E—No. 4

OF THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

Taranaki. The Proclamation conve)'ed even more than that, for the impression it left on the Natives was that it was lawful to take up arms. That was the impression in my part of the country. The mail came up on the Tuesday, and with it a newspaper (the Independent), of the previous Saturday, containing the proclamation of Martial Law. At about half-past nine o'clock, several of the Natives very unceremoniously came into my room, with a paper in their hands. They may have knocked, but I did not hear them. They asked me, pointing to the Proclamation, " What really does this mean ?" I looked at it, and read the Maori version before I saw the English, I was astonished ; but looking above I caught sight of the English, and then, being aware of its import, I said to them that the Proclamation was all right in the English, but that the translation was very bad. I said that it was the result of its having been put into the hands of some blockhead who did not know the Maori language. There are one or two English persons in the district who know the Native language as well as myself. The Natives went to them also, and got from them the same explanations. This Proclamation had a similar effect in exciting the Native minds over the whole district of Wellington. One of the Europeans was a Mr. Wm. Dodds , the others Mr. Eagar's sons, but of them I am not quite positive. 41. What, in your opinion, is the effect on the Native mind of the present Land Purchase System ?—1 believe that the effect of the present Land Purchase System is the means of creating the principal part of the disaffection throughout the Southern half of this Island. I have no hesitation in saying that its proceedings have created the gnater part of the disaffection which exists. Ido not know whether I should be justified in stating to the Committee that when Mr. Richmond (the present Native Minister) was at Wellington, about two and a half years ago, I requested an interview with him for the purpose of discussing the question. (I beg to be informed by the Committee whether lam out of order in alluding to this interview.) (Hear, hear.) I then expressed feelings of great alarm, and stated that there was a considerable uneasiness and disquietude manimaniiested by the Natives in my district. I then pointed out the cause which, in my mind had created it ; that it arose from the manner in which the Native title was attempted to be extinguished by the Chief Commissioner ; that the Natives never felt themselves secure ; that he was guided by no fixed principles in acquiring the land ; that somptimes he dealt with the conquerors, when they were inclined to sell, at other times with the conquered, sometimes with the leading chief, at others with an inferior one ; that I had heard of instances in which an inferior member of the tribe had been treated with. Under these circumstances, I pointed out to him the absolute evil there was in continuing the same course. This was in the conclusion of the year 1857. The evil has since been aggravated. The want of a distinct principle laid down to guide the Commissioners in the acquisition of land had been severely felt by the Natives. They did not know what was law and what was not. During the last eighteen years, I have never lost an opportunity of communicating my opinion to the Government on that subject, and I have pointed out the absolute necessity of defining what constituted a Native title to land, and not leaving this point to the knowledge or mere caprice of the Chief Commissioner. I pointed out, in several instances, that the blocks of land in which the Native title had been extinguished in my district, and which had become the subject of dispute, would never have occasioned such dispute under a proper scheme of land purchase. 42. Are you acquainted with the circumstances of Rawiri Waiaua's violent death ; and what do you conceive led to that event ? —That was the first murder which took place at Taranaki, in connection with the land. It took place in 1844 or 1845. The circumstances which led to it are these :— I was informed that after the proceedings of the purchase of the Bell Block at Taranaki had been completed, a communication was made to the Natives that, in future, all proceedings in reference to disputed lands should be carried on openly, and that Mr. Bell, the Commissioner had promised that no purchase should be effected without a full and careful investigation of the claims, and that the claimants should be informed that such purchase was contemplated, and that he left a memorandum in the Land Office to that effect. Rawiri Waiaua had been for a few years in possession of a field, claimed by one of Katatore's people —Topia. This man destroyed Rawiri's wheat on that field. Rawiri, in order to avenge himself on Katatore, immediately offered to sell to Mr. Cooper, the District Land Commissioner, a piece of land, including some belonging to Katatore, which was, by his own express wish, excluded from a previous sale, because it was claimed by Katatore. Katatore strongly objected to this sale, and frequently warned Mr. Cooper and Kawiri not to proceed with it. But, Rawiri having undertaken to cut the boundary line himself, Mr. Cooper assented. Katatore having heard that Rawiri had undertaken to cut the line, on the following day sent to him to say that he should certainly interrupt the survey, and that he had better come armed, and, that he might do so, sent him some muskets and ammunition. Rawiri, heedless of this warning, went out and began cutting the line. A collision took place. Rawiri and several others were killed. There can be no doubt that this collision, resulting in the deaths of several natives, was brought about through the ignorance of the Land Commissioner more immediately concerned in reference to Maori tenure of land, but by the entire absence of any ascertained or well defined principles in connection with this question. I learnt the particulars of this important affair from several natives ; but I likewise received Information concerning it, while actually on the spot where the collision took place, from Mr. Parris himself. 43. Do you know whether William King took any part in the death of Rawiri?—l believe that the attack on Rawiri was made without the sanction of William King ; that lie, previously, knew nothing about it; and that he had nothing whatever to do with the transaction. Indeed I never heard the contrary asserted by any one. 44. State what you know about the origin of the King movement?— There are some facts connected with it which I have heard dwelt upon in other quarters which I might as well pass over, that I may give my own view of the matter, I may state that the pre-disposing cause of the dissatisfaction which exists in the minds of the natives of the Southern half of this island arose from a feeling of

11