PAPERS RELATIVE TO BRINGING LANDS IN THE MANAWATU DISTRICT UNDER THE OPERATION OF "THE NATIVE LANDS ACT, 1862." [Return to an Order of the House of Representatives of Thursday, the 3rd day of August, 1865.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1865 Session I, E-02a

E.- No. 2 A.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO BRINGING LANDS IN THE MANAWATU DISTRICT UNDER THE OPERATION OF "THE NATIVE LANDS ACT, 1862." [Return to an Order of the House of Representatives of Thursday, the 3rd day of August, 1865.]

" That there be laid on the table a copy of the Correspondence that has taken place since the Ist of January last, between the Honorable the Minister of Native Affairs and the Resident Magistrate at Otaki and Eangitikei, relative to the Eangitikei Land Dispute, and to the Petition recently presented to the House from Ihakara and other Natives." (Dr. Jbeatherston.) WELLINGTON: 1865.

E.—No. 2 A.

No. 1. THE EESIDENT MAGISTEATE, EANGITIKEI, TO TIIE NATIVE MINISTER. Eangitikei, 17th May, 1865. Sic, — I have the honor to report for your information, that on the 13th instant I proceeded up the Manawatu river to meet the Natives of the river who bad invited me. I found the large Eunanga house fall; amongst them was Ihakara, Hori Grey and several other influential men. There was much talking. They expressed themselves much aggrieved that their lands were excluded from the Native Lands Act. They intimated their intention of petitioning the General Assembly, to have it brought under that Act. I took the opportunity of so many Natives being present to ask them if they understood the proclamation relative to the Hau Hau fanatics ; as they professed not to do so, I explained it to them. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Mantell, M. Noake, E.M. Native Minister. No. 2. W. HALSE, ESQ., TO TnE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, EANGITIKEI. Native Secretary's Office, Wellington, 14th June, 1865. Sic, — With reference to your letter of the 17th ultimo (not numbered) covering a petition* addressed by the Native owners of the Manawatu block to the General Assembly praying that the block in question may be brought under the " Native Lands Act 1862." I am directed by Mr. Mantell to request you will be good enough to inform Ihakara and the other Natives signing the Petition that although as a Minister he cannot present that petition to the Assembly, he has no doubt that many other private members will do so if requested by them. In the meantime the Natives should be informed that Mr. Mantell's name should not be inserted in the Petition, and that all signatures to petitions should be written by the persons who bear the names appended, and when those persons cannot write, their marks should be made by themselves, and their names written and marks witnessed by some other person, so that in each case the Assembly may know that the signers really concur in the prayer of the Petition. The reasonableness of this will be obvious to the Natives if explained to them. I am, therefore, directed to request that you will return the Petition to Ihakara Hokowhihikuri with the above exjilanation. I have, &c., The Eesident Magistrate, jj Halse Eangitikei, No. 3. THE EESIDENT MAGISTEATE, EANGITIKEI, TO TnE NATIVE MINISTEB. Eangitikei, 29th June, 1865. SIE, — I have the honor to report for your information that I have just left a large meetin" of the Ngatiraukawas m order to catch the mail. Ihakara and his people will not understand their petition being returned. They say they blame the Pakeha for not telling them how they were to forward it. They look to me to put them right: will you kindly send mo instructions by return The tribes generally seem to be angry.

* For the Petition see G.—N0..4, 1865.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO BRINGING NATIVE LANDS IN THE MANAWATU DISTRICT UNDER THE NATIVE LANDS ACT.

E.—No. 2 A.

They don't appear to have settled amongst themselves the Eangitikei Land Dispute. I will let you know the result when the meeting is over. I have, &c., The Honorable Walter Mantell, M. Noake E.M. Native Minister. No. 4. OTE ITNDER-SECRETAET, WELLINGTON, TO THE EESIDENT MAGISTEATE, EANGITIKEI. Native Secretary's Office, Wellington, July 3rd, 1865. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of June 29th, in which you state that Ihakara and his people will not understand why their petition was returned, and that they lay blame to the pakehas for not telling them how they were to forward it. I am instructed by Mr. Mantell to request you again to confer with the Petitioners, and explain to them the course which it is necessary for them to take with regard to the signatures to the Petition as indicated in his last letter to you. Mr. Mantell will then be glad to forward the views of Ihakara and his tribe by placing the Petition in the hands of a member of the Assembly to present, as he finds that this will be the more constitutional action for a Minister to take with a Petition forwarded to him for presentation. Mr. Mantell trusts that this explanation, together with the full instructions contained in His former letter, will enable you to put the matter in a satisfactory light before the Natives. It may be well to point out to them that they have no real reason for the dissatisfaction which it would seem from your letter they have expressed, and that their object will not bo forwarded by such expression on their part. The verification of the signatures is as a matter of form necessary, but in cases of Petitions from Maoris to the General Assembly other formalities are not insisted upon. I have &c, W. Eolleston, The Eesident Magistrate, Under Secretary. Eangitikei. No. 5. THE EESIDENT MAGISTEATE, EANGITIKEI, TO THE HON. THE NATIVE MINISTEB. Eesident Magistrate's Office, Eangitikei, sth July, 18G5. Sic, — With reference to your Letter N0..364 of the 3rd instant, I have the honor to state that I endeavoured to explain to Ihakara and others at the meeting all that you now instruct me to do. Of course, I was unable to put them in the right channel as to forwarding their petition. I will at once communicate with these Natives, and trust to put the matter in a satisfactory- light to them. I have, &c., M. Noake, The Honorable Walter Mantell, Eesident Magistrate. Native Minister. No. 6. THE EESIDENT MAGISTEATE, EANGITIKEI, TO THE HON. THE NAIIVE MINISTEB. Eesident Magistrate's Office, Eangitikei, 19th July, 1865. Sib,— I have the honor to forward the original petition and signatures of Ihakara and others that their land may be brought under the Native Lands Act. I have, &c, M. Noake, The Honorable Walter Mantell, Eesident Magistrate. Native Minister.

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