G.— 2.

I was not here at tlie time of the disturbance. Neither my mother nor her people were here. When we returned to the district we found that there was no land upon which we could live. Nor do we know at the present moment where we have land in the district. We are now entirely without any land. Te Huiroa, in which I was also interested, was confiscated along with the rest of the land. 194 Hone Pihama said: What the last witness has just said is perfectly correct. 194a. The Commissioners said that, with respect to locations of particular portions of land to persons who took no part ia the rebellion, the matter was one that must be carefully considered, and could not be settled at the present lime.

At Haweea, Thursday, 26th Pebeuakt, 18S0. Karere examined. 195. The Commissioners.] Do you remember going down to Wellington about two years ago, in 1878, when the Parliament was sitting, to see the Government ?—Tes. 196. Who went with you ?—Katene Tuwhataruru. 197. Did you go as the representatives of the other Maoris on the Plains ? —Tes. 198. What did you want to see the Government about P —About the land between Waingongoro and Inaha rivers. 199. What did you ask the Government about that land? —That it should be reserved for the Okahu and Kanihi people. 200. A rou told the Government that you wanted reserves made there ? —Yes ; and the Government agreed to make reserves. 201. Was this before the surveyors were turned off?—Yes. 202. It was about the time of the beginning of the surveys, was it not?—lt was when the surveys began that we went to Wellington. 203. Did you hear anything more about these reserves ?—Nothing more has been done. Mr. Sheehan said that it would be talked over here. Mr. Sheehan and Major Brown came here to talk about it. 201. You came back from Wellington after seeing the Government?—Yes. 205. Believing that you would obtain the reserves ? —I came back here on the understanding that Mr. Sheehan and Major Brown would come here and meet us and talk to the people about it. 206. When they were here was anything said about the reserves? —I did not see them when they arrived here. 207. And did you hear after that that the land was to be sold by the Government ? —No. 20S. Had you any more talk with the Government while at Wellington at that time ? —That is all we said about this land ; but we spoke of other lands. 209. Other lands which you wanted reserved ? —Yes ; there were some lands between Waingongoro •and Waitotara. 210. What lands were those? —Those lands which I asked for had been seized by the Queen. 211. Wiremu Pokiha Omahuru said: In making a statement to the Commission, I shall first refer to the case of the Mawhitiwhiti Natives, as Major Brown has just stated that those Natives were loyal, and ought to have reserves. I shall give an account of how the Natives became loyal when they returned from the Ilauhaus, iu order that the Commissioners may know the circumstances under which they came in. After the campaign at Pungarehu, which, I think, was in the year 1867, some of the children of Te Bangilehekeiho, the chief who wrote to Major Brown, were taken prisoners by Colonel McDonnell. After that, peace was made between Titokowaru and Colonel McDonnell, and Eangitehekeiho and the Mawhitiwhiti Natives agreed to come out of the bush and be loyal to the Queen. Colonel McDonnell wished them to stay at Waihi. Some of them settled at Mawhitiwhiti, and some, including Bangitehekeiho, settled at Arakawa, about a mile from Waihi. The Natives, including Titokowaru, were then at peace with the Europeans. Some time after this, some of Titokowaru's people came over to, this side of the Waingongoro Eiver, and stole several horses belonging to Colonel McDonnell. They took them away to near the mouth of the Waingongoro Eiver, and then came to Waihi, and took away one or two other horses. One belonged to a Maori named Tiaki, who was in the Militia at the time. After that tho matter became known to the Mawhitiwhiti Natives. A Native, going to Titokowaru's place at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, saw one of the horses, which he recognized: Colonel McDonnell went to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu to get the horses back again, but ho could not obtain them from the Natives. He went again, accompanied by two Mawhitiwhiti 'Natives—Wairau and Haukopa —who acted as guides; but he was again unsuccessful. Then Ngahina and Manaia, two loyal Natives, wrent up, at the request of Colonel McDonnell, to endeavour to get the horses ; but they were not able to do so. Then Mr. Booth went with Colonel McDonnell to try to get the horses, and also a revolver, which the Natives had stolen. They got the horses, but not the revolver. They took four Natives as prisoners, and brought them from Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu down to Waihi, where they w rere tried before Mr. Booth; and Ihaka was detained, and the others sent back to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Some time afterwards Ihaka escaped, and returned to Titokowaru. Then Titokowaru came to a place near Normanby named Huha. There were two Europeans there sawing timber, and they were murdered by Titokowaru. That was when the war at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu began. The Natives of Mawhitiwhiti got afraid, and came to Waihi, they being loyal Natives. Before that they had been taken prisoners by Colonel McDonnell. They were living peaceably, but Colonel McDonnell took them as prisoners, and had them kept in custody, so that there would be none of them to go and tell Titokowaru that the troops were going to the fight at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. After Colonel McDonnell had gone they were released. After that, another European was killed at Waihi by Titokowaru's people, and McDonnell began to think that these things were committed by the friendly Natives, who thereupon became afraid of McDonnell, and fled to Titokowaru in the night-time. That is all I have to say with regard to the Natives on the other side the river. They have been very loyal ever since ; they bave not disturbed the surveyors, and no Natives have been more quiet and peaceable than those of Mawhitiwhiti. That is

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