Province of Wellington.

The following lands have been purchased by the Commissioner of Native Reserves for the Govern-page 89ment—namely: No. 1. Sixty-nine acres at Pencarrow. Head, being the Wellington Lighthouse site. This was a part of a large reserve made by Colonel McCleverty, in 1848, for the Pitone Natives. By some inadvertence a beacon first, and subsequently a lighthouse, was erected on this reserve, without the consent of the Native owners being asked. In 1865 the lighthouse was purchased by the General Government from the province, and several attempts were made to purchase the necessary land for a station, but the Natives required a sum that was unreasonable and excessive. In September last I obtained the assent of the Natives to convey to the Crown sixty-nine acres around the lighthouse-station for the sum of £138; and to commute their claims for rent, firewood-taking, and cattle trespass from the time the General Government had been in possession, July, 1865, to July, 1873, for the sum of £35. The sale has been carried into effect, and the deeds registered.

The adjacent land at Orongorongo had been held since 1852 as a sheep-station by Mr. Riddiford, who had received a Crown grant from Governor Grey for an area of 594 acres in the midst of it. The cession of the land to the Crown had never, however, been completed. It lay just beyond the limit that the Natives averred they had sold to the New Zealand Company, and a payment of £30 out of £100 had been made to them for it in 1853, when the negotiation was interrupted. In November last I assembled together the Natives interested in the land, and offered them £70, being the unpaid balance originally agreed upon. A long discussion ensued, and the land having advanced greatly in value, and it being known that it was Crown-granted, a larger price was demanded. Ultimately, £30, as interest, was agreed to be given, and deeds of cession were signed and registered.

I have purchased from the owners of Section 57, at Taita, in the Hutt, four acres of that reserve, for the Wellington-Masterton Railway, for the sum of £100.

At Ikamaru, near Ohariu, a section of 100 acres sold to a settler was known, for several years past, to extend over a piece of land that was originally a Native reserve, and over portions of which certain Natives still claimed an interest. About a year since, after a very close investigation, three women, Paritawhera, Rihi, and Riria, were found to have valid claims—the two former to forty acres each and the last to sixty acres, which areas were respectively awarded to them. As Paritawhera's claim lay contiguous to the settler's land, I obtained, at the instance of the Commissioner of Crown Lands here, your sanction to buy out her title, which I did for the sum of £15. The land was poor and hilly, and of little value to the woman, but of considerable importance to the settler.

The town acres Nos. 89 and 90, in Taranaki Street, on which stand the barracks of the Armed Constabulary, have been purchased for the Crown from the Te Aro Natives for £500. By these several arrangements, the causes of a long-standing discontent in the minds of the local Natives have been removed, as well as some anxiety felt by the respective settlers.

The town acres Nos. 995 to 1,005, in Rintoul Street, near the Adelaide Road, comprising 11 acres, have been let by tender to Dr. A. Johnston, for twenty-one years, at a rent as follows: First seven years, £20 a year; second seven years, £25 a year; and third seven years, £30 a year. The lease of town acres Nos. 972 to 989, in the same locality, has been transferred from the Hon. Mr. Mantell to Dr. Johnston. All the pegs of these lands having disappeared, it was necessary to have them surveyed, at a cost of £7 10s.

The reserve, Te Puka, of 60 acres at Wainui, West Coast, has been let to Mr. Isaac Smith, for seven years, at £6 a year, and 155 acres of the Wainui Reserve to the same person at £8 a year.

I stated in my last report that the owners of the Native reserves in Polhill's Gully, Te Aro, and at Ohariu, had placed those lands in my hands, being unable to manage them themselves. Since taking over these lands, I have collected rents and recovered arrears to the amount of £124 11s. 6d., and placed the property generally on a more satisfactory footing. Thus the road in the upper part of the gully ran along impracticable levels. This has been altered, and a new line of road arranged, and the site, 29 perches, conveyed to the Crown. As the main water-pipes for the city supply led over this ground, the City Council has paid the sum of £25 for the alteration.

I have let part of Lot No. 39, in Wordsworth Street, containing 3 roods, to Mr. William Thompson, for twenty-one years, at £10 a year, from 1st January, 1874. I have recovered £5 arrears from the late tenant of No. 37 and other part of No. 39, and made arrangements by which the new tenant takes upon himself the liability of £20 more of arrears that the Natives had suffered to become due from the outgoing tenant, whose terms of occupation were of an unsatisfactory nature.

I have had surveyed, at a cost of £5, Section 91 at Ohariu, and let it to Mr. J. Marshall. It contains 119 acres of hilly bush land. The terms are, for first seven years, £15 a year; second seven years, £20 a year; and last seven years, £25 a year. This has not been hitherto utilized.

The Native reserve at Kaiwharawhara, called Otari, of 134 acres, has been let for fourteen years to Mr. Samuel Woodward, at £20 a year for first seven years, and £25 a year for remainder of term. This has not before been let.

About 1 acre 2 roods in the immediate rear of the Wellington Gaol has been let for twenty-one years to Mr. M. Reid, on behalf of the Provincial Government, at £3 a year. This land has not before been utilized.

The tenant at Makara has paid up £40 of arrears of rent, which is divisible amongst Ngatitama Natives here and at Wellington. The two last-named reserves have been voluntarily placed with me by the Natives for management.

Whanganui.—The foreshore of the river abreast of the market-place, and of Sections 74,75, and 76 in Taupo Quay, has been set aside for a Native market and landing-place for canoes, due provision being made for public access to the river. Out of the confiscated lands at Patea and Whenuakura 500 acres have been set aside as reserves for general Native purposes. They will be ready for letting on completion of survey. Leases fallen in or surrendered, four. New leases granted, or contracts made for leases, sixteen. Arrears of rent recovered, £113 1s. 6d. Arrears of rent at present, nil. Transfer of leases, three.

Lands placed in the Management of Commissioner.—The Ngatitoa chief Wiremu Tamehana has voluntarily placed with the Commissioner of Native Reserves for management three sections in Block No. X. of the Village of Takapuahia, at Porirua; and the Natives Erenora Tungia and Hoane page 90te Okoro, of the same tribe, have placed with the Commissioner twelve sections in Block No. VIII of that village.

McCleverty Reserves.—The following lands have been under the action of the Native Land Court, and the Native title determined: Komangatawhiri, Reserve 3; Haukopua; Ngauranga, Sections 8 and 9; Omororo, Section 16, Ohiro; and part of town belt.