to; and we are only allowed about 300 acres to go on with, and to cut no more until all valuable or saleable timber is removed of the portion allotted to us, and to sow down in grass land gone over. The Natives have now received £200, which was to be deducted out of royalty ; and clearing and levelling a portion for mill-site and making tram-line, and other work and general expense, has cost us about £300 more ; and there is no way of getting back any of it unless the mill goes on, and we are only workers, and can ill afford to lose so much. We are to pay a higher royalty than the Government is charging, and, besides, when we entered into negotiations for the bush it was quite legitimate, and to make void a transaction that was done according to the existing laws of the country is anything but fair. Hoping you will do what you can in our behalf, we remain, Yours, &c, Hugh Mclvor. Edward Jamieson. Mr. Jennings, M.H.8., Wellington. Andrew Fleming. George Morris.

(Telegram.) Kohukohu, 30th October, 1903. For kahikatea and rimu, Is. lOd.; kauri and totara, 3s. 6d. ; delivered at mills. Hone Heke, Wellington. Hori Karaka.

(Telegram.) Kohukohu, 1903. Kauri Timber Company giving—kauri, 3s. 6d. hundred delivered; kahikatea, Is. lOd. Hone Heke, Wellington. Hori Karaka.

[Translation.] (Telegram.) Te Kuiti, 24th October, 1903. Please strongly oppose the proposal of the Government in regard to the timber-bushes of the Maoris ; we are satisfied with the arrangements. Manawaiti, Massey, Wellington. And all of us. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,425 copies), £26 14s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3. Prict, It.