i—a. 9.

G.—9

Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND COURTS AND MAORI LAND BOARDS (REPORT FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY, NATIVE AFFAIRS, ON THE WORKING OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1911.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Lea re.

The Hon. the Native Minister. Native Department, 31st May, 1912. I have the honour to append hereunder a report upon the work of the various branches affecting Native lands. Native Land Court. The amount of work put through by the Native Land Court shows a decided increase in comparison with the average of former periods. A total of 19,042 cases were scheduled for hearing. The number of gazetted sittings totalled 75. Although the number of cases advertised shows a decrease as compared with the previous year, it must be borne in mind that what are known as " old claims " were not scheduled. The system of circuits now in vogue has worked satisfactorily, the procedure being that early in March of each year a notice is published in the Gazette in schedule form, giving dates and places when and where the sitting will be held for the year. During the period the Courts investigated the ownership of a total area of 58,572 acres hitherto unclothed with a title, and dealt with 980 partitions affecting an aggregate area of 431,166 acres. The Native Appellate Court has also been active, having had to deal with 1.48 cases. The revenue derived per medium of Court fees, &c, payable to, received, and outstanding for the year ended the 31st March, 1912, constitutes another record, in all amounting to £6,626 12s. Bd. Table* A attached hereto sets out in detail the operations of the Courts. Maori Land Boards. The Boards have been very active in the administration of trust lands and the revision and confirmation of private alienations. During the period some 469 leases were approved, of a total area of 183,315 acres; 1,220 transfers, comprising 122,869 acres, were consented to ; 27 mortgages, covering an area of 7,729 acres, were confirmed. The area of lands administered by the Boards totals 966,335 acres. Of this area, 1,338 leases have been issued, of a total area of 353,584 acres ; and 71 transfers comprising 38,780 acres. Schemes for cutting up, roading, surveying, &c, of the remaining areas are under consideration, and the land will be placed on the market at the first opportunity. Settlement is hung up for want of completion of surveys, which is necessary to comply with the provisions of the statute before the lands can be placed on the market. A word here as to the effect of the provisions of Part XVIII of the Native Land Act, 1909, upon settlement would not be out of place. Under this Part of the Act alienations can be effected per medium of meetings of assembled owners by the simple process of passing a resolution and receiving the confirmation of the Board. As intimated in last year's report, I anticipated that, as soon as the advantages of the provision were known, the alienations per that medium would be trebled. A reference to the tables will show thai estimate Ims been exceeded.