G.— 2.

274. The Commissioners.] All these things have been settled long ago. What is the particular point you wish to bring before the Commission ?—We received some town sections at Ealeigh, but they were not to represent the claims we had in the lands I have just mentioned. 275. Were there any other lands which you laid claim to which were not included in these deeds ? —Those lands were not mentioned then, for they had been sold by the Hauhaus to the Government, and what could we do ? 276. Mr. Parris, being desired to explain the transaction represented by the deeds produced, said : At the time when the Compensation Court sat, in 1866, the Natives assembled here in the town, and we all talked together over the matter. I pointed out to them the confiscated boundary line from Parikino to Mount Egmont, from Taranaki to Tahoroparoa, and they then knew that those were the confiscated boundary lines. I told them then that there would be certain lands returned to them. I pointed out all their reserves to them. I think there were 125 sections in this Town of Ealeigh. Colonel Eussell was Native Minister at that time. Pive hundred acres were reserved for Teira's hapu at Pukeruru, and 250 acres for Ihaia and his people near Materikoriko ; and there was also land set apart for them on the other side of Waitara. That was thoroughly explained to the Natives at the time. The land was subsequently surveyed and individualized, and Teira himself gave us the names of those who were entitled to the land. All the other land at this time belonged to the Government. This arrangement has existed ever since. After many years there were difficulties, and we agreed to give the Natives compensation (takoha) for their claims, in order that the difficulties might be settled. This began with the Kopua Block; next the Whakangerengere. There wore 10,000 acres allotted to Ngatiawa; they requested to be allowed to sell the whole of it at the time we were arranging for the balance, and they had a payment for all their claims. The portion of the tribe living in Wellington with Wi Tako heard of this, and preferred their claims. Sir Donald McLean made a payment to them to extinguish their claims, and there are some Natives present who know of this. They received compensation for Onatiki, Whakangerengere, Patea, and Araukuku. The Ngatimutunga also received compensation for the Urenui-Onaero-Taramouku Block, and after that the Pukerangiora Natives were paid for Manganui Block. There were two reserves for the Natives in the Manganui Block. The Pukerangiora tribe sold this block: they ceded it to the Government. Huiroa w ras ceded by the Ngatiruanui tribe. Next to that was Tewera Block, which was ceded by Eangihekeiho and his people. Between the boundary line of tbe Ngatiawa Block and the Waitara Eiver and from Manganui to Mangaone the land has not been dealt with ; it is still there. I will now give the boundaries of the block that was reserved for Teira's people. The boundary line to the south was the boundary of the Ngatiawa Block, and the boundary on the east —the inland side —was Mangaone, to include some whares. It follows the river to its junction with the Manganui, and comes back to the Ngatiawa Block again. These are all the lands tbat were returned to the Natives here. Por various reasons I said, " Let this land remain." I told the Natives that if they wished to cultivate the land tliey mi>*ht do so. 277. The Commissioners, to Teira.] Now that you have heard that this land is lying quiet and has never been dealt with, have you anything further to say ? —I still say that the laud has all gone. Hone Pihama and Mere Poka will have all the land. 278. That is nonsense, because Hone Pihama, who has been before the Commission, has never raised a claim to the land. The reservation that was made originally for your benefit has never been disturbed: why do you think there is any intention to disturb it? —I wish to ask that compensation may be paid for the whole of the land which was taken by confiscation. I ask this of Sir William Pox : compensation for the lands occupied by the Europeans on both sides of the Waitara. That is all I have to say. If you choose to give us back the land, well and good ; if you choose to give us compensation, we will be satisfied. 279. The Commissioners: With respect to your being paid for the confiscated lands, the Commissioners have to say that if we were to enter into that question we would be taking up a new line, which is not our work. This is what took place : You entered into certain agreements with the Government. You agreed together and gave your assent to the arrangements then made, of which Mr. Parris has just spoken : and you have seen that the land which you thought was gone still remains for you. After those days the Government turned to the people who had been in rebellion, and proposed to them that they should surrender all their claims. The arrangement was complete and clear in the daylight to both sides. Therefore this Commission will not reconsider or review any of those arrangements ; our work is to carry out the arrangements that were then made, and not to make any new ones. If you can show before the Commission that there has been anything wrong done in what was settled, we will correct it; but, with the things that are clear, and where there is no just complaint against carrying them out, all we have to do is to see that they are carried out exactly as they were originally promised. And, in the same way, we shall see that the piece of land you are speaking of is secured in the way it was settled by Mr. Parris. 280. Teira : I want to have the land I have been speaking of subdivided. 281. The Commissioners: That is a matter which cannot be settled now. 282. Parariko Taukoi, of Pukerangiora, said : I wish to ask whether you can issue the Crown grants for the lands promised to us by Mr. Parris and Major Brown ; namely, Pekatu, Te Arei, and Kaurau. These lands were given to me and my people, the Pukerangiora. 2s2a. The Commissioners.] Two things have to be considered in a Crown grant: One is the riu;ht of the tribe, and the other is the right of the individual. The Crown grant will be issued for the tribe in the way in which the land was originally reserved. When the people wish to have their lands divided and individualized, that will be another process, which will have to be entered into by another Court. —Pekatu, Pukerangiora, and Te Arei were distinct rese'wes made to the tribe, and we wish that the grants should be issued in the same way ;to the whcjle tribe. This is the reason why we wish that the tribe should have the Crown grants for these blocks: Uepe was chosen by Mr. Parris as the representative of the tribe, to take charge of affairs for them. A portion of the block, called Kaurau, was afterwards sold by Uepe to Europeans. Later on he sold another portion to a European, and afterwards sold a third portion. That is what has troubled us, and that is why we ask that the grants may be given in the name of the tribe; then Major Brown and Mr. Parris cau take care of us.

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