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many years, and a considerable sum was collected by the Council by way of such compromises. Of the 93 applications for the appointment of a receiver, orders were made in 21 cases only, 47 applications being withdrawn, and 25 adjourned to enable the parties to make satisfactory arrangements for payment of their rates. Of the 683 applications for charging orders, 383 were withdrawn, the rates having been settled in full or by compromise. Consolidation Progress with the Northern Waiapu Consolidation Scheme has been delayed pending the result of the special Commission set up to determine matters affecting the ownership of two of the largest blocks in the scheme —Marangairoa Id (Kautuku) and Wharekahika Blocks. It is expected that the decisions will be delivered in the near future and work on the remaining instalments of the scheme will proceed. Maori Land Board There was a considerable increase in both receipts and payments during the year as compared with the previous year. A further sum of £10,000 was invested in the Victory Loan, and the total amount now invested in Government securities, both from Board funds and on behalf of beneficiaries, is £86,710. Donations amounting to £317 were made towards various Maori activities, including £100 for the carved meeting-house at Tβ Kaha and £50 to the Ngati-Poneke Maori Association in Wellington. The Board is also sponsoring a fund for a reception to members of the Maori Battalion on the return from active service. Ngarimu Scholarship Fund Up to 31st March, 1945, the Maori Land Board, acting as trustee pro tempore of this fund, had received the sum of £5,469, of which £5,352 was invested in war loans. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships to assist Maori students in secondary and University education, the scholarships being in a form of a memorial to members of the Maori Battalion who have lost their lives during the war. Tribes throughout New Zealand are co-operating in raising the necessary funds. Maori Welfare In addition to the Welfare Officer in Gisborne, a Welfare Officer has been appointed to the northern part of the district, where he will work in conjunction with the Health Department and the officer recently appointed to this area by the Social Security Department. Every effort is being made to ensure that moneys derived from social security benefits are properly expended, and it is hoped that the diversion of a proportion of such funds to the provision of better housing conditions will do much to improve the health and standard of living in Maori communities. Much good work is being done by voluntary Maori organizations at Wairoa and Gisborne and by the Maori cultural centre which was formed by the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata at Ruatoria. Aotea District (Wanganui) Native Land Court Sixteen sittings were held during the year at Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Taumarunui, and Tokaanu. The volume of business continues to increase, orders being made in 1,341 cases, comprising 77 partitions, 902 successions, and 362 miscellaneous orders. A matter of particular importance which engaged the attention of the Court during the year was a scheme of exchanges affecting large areas of West Taupo lands, whereby open areas of Crown land are being exchanged for bush-clad areas of Maori land. This will have the dual effect of making open lands available for Maori settlement and conserving bush lands for timber-and soil-protection purposes. In the proceedings for the partition of Waituhi-Kuratau 4b 2 Block between the Crown and the non-sellers a new method of valuation of timber areas was introduced by the production of appraisal values and location plans. This method, which is now to be generally adopted, will ensure that partitions of blocks partly covered with bush will be made on an equitable basis. A new development in connection with timber lands in this district was the incorporation of the owners of Puketapu 3a Block, the largest forest block in the Tongariro area. The object of the incorporation is to enable the Maori owners to form their own organization for exploiting the resources of the block on their own account, a commendable example of self-effort which will be watched with interest. Applications for confirmation have also shown a tendency to increase, but the Court has maintained its policy of strict scrutiny of the terms of the respective contracts to ensure that the interests of the alienors are fully protected. In this respect, particular attention has been devoted to ensuring that, where land is leased, adequate provision shall be made for maintenance and fencing, thus ensuring that should the owners elect at the expiration of the lease to utilize the land themselves, they will not be confronted with, heavy salvage expenditure, as has unfortunately been their experience in many instances in the past. Sales have, in general, been discouraged, and, where approved, adequate provision has been made to ensure that the proceeds are utilized for worth-while and tangible projects. Maori Land Board The administration of lands vested in the Board continues as an important phase of its operations. A marked improvement in the compliance with the terms of leases of such lands has resulted from periodical inspections and from proceedings instituted by the Board where breaches of covenant have occurred. Proceeds of the sale of timber in collaboration with the State Forest Service have maintained

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