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1911. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: MOKAU-MOHAKATINO BLOCK. (Mr. JENNINGS, Chairman.)

Report h>, might up on the 19th October, 1911, together with Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence and Appendix, and ordered to be printed. ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 4th Day of August, 1911. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Native Affaire Committee be appointed, consisting of twelve members, to consider all petitions, reports, returns, and other documents relating to the affaire specially affecting the Native race that may be brought before the House this Session, and from time to time to report thereon to the House, with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum ; the Committee to consist of Mr. Greenslade, Mr. Herries, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Kaihau, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. Mander, Hon. Mr. Ngata, Mr. Parata, Mr. Rhodes, Dr. Te Rangihiroa, Mr. Seddon, and the mover."—(Hon. Sir J. Cabboll.) Tuesday, the Bth Day of August, 1911. Ordered, " That Paper No. lOIg (G.-1., 1911), relative to the Mokau-Mohakatino Block, be referred to the Native Affairs Committee." —(Hon. Sir J. Cabroll.) Fbiday, the 11th Day of August, 1911. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. Dive be added to the Native Affairs Committee."—(Hon. Sir J. Carroll.)

# REPORT. (a.) The Committee has made inquiry into the facts referred to in parliamentary paper G.—l. (b.) Its purpose has been to ascertain the facts relating to the transactions of the Government in connection with the Mokau-Mohakatino Block, with special reference to Mr. Massey's comments thereon. (c.) The following is a summary of the main facts set forth in the statement of the Government contained in the said parliamentary paper : — 1. In September, 1908, Mr. Herrman Lewis, the owner of the Mokau leases, formerly held by Mr. Joshua Jones, applied to the Native Minister for an inquiry by the Native Land Commission, consisting of the Chief Justice and the Hon. Mr. Ngata, into the circumstances relating to the block, with a view to having the area disposed of under the Native Land Settlement Act, 1907, the respective values of the interests of the Natives and the lessees to be determined by some independent tribunal. 2 In February, 1909, the Commission, then consisting of the Chief Justice and Chief Judge Palmer, dealt with the matter.

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