I—G. 6A.

Gr.—6A,

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

THE NATIVE PURPOSES ACT, 1935. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 23 OF 1931, OF RIHITOTO MATAIA AND OTHERS, RELATIVE TO THE GOLDFIELDS REVENUE IN RESPECT OF GOLD-MINING RIGHTS OVER NATIVE LANDS WITHIN THE DISTRICT EXTENDING FROM MOEHAU (CAPE COLVILLE) TO THE AROHA MOUNTAIN; PETITION No. 347 OF 1934-35, OF RIHITOTO MATAIA AND OTHERS, RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION BY THE CROWN OF THE OHINEMURI BLOCK AND OTHER LANDS WITHIN THE OHINEMURI AND HAURAKI DISTRICTS WHICH WERE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN AGREEMENTS DATED THE 19th DAY OF DECEMBER, 1868, AND THE 18th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1875, AND TO THE PURCHASES AND PAYMENTS REFERRED TO IN THE SAID PETITION; AND PETITION No. 196 OF 1935, OF HOANI TE ANINI AND OTHERS, WITH REGARD TO THE MINING RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF NATIVE LANDS WITHIN THE COROMANDEL AND HAURAKI DISTRICTS AND THE PAYMENT OF GOLDFIELDS REVENUE ARISING THEREFROM.

Presented to Parliament pursuant to the provisions of Section 22 of the Native Purposes Act, 1935.

Native Land Court (Chief Judge's Office), Wellington, C. 1, 28th June, 1940. Memorandum for the Hon. the Native Minister. Petitions No. 23 of 193J, No. 347 of 1934-35, and No. 196 of 1935 relating to Hauraki Goldfields. Pursuant to section 22 of the Native Purposes Act, 1935, I forward the report of the Native Land Court. As the inquiry in respect of which the report is made was held by myself, my recommendations form part of the report itself. Transcript of the shorthand report of the proceedings at the inquiry has not been attached as an appendix as it is of such volume that it would make the report of inordinate length, but it is available from the Native Department if required at any time. Chas. E. MacCormick, Chief Judge.

In the Native, Land Court of New Zealand, Waikato-Maniapoto District.—ln the matter of section 22 of the Native Purposes Act, 1935, and of references by the Chief Judge in terms of the said section for an inquiry and report on the claims and allegations made by the petitioners in Petition No. 23 of 1931, by Rihitoto Mataia and others, of Petition No. 347 of 1934-35, also by Rihitoto Mataia and others, and of Petition No. 196 of 1935, by Hoani Te Anini and others, relating to the purchase or acquisition by the Crown of lands within the Ohinemuri and Hauraki districts and of goldfields revenue in respect of goldmining rights over all Native lands within the district from Cape Colville to Te Aroha Mountain and with regard to mining rights in respect of Native lands within the Coromandel and Hauraki districts and the payment of goldfields revenue arising therefrom. REPORT. Although the references were dated the Ist day of November, 1935, the matter stood over for several years, during which time it was periodically notified for hearing. The petitioners were not ready to proceed until March, 1939, and proceedings extended over several sittings till August. The petitioners were represented by Messrs. Sullivan and Cooney, while Mr. Prendeville appeared for the Crown. It will be observed that the petitions are in very general terms. The effect of them really is to ask for an inquiry into the whole proceedings with regard to the deeds of cession by the Natives of the mining rights over certain areas in the districts mentioned, which areas were ceded to the Crown for mining purposes, the mining revenue derived therefrom, and an inquiry into the circumstances under which certain blocks of land were purchased by the Crown. Petition No. 347 of 1934-35 gives the most detailed statement of the Natives' complaints. It may be mentioned that