V. Report of the Land Purchase Commissioner, Dr. Featherston, relative to the payment of the Rents.

"I have the honor to inform you of the result of my recent visit to Rangitikei for the purpose of paying the rents due from the squatters to the natives.

The total amount due up the 30th September was £4699, This was to be divided between the Ngatiapa and Rangitane Tribes, and three Ngatiraukawa hapus of Ngatikauwhata, Ngatiparewahawaha, and Ngatikahoro.

The natives after discussing the distribution for several days, came to the conclusion that there was little or no chance of their coming to any agreement amongst themselves, and on Thursday afternoon, the 17th October, unanimously resolved to leave the apportionment to me, pledging themselves to abide by my decision, the three Ngatiraukawa hapus stipulating that they should be regarded as one hapu.

This award seemed to give very general if not universal satisfaction. Of the £550 awarded to the Rangitane, £300 was given in redemption of a promise made by the Ngatiapas that that amount should be deducted from their share of the rents and handed over to the Rangitane, in consequence of the latter not having received from the former a fair share of the purchase money of the block.

The following day was spent by the three Ngatiraukawa hapus in wrangling about the division of their £1600, but in the evening they decided to leave the matter in my hands. The difficulty of the division in this case was very materially increased by the hapus having received from the government and squatters considerable advances, amounting to £476 10., which I insisted upon deducting. I found that I could only get over this difficulty by adding another £100 to the award of £1600.

Of this £1700 I awarded £900 to the Ngatikauwhata, and £800 to the Ngatiparewahawaha and Ngatikahoro; they expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with this division.

From the enclosed receipts it will be seen that I paid to the Ngatikauwhata in cash £604 10., to the other two Raukawa hapus £619, to the Rangitane £525, and to the Ngatiapas £751 10s., making in the whole £2500, being the amount advanced me by the General Government.

There still remains a balance due to the Ngatiapas of £1623 10s., which I hare undertaken to pay in the course of this month, or as soon as they have appointed chiefs to receive it.

Some of the squatters will, I think, pay up what they owe within the time specified in the Attorney-General's Circular.