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price was payable should be measured by two valuers, one to be appointed by each party, or by an umpire in case of disagreement; that the purchase-money so determined should be paid by half-yearly instalments spread over twelve years, unless the timber were sooner cut out. The measurement of the timber has been made, and the quantity determined by us on which royalty should be paid is 8,384,000 ft. We recommend that the President of the Waiariki Maori Land Board be authorised to execute an agreement on the above terms on behalf of the Native proprietors. B. Agreement between the Native Proprietors of Rotoma and Tautara Blocks and Hone Mariana, Kinihori te Hira, and Pera Mariana, who are also Owners in the said Blocks. We have now received a draft agreement containing the details of the arrangements sanctioned by the Native proprietors, and agreed to by the proposed lessees. We recommend that the President of the Waiariki Maori Land Board be authorised to execute an agreement in terms of the draft forwarded herewith (Appendix). Waiwherowhero Block. In our report of the 10th March we recommended that this block be leased to Wi Katene, a Native, who is anxious to commence fruit-farming. The owners have signed an agreement to lease 40 acres of the above block for a term of twenty-five years, with right of renewal for another twenty-five years. We express no opinion as to the adequacy of the rental, but we recommend the proposal for lease to Your Excellency's favourable consideration. The rental and other provisions are matters for the Board to consider if the recommendation is given effect to. Turanga-Hikanui No. 2 (or Korokoro No. 2). Perepe Tapihana, owner of the western part of this land, area 15-7 perches, wishes to sell his interest to Mereana Rangikawhiti, and has executed an agreement to sell. He lives at Maketu. The property is at Ohinemutu, where the purchaser resides. The consideration is £25, which may or may not be a fair price. That is a matter for the consideration of the Board, if, as we recommend, it be authorised to give effect to the above agreement. Whakarewarewa Reserve. This is officially known as Whakarewarewa No. 3 Section Iβ Reserve. Inclusive of cemetery, paths, and hot springs, the area is 4 acres 1 rood 5-5 perches, in four detached pieces. The accompanying tracing shows the position of the reserve (bordered red) and the area after deducting paths. There are 191 owners in the title. In our first report we recommended the reservation of this block for Maori occupation. This further report is necessitated by new facts brought before us. In April last a dispute arose about the guiding of tourists and other visitors over the piece marked " Reserve No. 1 " on the tracing, culminating in a serious assault case in the Magistrate's Court. The facts stated to us by the praties interested were as follows : In 1877, while the land was still papatupu, the first arrangements were made about guiding over the reserve. The Government had not then acquired the present State Reserve, which contains Pohutu and other geysers. In 1883 the title was ascertained by the Court, and in the following year a Committee of ten members was appointed by the owners to administer' the reserve, and to levy and collect admission fees. This was the period of the toll-gate. After the Crown purchased the greater part of Whakarewarewa, the toll-gate was allowed to remain with the admission fee of 2s. This continued until about 1903, when the present Prime Minister, then in charge of the Tourist Department, arranged with the Whakarewarewa Maoris to abolish the toll-gate on payment to them of £100, and on the Government undertaking the maintenance of the Whakarewarewa Bridge. The admission fee to the Native Reserve was fixed at Is. Up to 1905 there was an understand-

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