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1907. NEW ZEALAND.

THE UREWERA DISTRICT NATIVE RESERVE: REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED UNDER SECTION 10 OF "THE UREWERA DISTRICT NATIVE RESERVE ACT, 1896," AND ORDER MADE THEREON BY THE MINISTER OF NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives in compliance with a promise made to Mr. Berries, M.H.E.

BEPOBT.

REPORT of the Urewera District Native Reserve Commissioners to the Hon. James Carroll, Minister of Native Affairs, upon the 173 Appeals referred to them for Inquiry and Report as per Notice published in the New Zealand Gazette dated the 15th Day of November, 1906, under the Provisions of Section 10 of " The Urewera District Native Reserve Act, 1896." g IR As the Commissioners appointed by you, under the provisions of section 10 of " The Urewera District Native Reserve Act, 1896," to conduct the expert inquiry directed by you to be held into the several appeals, numbered respectively from 1 to 172, as published in the New Zealand Gazette dated the 15th day of November, 1906, and to report to you thereon for your consideration and decision as in the said section 10 provided, we have the honour to report as We opened the Commission at Te Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, on the sth day of December, 1906, and adjourned from that place on the 19th day of December, 1906, resuming at Whakatane on the 3rd day of January. 1907. A further adjournment was made from Whakatane to Te Whaiti on the Bth day of March, 1907, where the inquiry was carried on from the 11th to the 28th day of March 1907, when the taking of evidence was finally concluded, the date of our sitting at each of the above-mentioned places having been duly notified in advance, since which date we have been engaged in collecting evidence at Auckland, Gisborne, and Wellington, contained in Native Land Court minute-books of hearings of blocks of land outside of but having a bearing upon the lands within the said Urewera Reserve, and in framing our report for your consideration and decision. The minutes of the proceedings and of the evidence taken before this Commission are herewith transmitted. As the result of our investigations and deliberations, we have the honour to submit to you the following special reports and recommendations, the several appeals being reported upon as nearly as possible in the order in which they appear in the schedule to the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 15th day of November, 1906. Gilbert Mair. D. F. G. Barclay. Paratene Ngata. The Hon. James Carroll, Minister of Native Affairs.

HIKTTRANOI-HOROMANGA BLOCK. Be the disputed boundaries : — . . Upon the evidence given in regard thereto at the previous Commission, and at this present Commission; and at the request of all parties to the case, that the evidences of occupation— i.e , kaingas whares, and pas, alleged as existing on the block—be visited and inspected upon the land—Te Whaiti Paora" and his party having asserted that Te Tuwatawata was a pa, and lakerehurihia a pa—and each of the two contesting parties having agreed that if these two pas were found to be walled pas (" pa maioro "), having actual existence on the land then award should be made in favour of Te Whaiti Paora's case; and that if on the other hand the said alleged pas were found to have no existence, then the boundaries alleged by Te Whaiti's case should be disallowed.

I— Q. 4.